"I am ready, my friend," Came the voice of his friend Iuchi Kanjin. Amadan turned and saw the Unicorn holding a katana somewhat stiffly in his hands. The shugenja wore a simple robe, closely cut, for the kenjutsu lesson Amadan had promised.
Kanjin smiled, "Are you sure bokkens would not be more wise?" He asked nervously.
The Dragon scout pulled his sword from it's saya and laughed. "Trust me, friend," he said, "I will not let my blade touch your flesh."
"Oh," said the shugenja, "I do not question your skill, Amadan." Kanjin looked up and down the length of his sword, "I worry that I may harm -you-" Both men laughed.
Togashi Amadan raised his sword and let the light reflect from the flat of the blade. He opened his mouth to speak, but the sound of approaching horses stopped him. Both men turned to see three riders heading towards them, and a purple and gold banner was held by the lead man.
"Magistrates?" Amadan asked.
Kanjin nodded, "I am also confused, Amadan." They stood quietly, regarding the approaching Unicorns as Lady Sun rose over the hills. Moments later, Kanjin's face held a worried expression. He turned to the Dragon and said, "Amadan, this magistrate that comes, I should have warned you about him when you arrived two nights ago."
"Why?" Amadan asked, not taking his eyes off the riders.
"He is one who rode with..." Kanjin's voice trailed off for a second, and Amadan looked his friend in the eye. "My friend, this man was...is a close friend of Tashima-san."
The gaijin nodded his head in understanding as the men came up to them.
"Dragon!" Shouted the leader as he dismounted, "Why have you come here? Your homeland is being burned, and you play at swords with our shugenja?"
Amadan bowed to the magistrate, and the Unicorn bowed back, stiffly. "I am on my way to the Test of the Jade Champion" Spoke the scout, "And wished to take respite with my friend." Amadan's eyes leveled on the shorter man's. "Is there a problem, lawkeeper?"
"My name is Gomai, and there is indeed a problem, Dragon." The magistrate sneered as he spoke to Amadan, and his hand was on the hilt of his katana. "We have sent our magistrate Tashima to your lands to ask Hitomi-sama's word on the matters of the Naga." Amadan knew the where Gomai was going, but did not interrupt the man. "After many weeks without word from him, we have a confirmed report from one of our scouts that he was seen in the colors of a Dragon, bearing tatoos from your lady, and was making war upon the Naga along side your family!"
Amadan raised his hand, and said softly, "Gomai-san, I do not know of these matters-"
"You will tell me," screamed the magistrate as he drew his katana, "why your lady sees fit to control the minds of our soldiers! You will go to her and inform her that these honorless actions will end immediately!"
The Dragon's eyes flashed as he looked at the drawn blade, then at the magistrate, "Gomai-san," Amadan said slowly, "Perhaps you should speak with your superiors about these matters. I am a simple scout sent on a mission from my Daimyo. I will not break her orders for your whims."
Gomai's face contorted in rage as his voice echoed across the plains, "My whim!" He yelled, furious, "I am a magistrate of the Emperor, my word is law! I command you to do this!"
Amadan said flatly, "If you are a keeper of the law, and an officer of the Emperor, perhaps you should conduct yourself as one, and not as a child who has had his toy taken from him."
The magistrate's two attendants gasped and stepped back from their lord. Kanjin stifled a laugh as he took a step away from the two as well.
With a red face, Gomai placed his sword back into it's saya, and stood in a rigid stance. "Your insult means nothing to me, Dragon filth!" He spat, "But in the name of my honor, you will pay for those words!"
Amadan placed his hand on his katana, and stood in a ready position.
Faster than the scout had expected, Gomai drew his katana and struck at Amadan's neck. The Unicorn had acted sooner than Amadan had figured, but did not catch him any less prepared.
With a smooth stroke, Amadan drew his sword, shattered his opponent's blade and placed the edge of his katana at Gomai's throat.
The ringing of broken metal echoed across the plains.Gomai's eyes widened in shock as he saw the jagged stump of his grandfather's katana.
Kanjin said to Gomai's attendants, "You have witnessed this. Let no magistrate speak further on this issue until a testimony is brought against Hitomi or the Dragon for Tashima's disobedience." The two men nodded, and mounted their horses. Without regard to their master, they rode back towards the castle.
Gomai dropped to his knees, and pulled his wakazashi from his obi. In strained tones, "You have acted in honor, Togashi Amadan-sama. To erase the stainof disrespect and dishonor I have made, I shall end my life here is you wish."
Amadan shoook his head and sheathed his katana. "No," he said, "I do not wish you to end your life here, Gomai-san. Would that you kill yourself now, what good would this lesson you have learned do you?" The Dragon looked down at the magistrate and smiled.
Kanjin laughed, and slapped his friend on the back. Gomai, confused by the scene, just nodded once, dumbly, and mounted his horse.
As Gomai rode off, Amadan turned to his friend. "Does he speak truth?" He asked quietly, "Does Tashima now ride for the Dragon?"
"Hai," Kanjin said, wrapping his katana in his pack. "He calls himself Hitomi Tashima, and leads raids against the Naga army, if all is to be beleived." The shugenja said quietly, "And there is no reason not to beleive what the scout reported." He looked Amadan in the eyes, "Is what Gomai accused....can it be?"
Amadan nodded, "Such things can be" he whispered, his mind drifting to Kokujin, "Such things can be...but I do not know if that is the case here." Amadan looked back to the distant figure of Gomai.
"I cannot return to my home," Said Amadan as he began walking towards Shiro Iuchi. "I must leave these mysteries to my....to Hitomi. My mission is too important to my Clan, regardless."
Kanijn nodded as they walked the dirt path, "We must leave now, then." He said, "While you may count many friends among my home, there are just as many who beleive as Gomai does." His tone dropped as he muttered, "And not all are so hot-headed and clumsy."