By Rusty Priske & Shawn Carman
Edited & Development by Fred Wan
Daigotsu Gyoken stood near the edge of Thunder’s Blessing Village. He was not unfamiliar with the place. He knew where to find the highest quality sake, opium, or women. He did not partake in most vices, but he had always found it useful to know where such things were available.
Since this was a Unicorn village, there was always a slight smell to it. Most Rokugani would be repulsed by the odor of cooked flesh, but Gyoken enjoyed it. He cared little one way or the other about meat, but the smell reminded him of battlefields and their aftermath.
Gyoken enjoyed battle, but he also knew how inefficient combat was. If you could achieve the same results with a word in the right ear, why spill blood? If killing one served the same purpose as killing one hundred, why not just kill the one? He cared nothing for the lives of those spared, but using a broad stroke method could eliminate someone who could be of use to him. Choosing individuals to eliminate guaranteed that only obstacles were removed, and not instruments. That was not to say that sometimes battle was not the correct method of advancing his cause, of course, only that the decision should not be reached lightly. The right method must be chosen for each situation, or else the right result could not be achieved.
Today Gyoken was not looking for sake, women, or anything else of that nature. He was also not looking for information, which was a common goal of his.
Today Gyoken was here to see the overseer of many small villages in this province.
Utaku Katiro sat on an overstuffed cushion that he thought to be quite grand. Its colors were garish, though not quite as garish as his kimono. He smiled as he looked over the latest figures brought to him by an underling. “This is good, Kano. Very good.”
The severe Kano, who was a different from Katiro as night was to day, or a Crab was to a Crane, nodded as he retrieved the scroll from his superior. “Yes. The governor will be pleased.”
“Before too long, the governor will be me, Kano. The oaf is old and needs replacing. Shiro Moto can see as well as anyone how successful we have been down here. If there is any doubt who the new governor will be, I do not know who harbors it. And a promotion for me means a promotion for you, Kano. You have been very valuable to me.” Katiro laughed. “Sometimes I think you need to loosen up a little, but maybe that is why we make a good team. You handle the boring details and I make sure that we are recognized.”
Kano did not smile. “As you say. I will write up a full report for you to send to the governor. It will be ready in the morning.”
“Fine, yes. Grab me a bottle of sake before you leave, would you?”
“We have none left.”
Katiro’s smile turned into a scowl. “Then go get some!”
“Right away, Katiro-sama.”
Kano slid back the screen and stepped through onto the street. Before he could pull it shut, he saw Gyoken walking towards him. Kano froze. Without saying a word, Gyoken stopped in front of the Unicorn functionary and nodded towards the doorway. Kano, expressionless, returned the nod and stepped back into the building.
“Katiro-sama, you have a visitor.”
“Tell him to come back tomorrow.”
“I… do not feel that would be wise, sir.” The Spider stepped past Kano and then bowed towards Katiro.
“Who is this, Kano? What do you want, stranger?”
As Kano pulled the screen shut, the newcomer said, “My name is Gyoken and I think you know who I am, Utaku Katiro.”
Katiro squinted. “I have no idea who you are, nor do I think I should care, unless there is profit in it for me. What can you do for me, Gyoken?”
Gyoken’s lip curled in distaste at the sheer avarice of the languid Unicorn. He looked for a place to sit, but glanced at the available cushions and thought better of it. “This is not the time to ask what I can do for you, Katiro. It is time to ask what you can do for me.”
The overseer turned to Kano. “I have heard enough of this. Kano, remove this man.” Kano did not budge, and Katiro’s face changed from exasperation to surprise and then anger. “Kano, I gave you a direct order! Remove this man!”
Kano bowed. “My apologies, Katiro-sama. I feel that would be unwise.”
Gyoken nodded. “He is correct. What has been given can easily be taken. I believe you are familiar with an associate of mine, named Hiroe.” It was not a question.
Katiro’s eyes widened. “Hiroe?”
“That is correct. Hiroe learned about the unfortunate problem you were having with bandits in this area and told me about it. My associates and I removed the bandits, thereby solidifying your hold on the region. Evidence suggesting that the bandit attacks were the responsibility of one of your rivals was discovered, and I believe you reaped the benefits.”
Katiro licked his lips nervously and glanced at Kano for a brief moment before darting back to Gyoken. “You destroyed the bandits?”
“Did you think Hiroe had done it? It was fortunate that our interests coincided at that time. You see, I cannot abide banditry. Bandits are weak, pathetic men. Weaklings taking what should only be reaped by the strong is unacceptable.” He paused for a moment. “Are you a weakling, Katiro?”
Katiro was now sweating openly and pushing back in his seat. “What do you want from us?”
