After a long and tedious walk - for I have not yet taken to another horse - we arrived near the capital. The ruby red roofs and white walls of Otosan Uchi veritably sparkled in the sunlight. It was absolutely magnificent. We sent a rider forth to announce our arrival. Jekusu and I changed into the fine kimonos Asami gave us and we rode with Kuno to the gates. I even pulled my hair from it's normal braid, and wore it up, as a woman of the courts would. We argued most of the way there on what to do with those vile swords. While Kuno wanted to use his to kill Doji Satsume, I'm sure, Jekusu and I finally convinced him that using the dark lord's swords would not help his position in the courts. We were torn between dropping them off at the nearest temple and trying to destroy them, but as we entered the city, we knew what we must do.
The crowds swarmed around us and blocked us from taking any side streets to a temple. Kuno's reputation precedes him. I don't understand how people can look up to that man. We were taken directly to the court of the Emperor. We decided to present the Emperor with the swords as a gift. Dark swords won from the minions of Shadow are certainly precious gifts, and proof of our loyalty and love of His Most Honorable Imperial Magesty..
I'm not sure, but I think Kuno was so nervous and he screwed up his presentation. He began to speak before the Emperor had spoken, and a hush fluttered over the crowd. While I couldn't see his expression, for my forehead was pressed to the ground, I know he has embarrassed himself yet again. We were called upon to move further into the court, closer to where the Emperor sat on his throne. His Magesty, dressed in finery and surrounded by beauty, was an amazing sight. Despite his whithering body, he glows with celestial presence that one can only see to believe. The courtroom was gorgeous. Paintings of dragons and bamboo covered the walls. Colors and scents filled the room.
The Emperor asked what the swords were that we brought into his court. He had servants pick them up off the floor where we left them and bring them forth. Kuno explained the gifts, and that the others were his, Jekusu and Fuji's swords. The Emerald Champion cocked an eyebrow at me when he heard that I carry Fuji's wakazashi. I kept my face straight. It would do no good to smirk at his failure to tear us apart.
We presented our questions about why he is going on this cruise we have been told about. The Emperor then dismissed court and took us to a window overlooking the bay. A huge ship floats in the distance. It is the largest ship I have ever seen. It looks to be a veritable fortress. Apparently the Emerald Champion arranged for the cruise, and invited every Daimyo to attend.
I voiced my concerns for the Emperor's safety, and for the dangers presented by taking every leader of Rokugan on this one single ship, no matter how big and secure it looks. The Emperor dismissed everyone, desiring to speak to us alone. Including the Emerald Champion. Satsume looked very displeased. I had to stifle a big smile at his disgruntled look.
The Emperor related to us that he had had his stones cast and his fortune told. He will die soon, and he has accepted his fate. He cannot change the fortunes, he says. It frustrates me that he doesn't question his fate at all. He is concerned for the Empire, because his son, Calimari, has run off to make an army to take his position as Emperor. He is not concerned about his own life. He has asked us that if something does happen to him, that we ensure that Calimari doesn't take the throne. I promised him I would do my part in fulfilling his desires.
He called Bayushi Shoju in to lead me to the library, and ordered him to show me some scrolls… some uncommon scrolls. I was so excited to see scrolls from the Imperial library. I was giddy even! I spent hours upon hours poring over three scrolls brought in. I was in a small, private study room equipped with table and writing utensils. The first scroll was the genealogical history of every Emperor and Daimyo, descending from Mother Sun and Father Moon. It was incredible! I'm not a student of Heraldry, but after looking over these scrolls, I have taken a liking to it.
I was just about to pinpoint something strange about one of the Scorpion lines of ancestry when Jekusu barged into the room. She was hysterical; blubbering about being made a Daimyo of her own clan. The Emperor gave her title, and she is to pick a clan name and design a mon. The soldiers in her cavalry that took down their family and clan mons and swore fealty to her are to be her clansmen. I congratulated her and tried to continue my studying, but she was so frantic, she kept interrupting me. She said her father would slaughter her, and that she has ruined the lives of these children. I pointed out that a father who isn't proud of a daughter who does so well in leading an army that the soldiers swear fealty to her, then moves up enough to gain the approval of the Emperor himself, is a fool. She kept quiet for a moment.
She proposed that she take Sword Dancer and run away over the burning sands. I asked what would happen to the clanless cavalry she leaves behind. Again she was silent. I looked down at my scrolls, and tried to figure out what seemed strange, and when I looked up again, she was gone.
I studied for several hours more and between the three scrolls, that were all family history records, I discovered an interesting fact. I found that in the Scorpion line, due to the Daimyo not having a legitimate son, the heir to the position fell to his concubine's son. I also discovered that Kakita Asami is an illegitimate daughter of the Emperor. If something were to happen to Calimari, as set in precedent with the Scorpions, I propose that Asami is the heir to the throne. As I was wrapping up, and finishing my notes on my discovery (set up, of course by the Emperor and Bayushi. I'm sure they expected me to find this), Doji Satsume walked in.
He acted very different from before. He asked me if I were a student of heraldry, and began to unroll one of the scrolls, claiming to be interested in what I would find so fascinating. I explained that these scrolls were in my protection for the time being under the orders of the Emperor, and that if he wanted to see them, he would have to go to him. He angrily snapped the scroll closed and stormed from the room. He really must get a hold of his temper.
I tucked my notes in my sleeve and left the palace for our camp. I arrived to find Jekusu and Kuno gone. I grabbed Fuji and took him to a tent where I took out my notes and explained what I had discovered. He told me Kuno had gone to get Asami, for she has been missing from the courts for some time. I fear for her safety. If Calimari knows of her kinship to him, and the threat she poses to his plans to take the throne, she could be in great danger. Fuji pointed out the danger still present to the Emperor. I can only help one person at a time!!! By the light of Amaterasu, why does everything always get so complicated? Jekusu then came back and I shared my discovery with her.
Just then, Furi arrived, shouting and demanding to know where the Emerald Champion is. I'm afraid that things are getting more complex. It turns out Furi is Doji Satsume's brother. He was granted a clan in the same way that Jekusu was. This is why his mon is unknown to us. However, he is not allowed in the Imperial City, or in the courts.
