Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jun 7, 2012 2:51:55 GMT -5
It was late at night in the Kakita lands. All but a few guards were happily sleeping their nights away. All but those few guards and Kakita Battou.
He had quietly slipped from the chambers that he and his wife shared, on their wedding night no less, in an attempt to do what he thought was the right thing. You see, Battou had, for a very long time, idolized Mitsouko in such a way that he held her on a pedastal away from everyone but himself. To him, her honor and purity were without question. Once before, he had sacrificed his own honor to help propel himself closer to her, to remove impediments in his way. And the unfortunate truth is that, he had to do so again, he had to sacrifice his honor for her, again.
So it came to pass that late in the night, after the bell had tolled for the midnight hour, he fled under the cover of darkness, his warm comfortable bed, where his recently satiated wife lay with arms begging him to come back, though she slept soundly. He fled to the place that the helm they recovered in the shadowlands lay. He took the Kabuto of the Obsidian Champion into a satchel, and on horseback, he rode, hard, for the mountains above Kyuden Doji. Where the ancient and powerful furnaces of the ancient Kakita smiths lay. Where Kakita blades, themselves, were forged.
He did so, his thoughts intent on destroying this item before it could fall back into the hands of the shadowlands. The mere fact that they had come all the way to his home to retreive it, belied the words that he had heard hours after the fact from Mitsouko's lips about how unimportant it was.
At midnight, Kakita Battou stole the Kabuto of the Obsidian Champion from the place that his wife and family Daimyo had placed it, his intent to destroy it in the fires above Kyuden Doji.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 7, 2012 8:01:04 GMT -5
It was a nightmare what wake her up in the morning. Something about Sojiro, Hitoshi, Battou, a great evil and… cursed swords and helms. A bit disoriented, she looked around and noticed a few things of her husband in the room. Which meant, yes, the memories of an awful party had been true. Also, she was married, for real.
She can’t deny, of course, her husband arms were quite comforting and pleasurable, though… he wasn’t here. Considering his previous behavior, it was strange. But she convinced herself he had a good reason to be absent in so early hour.
As soon as she stepped out her chambers, assistants brought her reports and news about the recent events outside the Manor. The new civil war events in the north, the demands of guarding Imperial lands and the Emperor, and skirmishing against Crab in the shores; rumors about Shadowlands attacks against Crab, about Scorpion arrival in Kyuden Hida; rumors about omens of doom.
It was enough to make the Kakita daimyo busy for the rest of the day, thinking little about her husband's absence, but with some sort of recurrent bad feeling when Battou's vague image randomly popped up in her mind.
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Post by Shoju on Jun 7, 2012 13:13:52 GMT -5
At Seawatch Castle
Yamuso had spent time watching the keep. They had done surprisingly well cleaning up the undead that had made it to shore from the traitor's vessel. Casualties had been low, and for a taxed military, they had put the undead down admirably.
As Yamuso watched the Keep he noticed that there were no special preparations being made, no pomp and circumstance, nothing. It was odd, but certainly in a time of war, it could be explained. He waited, watching, absorbing as much information as he could.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 7, 2012 18:53:11 GMT -5
That night, Battou wasn’t there as well. It intrigued Mitsouko greatly, and caused some veiled curiosity in those close to her. Though, diplomatic dealing kept her busy for the dinner time again, but didn’t escape to her the subtle frown in Battou’s father’s forehead, or the twitched detail in the corner of his mother’s smile. Discreetly she asked to loyal men to find her husband as soon as possible; in peaceful time his absence wouldn’t be a good thing, let alone in those days of war. This night, in the lonely room, she dreamed of him. His blue eyes gazing the vivid, sanguineous and vitreous heat lava of the slag. Under the surface of it, an almost palpable secret, something she couldn’t really reach, and in the morning the daimyo’s husband wasn’t there as well. Though, another urgent matter was occupying her head as well. The Spider Champion’s helmet should be handed back to his true owner, in spite of who he was. With a heavy heart, Mitsouko chose her most loyal yojimbo since Hitoshi, and left for Seawatch Castle. The village was now recovering from the recent attacks, and in route, she would take the item from where she, Battou and Asahina Yuuto had put it in custody of diligent samurai of her clan. Her arrival in the place the item was supposed to be was unexpected as she knew it would be, but she didn’t expect their reactions. First, confused looks, them, embarrassed faces when they realized the Kakita daimyo didn’t know the artifact wasn’t there anymore. The most ranked samurai present in the Ashidaka holdings started to explain, that they should be punished by their great mistake, since they believed another person was allowed to take the item away. Kakita Battou, they said, went before her, and took the item away. First, she couldn’t believe it. He? Why? Was it really him? But the Ashidaka assured Mitsouko it was her husband. His starry night cape and overall appearance were unmistakable among the Crane. Mitsouko’s mind tried to rationalize. Well, of course. Battou is a bit overprotective. Maybe her husband just wished to make sure the item wouldn’t be stolen before the time it would be delivered to its owner. That’s it. He took it to Seawatch Castle and is waiting for her with his sardonic neko smile. But well, her heart said differently. While she rode in full gallop to the Castle, the fragile scenario she desired to be true started to fall in pieces. A notch in her throat, tears in her eyes while the gusting wind swapped her face. No! Battou! You didn’t! please, be there!Mitsouko never put her feet into the castle, she asked about Battou’s early arrival to the first sentinel she saw, and after his negative response, she turned on heels in full gallop again. If not here, where?But her heart new this answer.
