Black Crow
Itagaki Munetsura woke to a feeling of contentment, resting
comfortably on his back. Firelight painted the branches above him
red-gold and beyond that was a roof of night. It took several
seconds for his memory to return and when it did, his contentment
vanished as though he had been scalded. With a hoarse cry he sat up,
grabbing for his blades. Across the fire from him Kaemon also sprang
upright, startled by this sudden movement.
Nothing else moved apart from the shadows dancing to firelight.
Off to Kaemon's left, a dark shape sat - as Munetsura's eyes adjusted
to the dim light, he realised another man sat there, motionless and
wrapped in dark robes.
Attempting to pierce the shroud the shadows cast upon the cloaked
figure, Munetsura spat in a guttural tone, "Who are you?"
With his right hand he reached down to grip the handle of his
katana. He was groggy and it felt as though his thoughts sloshed
about inside his head, drunk with sleep as he was. For a split
second, Munetsura glanced at Kaemon, than back at the cloaked
figure.
"Do you not know it is impolite to sneak up on those who slumber
... you could have disturbed my wa," Munetsura said cautiously.
He wondered if threats would matter. Somehow this man had snuck
up upon them while they slumbered like content babes sucking on their
mother's teat, and this cloaked figure could have men hiding in the
bushes, bows nocked and ready to be loosed on them. Controlling
his anger for not sleeping in shifts, Munetsura's dark eyes darted
about him, scanning for any sign of more nightly guests. He hoped
Kaemon would not panic and keep his mouth shut. With irritation, he
scratched his coarse beard and flexed his fingers over the handle to
his katana while waiting for an answer, all the while thinking out
what he would do just in case...
His thoughts were interrupted by Kaemon, who stood nervously,
half-crouching by the fire.
"No, Itagaki-san! This man is a priest! He helped bind your leg,
and helped me carry you here when…" His voice trailed off.
"He means when you would otherwise have been discovered by
soldiers looking for the murderer of an innkeeper." stated the other,
in an even tone.
The events of the previous day washed back over Munetsura, and he
gaped a second in amazement. His leg! He glanced down. Although it
was bandaged, he felt no pain, and it responded readily enough when
he flexed it. The priest, who had still not moved, spoke again, in a
voice that carried an undertone of amusement.
"Your leg will be fine, although the herbs I set in the wound for
the pain will make you groggy for a day or two."
Munetsura recollected his contentment on waking and understood his
confusion. He had been drugged - although no harm had so far been
done to him.
The priest raised one hand, which stood out sharply in the
firelight aginst his shadowed form, and raised the wide hat which had
obscured his face. His head was shaven, and his features fine and
ascetic, but by some trick of the light his eyes seemed to reflect
nothing at all. The priest smiled briefly and then said "Indeed, my
road also takes me north to Dewa and I would welcome the company of
two stalwart warriors. The roads can be dangerous - plagued by
bandits, if you can believe such a thing. But if we are to travel
together, I should introduce myself. My name is Kura."
Munetsura did his best to hide the sarcastic mirth he felt when
the priest, Kura, mentioned bandits. The priest was right about the
roads being plagued with them. It was as if the roads were like the
unkept hair of an eta and the bandits that infected them lice. If a
daimyo were able were to rid his lands of one band, ten more would
pop up. This was due to the fact that Japan was strife with
internal warfare, and until a strong central government was formed,
the roads would be hazardous to travelers.
"Indeed. It is much safer to travel in numbers along the roads
these days, Kura-san. Bandits are everywhere. They are the reason
for the wound in my leg. They set upon Kaemon and I while we
traveled!" Munetsura spat into the fire. It was a lie, but not
completely, Munetsura reasoned.
Then, leaning forward, Kura stated deliberately. "I believe it
was not entirely by accident that we met today, Munetsura. If you
listen to my advice, I can set your feet on the goal to that which
you desire the most. War is coming to the northlands, and swords
such as yours will be needed."
Oblivious to the undertones in the priests offer, Munetsura jumped
at the opportunity. Banditry was a dishonorable profession and
Munetsura much preffered to make his earnings fighting in the
fashion that samurai were raised to do. Perhaps, Munetsura thought,
a lord might ask for my extended service. Quickly Munetsura blocked
that thought. It was never good to hope.
"There is war in the north? Between who, might I ask?" As the
firelight played on his pouchy face, Munetsura could not help look
over at Kaemon, whose face was gleaming with excitement. Munetsura
too, felt the bubbling anticipation of battle already in his
stomach, but was able to contain it.
Kura smiled, and there was something predatory in his expression.