“It is a small thing. We want access to the court at Shiro Ide. We are not asking to be snuck in or smuggled in. We wish to be invited, and to attend openly.”
The fear on Katiro’s face turned to shock. “I do not… I do not have that kind of power.”
“You underestimate your influence, Katiro. As I said, our interests coincided. I wished to remove a bandit scourge, and you were in position to take advantage of it. Without help your name has grown in the eyes of your superiors. I think you would be surprised what you could accomplish if you had enough ambition.”
“Ambition is not what he lacks, it is direction.”
Katiro once again looked surprised, this time at the words coming from his assistant’s mouth. “Kano?”
“My apologies, Katiro-sama, if I spoke out of turn. I am just looking after your interests, as always.”
“You have a valuable aide, Katiro,” Gyoken said. “You should listen to him. I am certain that with his assistance you will be able to accomplish this small task set before you.”
Katiro shook his head. “This is madness. Do you believe that my standing in the clan could be improved by endorsing the Spider Clan?” Saying the name seemed to give him confidence, and he even managed a weak chuckle. “Half the Empire thinks you are nothing more than a legend! A myth! A story made up by peasants! If I bring you to court I will look like a grandstanding fool!”
Gyoken stared at the Unicorn. “You are willing to censor yourself based solely on rumors? You are willing to dismiss opportunities based on speculation?”
“Rumors can be more powerful than a blade. Rumors can make a man or break a man. Fortunes, if a rumor of this meeting were to get out, all I have accomplished could be gone in an instant if those who outrank me in court decided to make my folly their day’s entertainment.”
“There is risk in everything,” Gyoken admitted. “Let me make certain you understand, however, that the risk posed to your reputation by sponsoring a hero of the people in court is significantly less than the risk you pose in turning me away.”
“What are you saying?”
“Those rumors that you spoke of can easily be used rather than avoided. If you do not do as I ask, then a certain Imperial Magistrate will come forward telling a story of a certain Utaku Katiro who used ties with some suspicious people in order to eliminate a rival and improve his own standing. I believe he will show that there was extensive use of maho while defeating these bandits. What will become of your reputation then?”
“Maho?” Katiro stammered. “I was told that the bandits used it, not the…”
“What was it that you said about the power of rumors, Katiro? The Witch Hunters and Inquisitors are nothing if not thorough; by the time your name is cleared of the maho charges all your other secrets will be revealed. And they will come. Who would doubt the word of an Imperial magistrate?”
The Unicorn visibly sank into his chair. “So I am finished no matter what I do.”
Gyoken shook his head. “This is not so. Certainly you are correct in that there are many who believe we do not exist, or that we are blasphemous ronin who have dared to claim the banner of a clan for ourselves. And yet, we have attacked no one, not a single samurai of any clan. What have we done? We have struck back at the lawlessness that pervades Rokugan since even before the death of the Emperor. I did not lie when I said I could not abide banditry. We care about the people of Rokugan. It is possible that we care more for the people than the clans themselves do. Look at the trouble you had here, in this minor province. We did not come here to help you. We came to defeat the criminals plaguing your land. Ask yourself why we were here to defeat them, yet the magistrates of your own clan were not.”
Katiro looked uncomfortable. “They have other concerns elsewhere.”
Gyoken nodded. “Of course. They always do.”
Kano stepped forward. “If he can make a convincing argument at Shiro Ide, maybe the damage will not be as bad as you fear, Katiro-sama.”
Katiro stared at Gyoken. “You had better, Spider. A lot hangs on this.”
“I have no intention of going,” Gyoken said. “I have someone far more adept at gaining the confidence of others who will be going in my stead. At best, I will be his yojimbo, possibly not even that.”
The Unicorn blinked for a moment. “Why did you not send him here, then?
“Because subtlety is lost on a man like you, Katiro,” Gyoken answered. “What is your answer? Think carefully.”
Katiro mulled for a moment before saying, “You must go unarmed. If the tide turns against you, I could say that I was bringing you before the Ide to expose your ‘clan’ as charlatans and usurpers.”
Gyoken eyed Katiro until the Unicorn blanched. “Your reputation is not a concern of ours in this matter, Utaku. Pray that we succeed, for I assure you that your fortunes depend upon it.”
Daigotsu Gyoken stood within line of sight of the gates of Shiro Ide. With him stood another man, clad in a courtier’s kimono and a slight smile on his handsome face. “Katiro will be here shortly, Susumu.”
The handsome young man smirked. “I should hope so, or else our plans will amount to nothing.” He shook his head. “I do so hate depending upon fools.”
Gyoken grimaced. “He will be here, and it is unfortunately necessary.”
