Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Aug 19, 2011 15:39:27 GMT -5
((I couldn't find an appropriate thread, so I figured I'd make a new one.))
The court of Daigotsu was not the sort of place Thrakhath enjoyed. Everyone in this room had some sort of plot going against someone else, no doubt some of them even directed his way, and the whole game served to make him very tired very quickly. It was necessary, however, for him to speak with his lord immediately, and so he had deigned to show himself in this rat's nest in order to seek an audience. He strode down the length of the hall, clad in his finest dress armor out of respect for the court, his helm tucked underneath one arm. Some of the courtiers scattered throughout the hall gave him fearful looks, but most simply ignored him. He was certainly not the only Spider officer to visit Daigotsu in recent times, though his rank did attract a bit more attention than usual. He shouldered his way past those others who had come to see the Spider lord, and no one protested when they recognized who he was. "My lord," he said, taking a respectful new when he had reached the dais at the end of the hall.
"Rise, Thrakhath-san," Daigotsu replied. "I assume you are here on some urgent matter?"
"My lord's grasp of the situation is astute, as always," Thrakhath replied. If Daigotsu noticed the subtle insult in his words, he made no mention of it. "I have recieved reports that Chuda Shoju has fashioned himself Tamihei Shoju and sequestered himself within Shiro Saisei." Thrakhath's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. "I assume my lord has recieved similar reports?"
"Shoju-san has been given leave to form his own clan, with my blessing and the blessing of the Spider," Daigotsu replied evenly.
Thrakhath was unable to hide his surprise. He'd known that Daigotsu likely knew of Shoju's treachery already, but he had no idea his lord had embraced such treason. "My lord, you of all people should be aware of the sort of betrayals the Chuda family is known for," he said between clenched teeth. "Am I to understand that you intend to allow his treachery to go unpunished?"
Daigotsu's eyes narrowed behind his mask, but that was the only show of emotion he allowed himself. "Are you questioning my orders, Thrakhath?" he said, with just the right hint of contempt in his voice.
Thrakhath found himself unable to reply for a moment. "I exist to carry out your will, my lord," Thrakhath said, with a deep bow. "I apologize for my insolence, and I will accept whatever atonement my lord deems necessary." He maintained his bow rather than straightening, awaiting Daigotsu's response.
"You can atone by continuing to serve me faithfully," Daigotsu replied, gesturing with his arm that Thrakhath should stand. "You are insolent and headstrong, Thrakhath-san; a remnant from your Moto heritage, no doubt," he said, "but you have always carried out my orders despite your frequent objections, and you have proven yourself time and again to be a capable commander." The tiniest hint of a grin tugged at the corner of the dark lord's lips. "The day when I grow tired of your attitude and order your seppuku may come, Thrakhath-san, but that day is not today."
Once again, Thrakhath had narrowly avoided being forced to spill what remained of his blood over his temper. "What are my lord's orders in this matter?" he said.
"You will stay out of it," Daigotsu said simply. "With our recent rejection in the courts of both Emperors, your services as commander of my armies are more important than ever. The time may come when your particular talents will be required."
"I live to serve," Thrakhath replied, bowing once again.
"I have no doubt," the dark lord replied. "You are dimissed."
Thrakhath straightened and turned on his heel, marching out of the hall. He could hear the whispers around him as he moved, but he couldn't make out what they were saying, and he wouldn't have cared even if he could. Daigotsu's words had done nothing to quell his misgivings about Shoju's intentions, and the last half of that conversation had been simple ritual. The fact that Daigotsu had not immediately ordered his seppuku troubled him, however; Thrakhath was sure that his etiquette had not fooled the dark lord for a moment.
The way of the Spider is simple; the strong survive, and the weak perish, he found himself thinking. Perhaps this is a test? Does he wish to see which of his servants would emerge victorious in a confrontation? Thrakhath mulled that thought over as he reached the stable outside the court. He donned his helmet and mounted his horse, kicking it into a trot through the city streets as his mind worked. Something has to be done, he decided finally. If my lord disapproves of my actions, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. He kicked his horse into a gallop, his horse kicking up a trail of dust as he left the city behind him and plunged into the Shadowlands.