"Oh, there is no fighting as yet. But it will come soon, I assure
you. The lords in northern Dewa no longer heed the voice of their
overlord. All his attention is focused on the great doings of his
southern neighbours. They are hiring ronin and laying the harvests in
their castles. Even the spirits whisper that their old feuds will be
taken up again. I have an appointment with the lord Nakanishikawa. He
is hiring ronin and could be persuaded, I think, to look well on
someone such as yourself. Distinguish yourself in the fighting to
come and you could bid farewell to the road."
Kura paused and then continued in his high, soft voice. "But even
this is not all. The great lords of the south strut and argue. The
grip of the shogun is faltering and his allies have grown weak and
decadent. The first blades will be drawn here. But they will not be
sheathed here, I think. A man of ambition should consider these
things."
Munetsura scanned his memory for the family name Nakanishikawa.
He was from Aki, and most of the campaigns that he had fought in
were in the southern region of Japan, so he was not familiar with
the families of the north and their politics. However, while he
served the Kodama family in the Mino region, Munetsura had heard of
the Arai. It was only in passing - while he was accompanying the
Soke of his Ryu in hawking, his sensei mentioned the skills of a
Lord Testuo and his skill in training the great bird of prey.
Munetsura wondered, though it was inconsequential to him, if perhaps
the Nakanishikawa were affiliated with the Arai.
Looking at the priest, for the first time, Munetsura noticed
something queer about the man. Kura spoke about the turmoil in the
north almost prophetically, as though the kami had whispered in his
ear the events that were to come. Munetsura tried not lay this aside
as being the affect of the drugs, but something that he should be
wary of. The priest had healed his leg - it was a miracle that
already he could stand on it! Munetsura felt the tide of guilt wash
about on the shore of his conscience. I should be ashamed, he
scolded himself. This man, Kura, heals my leg and then tells me of
how ronin are being sought in Dewa, and I look upon him as though he
were possessed with the spirit on an oni!
And if the priest was right about war coming to the North, this
was perhaps Munetsura's last chance to prove himself to a lord of
worthiness. At the age of 42, Munetsura knew he had passed his
prime; his joints were beginning to knot, and he was not as quick as
he used to be. Fit as he was, long exertions left him more tired
than as a young man. Sooner or later the sword would no longer be
his mainstay in life, the tool in which he sought perfection and
honor.
"I am so sorry Kura-sama. Here I am caught up in the prospect of
being hired by Nakanishikawa-domo and I have forgotten my manners.
May I offer you what rice we have?" With a humility that astonished
Kaemon, Munetsura got to his feet and walked over to the fire, where
he crouched besides the flames, cooking some rice. Turning his head
towards the priest, the firelight warming the side of his face, he
said. "You speak of the situation in the north as though you know it
very well. Would you mind explaining for someone as ignorant as me,
who Nakanishikawa-domo is? Is he looking for ronin who could lead
troop units? I led troops in the battle at Sendano many years
ago."
Kura nodded. "I know. I have, in fact, spoken to men who were
previously comrades of yours. This is what I meant when I said I
believed it was not just coincidence we had met upon the road. It is
karma. And yes, I believe you will soon lead troops into battle. The
Nakanishikawa will be hiring mercenaries, but such soldiers are
rice-straw for the burning without a worthy warrior to lead them. You
have several qualities I think will prove most useful in the time
ahead. As for the Nakanishikawa, they are a small mountain clan, of
no particular importance. However, even a very small stone can start
an avalanche that sweeps a castle away. I go now to talk with the
Lord Nakanishikawa as there are certain matters we must discuss. I
would be happy to recommend you to his service and it would benefit
you to accept his offer. If an avalanches starts, it is best to be
above it rather than below it."
Kura paused, then reached to accept the rice that Munetsura
offered. He nodded his thanks and then set to eating. When he had
finished, he passed the bowl back and thanked Munetsura
graciously.
"You must be tired, with your wound and the herbs in your leg. We
have days of travel ahead of us and we can talk on the road. I
suggest you sleep - I can share the remaining watches with
Kaemon.
Munetsura nodded to Kura. The priest's suggestions were very wise
and the ronin couldn't help feel a sense of pride for the fact that
the priest had heard of his exploits. Laying on the mat, using his
elbow to prop himself up, Munetsura looked across from the fire to
the priest. Though his body still felt heavy with the effects of the
herbs, this talk of karma and of battle had him very excited; a wave
of hope flowed through his body, rejuvenating even the uttermost
reaches of his tired, beaten body, and Munetsura felt as though he
would not be able to sleep. Proudly he stated, "You are right, Kura.
I shall sleep, but only until the next shift. It would be shameful
for a warrior such as myself to heap these responsibilities on a
priest."
There was no room for argument in this statement. Contentedly,
Munetsura lay on the mattress and closed his eyes, the fire crackling
beside him. For the first time in many years he was not bothered by
the jagged stones and uneven lumps of dirt beneath his mattress.
With a smile upon his face, Munetsura slept till dawn woke him.