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Jun 8, 2012 15:04:28 GMT -5
Thrakhath, dressed once more in his sohei robes over heavy armor, sat in a dimly lit sake house with a full cup of the stuff on the table. He stared at the surface of the liquid intently, the way a despairing man might. It was a good excuse to not drink it, but secretly Thrakhath wanted nothing more than to down the stuff in one gulp, and have it affect him the way it used to when he was alive. This strange longing to be among the living was a weakness that he knew he couldn't tolerate, but it was there nonetheless, and he couldn't for the life of him recall where it had come from. It was a weakness he certainly couldn't afford to show, and thus far he had done a good job of keeping it hidden. His grip on the glass tightened involuntarily as he recalled his conversation with Mitsouko only a few days before. He'd come close to slipping then, wearing that ridiculous costume and chatting with a samurai who seemed to understand. They're all liars, he had to remind himself. You have no allies, and you never will.
The glass shattered in his hand with a crash eliciting startled looks from the sake house's patrons. Thrakhath stuffed his hand under his arm to hide the lack of blood as a server rushed over to check on him. "Are you well, sir?" she asked.
"I'm fine," Thrakhath growled, pushing himself away from the table roughly and standing.
"Your hand..." the server began, but Thrakhath shoved past her and left the sake house before anyone could attempt to stop him. He wandered the streets of the village until he was sure no one had followed him. Then he left, and made his way to a clearing in the woods outside the village where he and Yamuso had arranged to meet after his reconnaissance of Seawatch Castle. If Mitsouko had gone there early as Thrakhath suspected she would, there should be some sign that Yamuso's keen eyes would find.
He was early for their meeting, so as a way to pass the time, Thrakhath drew his scimitar and began a kata. He settled into a simple stance and struck at the air with an overhand chop as a means of starting, and soon he was fully into it. It was a brutal, purely offensive thing, full of hard and fast strikes meant to cause maximum damage with minimum style. He found himself unable to settle into any kind of rhythm as he moved about the clearing, until seemingly of its own accord, his blade spun in a flourish withing his hand.
He closed his eyes and cast his mind backward, and his kata transformed into something else entirely. His blade passed from one hand to another, windmilling about his body as he leaped and spun throughout the clearing. More than once he missed his footing and nearly faltered, but a deft roll or twist of his body just turned into part of the dance. He hadn't performed this particular kata in decades. It was a kata purely for show, and a thing with very little practical value in battle; Thrakhath found himself reveling in it. Things came unbidden to his mind as his scimitar spun around him, memories of a life before the Spider he thought he'd forgotten. A simpler time, when loyalty and honor were words that had meaning, when he never had to worry about a comrade stabbing him in the back, when he didn't have to guard his mind against a creeping madness that threatened to turn him into nothing but an unthinking killer, and when the wind in his face was a tangible thing he could feel and take pleasure in. Unable to tire and wrapped up in his reverie, he continued for a long time, becoming oblivious to the world around him.
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Post by Shoju on Jun 8, 2012 15:18:21 GMT -5
Yamuso moved deftly through the woods. Part of him wanted a reason to not show. A fight, a patrol, something. He could only imagine the reaction his Lord would have when he brought him the news.
As the clearing drew closer, Yamuso heard noises, and took to the trees to get a closer inspection of the situation. Had his Lord found trouble in the woods? Yamuso had held a doubt that something was amiss since they left the Crane party, without the Nemuranai, and without shedding blood. Something was on his Lord's mind. Something that Thrakhath didn't want to speak about, and something Yamuso certainly wouldn't ask about.