The court of Daigotsu was not the sort of place Thrakhath enjoyed. Everyone in this room had some sort of plot going against someone else, no doubt some of them even directed his way, and the whole game served to make him very tired very quickly. It was necessary, however, for him to speak with his lord immediately, and so he had deigned to show himself in this rat's nest in order to seek an audience. He strode down the length of the hall, clad in his finest dress armor out of respect for the court, his helm tucked underneath one arm. Some of the courtiers scattered throughout the hall gave him fearful looks, but most simply ignored him. He was certainly not the only Spider officer to visit Daigotsu in recent times, though his rank did attract a bit more attention than usual. He shouldered his way past those others who had come to see the Spider lord, and no one protested when they recognized who he was. "My lord," he said, taking a respectful new when he had reached the dais at the end of the hall.
"Rise, Thrakhath-san," Daigotsu replied. "I assume you are here on some urgent matter?"
"My lord's grasp of the situation is astute, as always," Thrakhath replied. If Daigotsu noticed the subtle insult in his words, he made no mention of it. "I have recieved reports that Chuda Shoju has fashioned himself Tamihei Shoju and sequestered himself within Shiro Saisei." Thrakhath's eyes narrowed slightly as he spoke. "I assume my lord has recieved similar reports?"
"Shoju-san has been given leave to form his own clan, with my blessing and the blessing of the Spider," Daigotsu replied evenly.
Thrakhath was unable to hide his surprise. He'd known that Daigotsu likely knew of Shoju's treachery already, but he had no idea his lord had embraced such treason. "My lord, you of all people should be aware of the sort of betrayals the Chuda family is known for," he said between clenched teeth. "Am I to understand that you intend to allow his treachery to go unpunished?"
Daigotsu's eyes narrowed behind his mask, but that was the only show of emotion he allowed himself. "Are you questioning my orders, Thrakhath?" he said, with just the right hint of contempt in his voice.
Thrakhath found himself unable to reply for a moment. "I exist to carry out your will, my lord," Thrakhath said, with a deep bow. "I apologize for my insolence, and I will accept whatever atonement my lord deems necessary." He maintained his bow rather than straightening, awaiting Daigotsu's response.
"You can atone by continuing to serve me faithfully," Daigotsu replied, gesturing with his arm that Thrakhath should stand. "You are insolent and headstrong, Thrakhath-san; a remnant from your Moto heritage, no doubt," he said, "but you have always carried out my orders despite your frequent objections, and you have proven yourself time and again to be a capable commander." The tiniest hint of a grin tugged at the corner of the dark lord's lips. "The day when I grow tired of your attitude and order your seppuku may come, Thrakhath-san, but that day is not today."
Once again, Thrakhath had narrowly avoided being forced to spill what remained of his blood over his temper. "What are my lord's orders in this matter?" he said.
"You will stay out of it," Daigotsu said simply. "With our recent rejection in the courts of both Emperors, your services as commander of my armies are more important than ever. The time may come when your particular talents will be required."
"I live to serve," Thrakhath replied, bowing once again.
"I have no doubt," the dark lord replied. "You are dimissed."
Thrakhath straightened and turned on his heel, marching out of the hall. He could hear the whispers around him as he moved, but he couldn't make out what they were saying, and he wouldn't have cared even if he could. Daigotsu's words had done nothing to quell his misgivings about Shoju's intentions, and the last half of that conversation had been simple ritual. The fact that Daigotsu had not immediately ordered his seppuku troubled him, however; Thrakhath was sure that his etiquette had not fooled the dark lord for a moment.
The way of the Spider is simple; the strong survive, and the weak perish, he found himself thinking. Perhaps this is a test? Does he wish to see which of his servants would emerge victorious in a confrontation? Thrakhath mulled that thought over as he reached the stable outside the court. He donned his helmet and mounted his horse, kicking it into a trot through the city streets as his mind worked. Something has to be done, he decided finally. If my lord disapproves of my actions, I will cross that bridge when I come to it. He kicked his horse into a gallop, his horse kicking up a trail of dust as he left the city behind him and plunged into the Shadowlands.
