Ichizo sighed and shifted the heavy sack over one shoulder. Sweat poured down the young farmer’s face as he peered about with a thoughtful frown. Seeing no one about, he climbed down into the ditch beside the crossroads. Surely, no one would care if he arrived in Kosaten Shiro a bit later than expected. His father would never know if the taxes had arrived a few hours late. If the delivery had been so urgent, he could have sent one of his brothers to help carry the rice.

As he settled in for a nap, Ichizo noticed a plume of smoke in the southern sky. Strange, he’d never noticed anything like that before.

The sudden sound of hoofbeats terrified the young farmer. He seized the heavy satchel and crawled into the tall grass, mindless of the thick mud that covered his clothing. Bandits would do far worse than get his clothes dirty. Ichizo held very still as the sounds of hooves drew closer.

He saw a single rider, dressed in brilliant armor of green and gold. No bandit, by the looks of him, but a Dragon samurai. What would such a warrior be doing so far south? Though no longer quite so afraid, Ichizo could not bring himself to emerge from his hiding place.

After several moments, the sound of another rider approached. This, like the other, was dressed in green and gold.

“What news, Mareshi?” she demanded in a gruff voice.

“Negotiations have taken an unfortunate turn,” the first rider said softly.

Her eyes moved past him, toward the plume of smoke in the city beyond. “What has happened at Kosaten Shiro?” she demanded.

The first man looked over his shoulder, then gave her a hard look. “Return to Lord Satsu, General Kei,” he said. “Tell him that Kosaten Shiro burns today… and we will require reinforcements.”

“How has this happened, Mareshi?” she demanded, breathless.

“You knew why Lord Satsu sent me here,” he shot back bitterly. “What did you expect the Crane’s answer to be? The drums of war have begun to beat their steady rhythm. We must march with them, and swiftly, or be destroyed.”

Kei was silent for a long moment. “Hai, Mareshi,” she said at last. “Carry the Fortunes until I can return with help.”

Mareshi nodded silently.

The two Dragons quickly rode off the ways they had come, returning to their lord or to the battle, leaving an unseen farmer huddling in a ditch. Ichizo waited till they were gone, rose and ran back toward his village as quickly as his tired legs would carry him. The sack of rice lay forgotten in the grass. Suddenly there were much, much worse things on his mind than paying the taxes a bit late.