Your agent Daitan moves with the speed of the wind, and with silence born of the same. It is in his capable hands I have seen the letter from our shidoshi and Kenojin-san, and it is in his hands I place now this letter, and several others. Along you will find the script from the lands of the Lion, the Crane, Mantis and that of the Naga.
As I pen this, I stand inside Otosan Uchi, where I have been for the past two days. I have spent this time in the court, hiding my face, using the name of my dead friend Kitsuki Retsu. I am aware that in the Clan's condition, much news of the Empire has not reached a Dragon's ears.
But that is why you have sent me here, is it not?
I confirm rumours that the Crab are near oblivion, as their attack on Hiruma castle failed, and the beasts of the Shadowlands only grow stronger each day. Hida Yakamo has been given up as dead with the rest of his war-party. The Lion march steadily towards the Kaiu Wall, some say to war, but a trustworthy Ikoma diplomat informs me Lady Tsanuri is on a mission of aid that has been sabotaged.
The Mantis Clan holds Beiden pass, and soon will strike out for Otosan Uchi. The Alliance has landed on the shores of the Phoenix lands, his ambassadors saying their lord wishes only to aid the broken Clan by placing them under his protection. The Crane and the Unicorn have bound together to try and stop Yoritomo-sama's attack on the Capitol, but it may not be enough.
As you feared, and perhaps knew, the Empire is in chaos. There will be no aid for us from the Unicorn, or from any Clan. It seems every family of power is entangled in their own struggles. I know better to think that it is mere coincidence that forces have acted to keep the Empire from acting as one.
As I read the letter from Mirumoro Kenojin, I am glad to see that the fire of the soul burns brighter than ever in my Dragon brothers. Soon, the Naga will learn the price of provoking a Dragon.
Or shall the Dragon learn the price of disturbing the Naga, my Lady?
As I write this, a Scorpion and a Phoenix stand near me, waiting. The Phoenix, Asako Sano, has had a vision from Shiba himself. We will travel to the abandoned castle at Mori Kage Toshi, on Sano's word. What we will find there, we do not know, but it is for certain we must go.
When it is over, my Lady, when we find an Emperor, Toturi or not, when the Empire is restored to peace... What then?
You have bid me, as Togashi did years ago, to go out and tell you what I see through my gaijin eyes. I see an Empire that has learned nothing from its recent past. When Fu Leng rose and splintered the Empire, the Clans were unable to rise against him and his forces by themselves. Only when they stood together were they able to win at the final moment.
You withdrew from this Empire, my Lady. You turned your back to Rokugan and looked inward, to the Riddle, to Togashi, into your own soul. But why? I do not know, those who were my doshi did not know, and those who were my brothers of Togashi's blood did not know.
You are my daimyo, and as any other in my Clan, my life is your to command. But we are Dragon. We do not walk mindlessly to our deaths as the Matsu or the Hida. Our paths are not so clear as the laws of the Shinjo, or the goals of the Phoenix.
The Dragon stands together now, their fierce loyatly forged on the anvil of war, knowing that if they fail, their questions of why you command the Dragon to do what you have will be pointless.
But is it too much to let these men know?
Togashi Amadan
Amadan sighed and sealed the parchment, handing it to Hitomi Daitan in the flickering candlelight. "Carry the fortunes with you, Daitan," He said, then smiled faintly, "After this, the next time we meet, it may not be so friendly."
Daitan stood, holding the parchment and the other letters in his hand. "You think too little of our Lady's ability to understand." Was all he said, then bowed right before he ran out the door, into the moonless night.
Behind Amadan, two figures readied themselves for a long journey. "You are a fool, gaijin," the shorter one muttered, amused, as he fitted a pack onto his shoulders and gripped his long staff.
"In my homeland," The scout replied, "I was a professional fool." Amadan turned to Tashiro and Sano, then smiled, "I am glad I have not lost my talent." The three shared a quiet laugh, then Tashiro and Amadan pulled their black masks over their faces, and Sano raised his hood over his head.
Without a further word, the three set off to the north.