Blood Fued
Lion vs Crane Clan Rivals
"I cannot believe the arrogance!" Shusaku roared, slamming the shoji screen aside with such force that the wood cracked.
With the room, Yano looked up from the book of poetry she had been reading. She sighed.
Shusaku glanced at the cracked door, then looked at his wife sheepishly. "I am sorry, my dear," he said, smoothing one hand over his hair as he ducked into the room. "Its isnjust that the court makes me so angry."
"Tou have spoken to the Crane
representative again," Yano said, nodding in understanding.
"That is the only time you ever lose your temper."
Shusaku smiiled as he knelt beside Yano. His wife knew him so well.
"The man is a fool. He demands that we withdraw our troops
from Violence Behind Courtliness City, insists that his clan's surrender
of the territory was merely a ploy to free some restless spirits
from an ancient curse. Can you believe that foolishness? Doji Masaru
must think me a simpleton if he expects me to beliieve that."
"I thought the Crane were better storytellers than that,"
Yano said with a smirk.
Shusaku laughed. "Worse yet, the Kitsu Ambassador believes
him. I think it is possible we will lose Toshi Ranbo."
"You must take it back then," Tano said. "Let steel
triumph where diplomacy fails." Shusaku's wife was no warrior,
but she was every bit a Lion.
Shusaku nodded. "The Crane's greed will not end here. I know
they have their eye on Shiro Yojin next; they have never forgotten
their promise to take the city from us. Once they extend their grasp,
they will find the Akodo ready in Toshi Ranbo."
* * * * *
Doji Masaru sat silently at his writing
table, watching the autumn leaves fall outside his window. Winter
was swiftly approaching, but not swiftly enough. He had been sent
to Kyuden Seppun to negotiate with the Lion representatives, to
help restore the Cranes's true place in Toshi Ranbo. In a few short
weeks, the snows would set in. No large bodies of warriors could
move over Rokugani roads in the dead of winter. Once the snows came,
there would be time for negotiation.
Masaru drummed his fingers on the table. In his heart, he was divided.
He was a warrior and did not fear combat, but he knew the Crae in
Toshi Ranbo could not triumph against the larger armies of the Akodo
and Matsu. Not without aid at least, and the Crane's closest allies
- the Phoenix Clan - were currently attempting to restore good relations
with the Lion. If this battle was to be won, it would be with words,
not swords.
It galled him to admit it. Masaru looked at the blank page that
lay before him. He was expected to make a report to Lord Kurohito,
update his progress and detail his strategy. That his strategy was
now to wait, delay, and confuse the Lion ambassadors as much as
possible did not sit well with him.
He could, instead, send a message to the Daidoji. Their family owed
his favors. He coul request that they send troops north to aid him,
to retake Toshi Ranbo by force if diplomacy failed. Perhaps once
that was done, they would even have the momrntum to reach Toshi
Ranbo by winter.
Kurohito may not approve of such brash tactics ... unless of course
Masaru suceeded.
Masaru began to write his letter.