Yamuso reached the clearing, and found his lord in the throws of a kata he had never seen before. Judging by what he knew of the blade his Lord carried, his appearance, and the stories he had heard, He figured it was Moto in nature, but wasn't sure.
He watched from the perch 20 or so feet from the ground for several minutes. Enthralled by his form and grace. When Thrakhath's kata took him to the far edge of the clearing, Yamuso lept from the tree, landed, and rolled into a kneeling position.
"Forgive me the intrusion Thrakhath-sama, but I come bringing news." Yamuso exhaled deeply, and spoke quick, fearing his Lord's wrath. "Seawatch Castle seems to have recently been visited by the Traitor, and there are no signs of an impending arrival of The Lady Crane."
Yamuso held his breath, waiting.
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Zeure
Crane Clan
Crane Clan ? Samurai ? Duelist ? Artisan ? Guardian of Metal ? Unique
Posts: 826
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Post by Zeure on Jun 8, 2012 16:45:30 GMT -5
Battou was shirtless, sweating, and tired. He had been working for several hours already and his sleep had been fitful anyways... he never could sleep when he had a duty that weighed against his honor. If it was a sign that he should not be doing it, granted by the kami, then they weren't loud enough it seemed.
Again, for probably the 15th time, Battou cast the helmet into the forge fires, and again, for the 15th time, the helmet went in with that same wailing sound, like a dead man's last groan. And still, it only sat in the forge fires with no change to it's composition...seemingly laughing at him for all the good he had been able to do with it in these few days. All he had done was burn away some ornamentation on it, some cloth ties that would hold it in place on the wearer and some horse-hair mane thing that looked stupid to Battou. Some unicorn thing that he would never be able to understand.
"It needs to be hotter..." He said outloud to the almost empty room. There was only one other man in attendance with him, one of the elders that had been part of this forge since long before Battou was born. The rest of the smiths Battou had asked very politely to leave the forge for the next seven days. This man, Kakita Ozo, was the one who had trained Battou in the special techniques. And Battou needed the help, he thought.
Kakita Ozo looked over at what he was doing, and nodded. "Well... then you're going to need a shugenja... probably wouldn't hurt in this endeavor anyways. Can you think of anyone you could trust?"
Battou thought for several minutes. Once, several seasons ago, he had the good fortune of spending some time with the Asahina. And while he had not been able to get along with their pacifistic ways, he had gotten along with some of their women, as was his way. One in particular had resisted him and his temptations, and that one could definitely be trusted. "I think she is traveling... she might not be very far from here..." "I'll go, just to make sure. Don't do anything stupid while I'm gone." "Of course not... thank you sensei." Battou bowed, and Ozo nodded to him. Quickly a letter was drafted and Ozo rode.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 9, 2012 7:47:01 GMT -5
In the Forest
Hurry! Hurry Nibu! A voice could be heard in the proximities of the clearing. Dad will kill us if we delay that much!
Is it really her?
Yes, stupid. It is. I already said you twice, it’s her and She’s with dad in the inn, waiting for his saddle... uff... Why do you think dad said me to get his saddle and come back as fast as I could? Why else would mom...uff... let us to get his saddle and walk in the forest by the night?
I … don’t know. The voices where childish, and soon two boys were clearly seen by anyone in the clearing. The older of them still a couple of years before his gempukku time was carrying a good quality saddle in his back, and holding a bo stick firmly in his grasp. The younger one, 7 or 8 years old, was holding a lantern and stumbling on most of the obstacles of the unclear path they were taking. They seemed to be very used to walk in that part of the forest, and were quite in a hurry.
Nibu, I don’t know why I allowed you to come with me!
I wanna see Lady Kakita! Haha-sama said I could! the little boy whined.
Neneneh! The older mocked of his younger brother, stepping carelessly in the clearing, the discussion making him completely unaware of the peril ahead..
When they saw the two men standing in the clearing, though, the little one paralyzed in its border, pulling his older brother by his clothes.
Manabu…!
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Jun 9, 2012 14:41:18 GMT -5
Thrakhath's fantasy came to a crashing end as Yamuso's presence intruded into his awareness, and his blade dance ended with a slashing strike in the direction of Yamuso's voice. The strike would have surely cut Yamuso in half, had he not the prudence to land on the far end of the clearing. Thrakhath sighed; a human expression that sounded distinctly rattling and unnatural coming from his ravaged lungs. "Consider yourself forgiven," he said, sheathing his sword.
