The ship cut through the slight waves like a katana. It was perfect sailing weather as there was enough wind to give them good propulsion, but not enough to challenge their skills. Not that there was any weather than the Mantis aboard the Sea's Justice could not handle.

Yoritomo Eriko coiled a stray line as she watched the water rush past. She did not like calm waters, even when there was still enough wind to sail. It felt too much like being on land. She stowed the line and walked to the bow, nodding to other sailors as she passed. When she reached the prow she nodded to the lookout there, but he did not return the acknowledgement. She waited a moment and then said, "Quiet day, Saburo-san?"

Yoritomo Saburo glanced at Eriko before returning his steely gaze back to the horizon. "If there had been something, I would have reported it."

Eriko repressed a sigh. "Yes, I'm sure you would have." Her eyes dropped to the scar across Saburo's bare chest. "I'll leave you to it, then."

Saburo's eyes flitted over to Eriko as she departed. As he returned his focus back to his watch he noticed that his hand was following along his scar. He angrily dropped his hand to his side and forced Eriko from his mind.

Eriko ran into the room with her black hair streaming behind her and a beautiful smile on her face. "You are up! That is wonderful!" She seemed to be about to wrap her arms around him, but he moved away. Her smile slipped a little but she decided that his wound must still be tender. He was not one who liked to show weakness.

"I have great news, Saburo-chan! I have received my posting. I am to be a magistrate, just as we had always hoped!"

Saburo forced a smile. "I am glad for you. You deserve it."

"I am sure that once your wound has healed that you will…" She stopped at the sight of his shaking head.

"No. I have been turned down. I will be returning to the Sea's justice, but as a shipman. Nothing more."

The smile left Eriko's face. "Do not say that. I"m sure they will reconsider once you are ready."

His eyes flashed in anger. "Do you think they give those positions to someone who failed as badly as I did?" He motioned to his bandages. "I may have passed my gempukku, but I was an embarrassment at the Topaz Championship. Such things are not rewarded. You did will. You deserve your appointment."

"But…"

"Besides, there is no shame in being a sailor. Someone has to make sure you magistrates get to where you need to be."

Eriko shook her head. "There is no shame in being a sailor at all. Plus, my assignment is still on the Sea's Justice so we can still…"

"No." Saburo's face was hard. "You have a great career ahead of you. You cannot be shackled to one ship and I cannot be apart from it. It is not to be, Eriko-san."

A call came back, "Markings?"

"Too far yet."

A flurry of activity overcame the Sea's Justice as orders were given and sailors took up the task of changing course and moving their ship to an intercept course. The ship came about and the trim was released to catch extra wind and speed towards what was still no more than a black speck.

Meanwhile the magistrates on board prepared their weapons and readied themselves for the possibility of battle.

The distance was halved before Saburo could make out any markings. The ship flew no colors but he could read the rigging and ship silhouette as well as any flag. "It is the Villain." Eriko nodded. "Pirates."

The Villain did not seek escape when the Sea’s Justice approached. Hails were made and the Mantis ship pulled alongside without incident. Sailors from both ships worked together to lash the ships together with stout lines.

Eriko called over, “Permission to come aboard, captain?”

The pirate captain was a hard-looking man who had seen more sea than land in his life. His gaze at Eriko bordered on a leer. “Permission granted. We have nothing to hide from the Mantis.”

“Then you will have no reason not to let me see your cargo.”

He smiled. “Of course not.”

Three other magistrates joined Eriko as she stepped onto the Villain. The captain, who called himself Nami, led the magistrates below deck, into the hold. They found a number of crates, a couple of which had been opened. The markings were clear to those who knew what to look for. “These indicate Crane cargo,” Eriko said.

Nami nodded. “They were bound for Crane lands. We decided they could be better used elsewhere. The Islands of Spice and Silk, for example."

Eriko nodded. “We will take stock of this cargo and we expect the proper tribute to be paid once you get to port.”

“Understood completely. We would never consider doing anything less. Shall we consider this a down payment on our port fees?” Nami handed Eriko a small bag that clinked when it moved. She took it without opening it. Nami’s smile broadened. “Now that we have business out of the way, would you be interested in joining me for a drink? I have a bottle of sake from Nanashi Mura that I have been saving for a special occasion.”

“Keep saving it, captain. Just remember that you continue to operate only with our blessing. Stray from acceptable targets and you become an enemy of the Mantis.”

Nami shrugged. “I am no fool, Mantis. I will not stray. We did encounter another ship sailing these waters, though.”

Eriko’s eyes narrowed. “What ship?”

“It is called the Western Wind. Yesterday it attacked, plundered and sank a ship heading south. The ship was flying Phoenix colors.”

Eriko’s mouth formed a hard line. “Idiots. Do they want more war?”

Nami shook his head. “It is only greed. Some do not realize when they have a reasonable agreement. Our navigator can give you the last known position we had for her, but that was from morning.”

“She could have travelled leagues since then.”

“Not if she is loaded down like I heard. She will be headed towards port. Likely a Crane port, since their reception won’t be quite so warm in a Mantis or Phoenix port.”