They waited in silence for a moment until the sound of footsteps broke their reverie. As Katiro and Kano came into view, anxiety flashed across the face of the former. “Who is this? Is this the man you spoke of?”
Gyoken stared levelly at Katiro. “This is Susumu. He will be going with me into Shiro Ide. Susumu will speak to Ide Tang. I will be present as his yojimbo. We are simply samurai who assisted you some months ago, and whom you have not seen since. Do you understand?”
Katiro winced but nodded. The four men headed towards the gates of Shiro Ide, without a further word.
Ide Tang sat on a simple but well-carved wooden dais. The court was not one of the most prestigious of those across the Empire, but Tang’s tastes clearly ran towards silk, as there were many silk hangings surrounding the occupants of the hall. Tang had a posture that was at once casual and alert, as if he were trying to appear disinterested without missing a single word or nuance of tone.
Susumu missed none of these intricacies. Tang was acting much as he expected.
“So,” Tang said, having considered Susumu’s words, “I accept that your people have accomplished some good, as other concerns keep many occupied. That does not fully explain your motivations.”
Susumu smiled. “Motivation is a strange thing, Ide-sama. What is very important for one may be less important for another. We feel that it is our duty to protect those who are unable to protect themselves. While the Great Clans have different concerns, we merely wish to fulfill a need that is outstanding. We do not wish to allow those that would prey upon your diverted attentions to be able to do so.”
“What do you want of me? Do you wish me to endorse your actions? Do you wish to have the authority of magistrates? If that is what you seek, I am afraid you are going to be disappointed. Even if your actions have been shown to be above board thus far, I cannot give you the authority to act as law.”
“This is not what we are asking. In fact, we do not wish to be magistrates, because as such we would be beholden to the same sort of problems affecting the current magistrates as politics becomes more important than enforcing what is right. No, we are satisfied continuing to act as we have been.”
Tang looked from Susume to Gyoken and back, completely ignoring Katiro, who continued to look very uncomfortable. “Then what is it you wish?”
“We want to help you. Or, more accurately, we want to help the Unicorn.” Susumu smiled again.
Tang raised his eyebrows slightly. “How magnanimous of you. How would a group of individuals such as yourselves, relatively few in number as you profess to be, aid the Unicorn? And why would you do such a thing?”
“All of Rokugan knows that the Lion are moving to attack Shiro Moto. Yoshino wants to punish Moto Chagatai for the crime of wanting a strong Empire. He is letting his narrow perception of right and wrong lead him down an irresponsible path.”
Tang’s eyes narrowed and Susumu continued. “It is this sort of behavior that keeps Rokugan weak and keeps the people of the land frightened. It is this manner of thinking that keeps the people of Rokugan at the mercy of scum that would reap the benefits of the inattention of their betters. While The Lion and the Unicorn fight, the people are unprotected.”
“And what would you propose to do about it?”
“War is inevitable,” Susumu admitted. “One can only hope to end it as quickly as possible, that attention might be returned to where it is so desperately needed. Since it is clearly the Lion who are in the wrong, and the Unicorn who have such a long history of defending the interests of the people, we are offering our services to you. The Spider wish to support you in your war.”
Tang smiled slightly. “And I imagine once the conflict is at an end, you would of course want to be granted some minor lands somewhere to look after. As a reward for your valor and your loyalty.”
“Absolutely not,” Susumu insisted, holding his hand up. “There is far too much land that lies between the clans, land that is unprotected, that could benefit from the Spider’s largesse. No, once the conflict is at an end, we will depart your lands entirely. Your efforts should be focused on rebuilding, not keeping a wary eye on a new neighbor.”
Tang sat quietly for a moment. “No man is completely without his own interests. What do the Spider seek in return?”
Susumu made a noncommittal gesture. “If by aiding the Unicorn we could garner respect for our clan among other like-minded individuals in the Empire, then our task will become that much simpler when the war is concluded.”
“Certainly not in the Lion lands,” Tang chuckled.
Susumu smiled. “The Lion are hardly welcoming to those they perceive as ronin, regardless. We lose nothing.”
“What of the other clans? Do you not see what their reaction would be?”
“I know only that the Unicorn have a reputation for defending the people, and that they would be gaining allies with a similar reputation. Are the Mantis not accepting ronin into their ranks to bolster their forces? Do the Crab not accept those who can prove their worth into their ranks when their numbers are depleted? You will be doing nothing so questionable as that, only allowing others that the clans might perceive as ronin to fight alongside you. Where can the harm be in that?”
“I see.” Tang reclined and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “You of course understand that I am not in a position to make such a decision on behalf of the clan.”
“Of course,” Susumu replied. “But you are in a position to take up our request with those who are in such a position, are you not?”
“Indeed I am,” Tang said. “And I believe I shall.”