"The Traitor? Shoju?" Thrakhath said incredulously. The surprise in his expression was obvious, and he didn't bother trying to hide it. "So that worthless pile of horse dung still walks the world." He grinned a predatory grin. "His time will come," he said. "First, it seems, we must keep looking for Mitsouko." He began to pace. "I had the thought that we might find a shugenja to divine the location of the kabuto for us, but I don't know if such a thing would work. We may simply have to trust ourselves to fate on this one."
As if on cue, voices piped up from within the woods around the clearing. Thrakhath turned to face the source of the noise, and he distinctly picked up the words "lady Kakita," before two small bows emerged into the clearing and stopped in their tracks. The smaller one grabbed onto the taller one and exclaimed a word, one that Thrakhath could only assume was the taller boy's name.
"Get behind me," the taller one said, pushing him back and grasping the bo stick he carried tightly with both hands.
While Yamuso's hand went straight to the hilt of his blade, Thrakhath remained nonthreatening, hands spread out and facing outward. "Don't be alarmed, little ones," he said. "We're just as surprised as you are here."
"Who are you?" the bigger child blurted out.
"My name is Thrakhath, and this is my friend Yamuso," he said, waving a hand toward the other monk. "We are travelers, and friends of the lady Kakita."
"You know the lady Kakita?" the boy asked tentatively. His grip on the bo stick seemed to lessen ever so slightly.
"Yes, in fact we were at her wedding only a few days ago," Thrakhath said. "It was very exciting."
The boys were clearly still unsettled. Thrakhath couldn't help but marvel at the perception of children. They picked up on unnatural things adults might simply ignore or try to rationalize. "We should be going," Manabu said. The younger child continued to say nothing, but nodded his head emphatically.
"Going where?" Thrakhath said. "It's a dangerous forest, you shouldn't be out here alone."
"We can take care of ourselves," Manabu said defiantly.
Between Thrakhath's anger at having been interrupted moments before, and his anger at himself for displaying such weakness in the first place, this boy's audacity was the last straw. With unnatural speed he closed the distance between himself and the older boy, and cuffed him hard across the jaw. The younger boy screamed as his brother went down, and his scream was abruptly cut off as Thrakhath's hand wrapped around his neck, and he lifted him off the ground. The older boy looked up, an expression of terror on his face as Thrakhath looked down at him, his eyes glowing with a sickly green light. "Listen to me very carefully, boy," he said, pure menace in his voice. "You are going to take me to Kakita Mitsouko's location, and you are going to do it right now. That, or you will watch your brother slowly choke to death. The choice is yours."
The young man was a long time in responding. Only when his younger brother's kicking legs began to slow, and his gasps began to slacken, did he finally manage to speak. "I will take you to her," Manabu said quietly.
"Wise decision," Thrakhath said. He tossed the younger boy to the ground in a heap. "Now get up and start walking," he growled. Manabu picked up his walking stick and took his coughing brother by the hand. He glared once at Thrakhath, but another cuff from the big man took all the fight out of him. The boy set off with a defeated look on his face, leading his younger brother by the hand, with Thrakhath and Yamuso not far behind.
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 9, 2012 16:58:14 GMT -5
In a inn placed next to a well worn crossroad not far from the forest were the Obsidian Champion and his accomplice were chatting minutes before, Mitsouko waited for Manabu’s return. She was sitting very still in the inn’s verandah, trying to control her anxiousness. She had already refused a room or a bed, and even a messenger to the castle. Her urgency was into returning to her ride to her husband's current location. Few miles after her departure from the Castle and her saddle’s flank billet tore apart, almost throwing her down in the middle of the galloping movement. Quietly cursing the bad luck, the Kakita daimyo and her yojimbo forced their way till they got to this inn, where they found the Kakita samurai who was able to provide his daimyo a saddle. Then, his son was sent back their home, not far from the inn, to get the saddle as soon as possible, so Lady Kakita could depart safely. The boy’s father were around, ready for whatever else Mitsouko needed, discreetly admonishing her yojimbo for permitting her to travel with so little protection. Other travellers, passing soldiers and merchants were crowding the inn anyway. Some curiosity ensued her presence in such humble inn and tea house (for Crane Standards). She ignored their muffled conversation, wondering what to do next. If the artifact was already destroyed.