Eriko nodded and headed back to the deck. As she stepped back to her own ship, she turned and tossed the bag of coins back to Nami. “Thank you, captain.”

The pirate smiled as he tucked the bag into his sash. “Always happy to do my duty, magistrate.”

“Prepare for boarding!”, Eriko called out. The magistrates took the point positions, while the other Mantis sailors readied themselves behind them. Saburo held his heavy sword in both hands as he watched Eriko bark orders.

As they pulled close there was a volley in both directions. The pirates were not exceptionally skilled with the weapons, but some struck home. The Yoritomo were not the equal of their fellow Mantis family, the Tsuruchi, but they trained with the bow and many pirates fell before the battle was even truly joined.

As the ships contacted, Mantis sailors used long boat hooks to pull the ships together and fasten them. The magistrates vaulted the gunwales and leapt into the teeth of the pirates.

Eriko’s kama, her sickle-like weapon of choice, flashed, felling men on either side. A pirate fully twice her size swung a crude, jagged blade at her head. She dropped to the deck in a crouch before launching herself at his knees. The big man was staggered but did not fall. He shifted his weapon and brought it crashing down to where Eriko was, but she stayed ahead by rolling to the side. As the blade struck the deck, she lashed out with one of her kama, striking him with a glancing blow off his arm.

As blood started pouring down his forearm, Eriko sprung to her feet and buried her other kama in his chest.

Saburo bowled over a pirate as he jumped from the gunwale. He brought his knee up as he struck the other man in the chest. They both went down, but Saburo was first to his feet as the pirate tried to regain his breath. He never would, as Saburo’s sword ended his life. Another pirate tried to take advantage of the situation, but Saburo avoided his clumsy swing. As the Mantis sailor tried to bring his sword around, however, two men locked in a grapple struck him from behind. The pirate in front of him knocked Saburo’s sword free from his grasp and followed with what should have been a deathblow. Saburo twisted, narrowly avoiding the blade, and produced a tanto from his sash. He drove it into the pirate’s abdomen and then grabbed the man’s wrist, stopping a follow-up blow.

Eriko only had one kama now, as the other had to be left in the large pirate’s chest as the fighting washed over her. She used her free hand to grab a spar and pull herself to a higher vantage point. She looped a rope around her arm and swung out and over the heads of a line of pirates that was holding off the Mantis attackers. She landed behind their line and dropped two of them before they could react to her presence. The others turned to face this new threat but that opened them to the assault from the Mantis on the other side.

Saburo worked his way across the deck, wielding a sword recovered from one of the pirates. His arms and face were spattered with blood and he sometimes had trouble keeping his footing.

Eriko found herself with her back to the gunwale and three pirates threatening her. She had lost her other kama somewhere so had drawn her katana from its saya. She had the reach advantage over the pirates with their daggers, but when they attacked all at once, there was little she could do. The first died quickly enough and the second followed, but she could not get her sword clear before the third slashed her arm with his knife. He poised for a slash at her face when he stopped and fell.

Saburo nodded to Eriko as he moved on to the next enemy. The pirates were no match for the Mantis crew, ultimately. The Mantis took no prisoners. Eriko led a group of sailors, including Saburo, into the hold of the pirate vessel. The information provided by Nami was accurate and the hold was full of crates and barrels marked with the Phoenix mon. “I want all of this moved to the Sea’s Justice. We will take it with us back to Kyuden Gotei.”

The sailors went to work immediately. The cargo was quite extensive and it took over an hour to get it all transferred and secured on the Mantis ship. Then Eriko gave one last look to the Western Wind and gave the order, “Scuttle it.”

She looked up. “Ah, Saburo-san. I wanted to thank you for your efforts today. You are a fine warrior.” She motioned for him to sit and he did. “You would make a good magistrate. I believe I could get you transferred if you still wished it.”

Saburo said nothing for a moment and then said, “Why did we scuttle the ship? It was no great vessel, but with a refit it could have a use.”

“That ship was full of stolen goods, Saburo-san. We could hardly be seen using it. We would not want the Mantis to gain a reputation as pirates.” There was a certain gleam in her eyes when she said that.

“When we return the goods to the Phoenix, it will be clear that it was not the Mantis who were aboard the Western Wind. There will be no shame. In fact, I imagine it would strengthen our relations with them.”

“They will get their goods, for a finder’s fee.” Eriko eyed Saburo levelly. “Keeping the seas safe is an expensive business. They should be glad to pay.”

Saburo looked at Eriko and saw nothing but sincerity. He looked away. “Being a magistrate is a difficult job.”

She sighed. “Yes, but very rewarding. The law of the sea is similar to the sea itself. It is always changing even as it never changes. You could look at this sea every day and it would look the same, but the water you are looking at is different every time. Still, it is also simple. I just need to know how to best serve the Mantis. The answer is usually clear.”

They sat in silence for moments. “Eriko-san?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for your offer. I know that you are offering more than your recommendation. I am afraid that I must decline. Your world is not mine. I am a simple man. I think I prefer it that way.”

Saburo stood and walked from the aft. Eriko remained alone for some time, staring at the sea.