The night fell, bowls of fuming noodles, Mitsouko's favorite, were offered along with tea, but she refused to enter, hoping to make her stay as brief as possible.Then, from the porch of the inn, she saw the little group approaching on foot. A chill on her spine when she understood it was Thrakhath, Yamuso, and two children, one of them, Manabu. Her hand ran to the tsuba of her blade, while she stood up slowly; wary. The travellers and Mitsouko's yojimbo noticed their arrival as well, and their Lady's reaction made many of them ready for any possible confrontation.
Thrakh-san came a bit too early, neh? she tilted her head aside. What a big surprise: are you getting acquainted with my kin's children? It was obvious Manabu and the little one were with the two mysterious travellers against their will. But their closeness to the Spider men made her cautious. I guess I shall invite you both to some sake in my company, as soon as you say goodbye to your little new friends...
OOC Let me know if I need to edit it
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Post by Shoju on Jun 11, 2012 12:14:38 GMT -5
Yamuso was pleasantly surprised by the boldness of his Lord in the situation. He walked slowly, keeping an eye on the children.
As the Lady Kakita spoke, Yamuso grinned darkly. "Maybe, the little ones could join us. It's not too often that you get to meet such...... interesting individuals. Think of the stories they would have." Yamuso's voice held an edge of irritation to it.
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Jun 11, 2012 13:27:32 GMT -5
"Thank you for the invitation, but we won't be staying long," Thrakhath said. One hand rested on Manabu's shoulder almost protectively, and he seemed entirely unconcerned despite being surrounded by armed soldiers. "Yamuso has a point though," he said with a smirk. "The kids should stay; it may be an educational experience."
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Kakita Mitsouko
Crane Clan Mod
::Daimyo::Kenshinzen::Hatamoto of Crane Clan::Paragon of Duty
Posts: 1,952
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Post by Kakita Mitsouko on Jun 11, 2012 19:21:28 GMT -5
A bad taste came to her mouth, while some possible scenarios ran into her mind. Few samurai would mind in sacrifice two low ranked samurai, even children, to preserve the honor of the family. Even the Crane. But, if the Spider champion hurt those children in front of her clan, she had the perfect excuse to deny their demands, and make them pay for the audacity…. Did they know something about the helm? How could they know? And...right now, when all she wished was not to waste a second? All of this passed by her mind in a second.
Anyway, she knew what was about to happen. But, maybe it was worth to make them come to reason. Thrakh seemed to be a reasonable... Spider, back there. Yamuso/Omigawa… a bit rancorous, though. They weren't interested in understand her and her reasons, obviously, but she needed to build some time for her purposes. But right now, it was about politics, honor, and two children.
The children’s father was nervous by her side, pale and tense as someone in his situation was expected to be, facing such a dilemma. The men around were just waiting a single blink to throw themselves, blades in hand, upon the strange men.
A minute or so passed and the air was thick with tension.
Calm down, my friends. Mitsouko said, waving a hand to her family men. Those men still aren't MY enemies. But the outcome of this eventful meeting can change everything... Right, Thrakh-san, Yamuso-san? Very well. The children must like some noodles. Come on, enter. If you like my kin that much, you can’t deny my humble offering… Then you can tell me why you showed up so early, and what you are doing in my forests.
Maybe she was part of the few ones...
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Post by Shoju on Jun 12, 2012 14:52:43 GMT -5
Yamuso smiled at the Crane assembled in the room, his toothy grin set against his muted features made him look more like a caricature than a real man. He moved towards Mitsouko, and bowed. "Oh the lessons that will be learned this evening, Thank you Mitsouko-san. I'm sure your noodles will be fantastic."
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Daigotsu Thrakhath
Spider Clan
Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken
Posts: 600
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Post by Daigotsu Thrakhath on Jun 18, 2012 10:29:51 GMT -5
"We won't be staying long, Kakita-sama," Thrakhath said. He removed his hand from Manabu's shoulder, but neither child made a move until he looked to them and gave a slight nod. Then they bolted for the table and began eating hungrily. "Thank you for the offer of food, I hope you won't be offended if I refuse." The two men dressed as sohei took their places at the table as a server placed a bowl of noodles in front of Yamuso, eying both of them warily.
"I am here, in your forest, mostly because it is on the way to Seawatch Castle," Thrakhath began. "Of course we showed up early, I believe I mentioned to you at your wedding that I wanted this resolved as quickly as possible." He shrugged. "By know you are well aware of my philosophy toward people and honor, is it really a surprise that I would attempt to insure the bargain is being upheld?
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