"Masters. Someone comes."

"Hai. Our horses can make it. You cannot. We will wait out the storm at the temple," replied Mirumoto Irozu. The tall samurai's face was hidden behind a scowling mempo. He sat straight and proud, and his form showed no trace of weariness, though the two had been travelling for weeks. The mountains of the Dragon were far behind them. They had passed Beiden Pass, and ridden through the empty and haunted Scorpion provinces.

Ahead of them, Shinomen forest loomed, vast and untamed,like a green ocean. The tree tops towered like waves, like tsunami. Irozu's eyes narrowed. The forest was the domain of the Naga. Hamesu had sworn vengeance upon the Naga. Months ago, in a village in the Crane lands, Irozu had saved the Kitsuki's life, and was now responsible for Hamesu's deeds. The clarion call of revenge, Irozu knew, had been the death of better men than either of them. In that forest, both of them could die.

Hamesu crumpled in a terrible fit of coughing, and nearly fell off his horse. Irozu grabbed Hamesu's shoulder, holding him up until the Kitsuki recovered.

"Perhaps the monastery would be a pleasant diversion." choked Hamesu. He righted himself on the horse's back. Irozu held on until he was sure Hamesu was ready to continue. The two rode on towards the monastery.

The shrine was surrounded by massive walls, capable of repelling the fiercest of bandits, although this was hardly necessary. The monks of Osano-Wo were not famed for their humble demeanours, and were quite feared among the neighbouring provinces. Tales of warrior monks who razed the castles of irreverent nobles were popular among peasants.

Hamesu's vision blurred again. Although the rain was icy-cold, sweat pouredfrom his brow. There was a tightness in his chest, and his fingers pained him as if he had spent long hours in a dojo. As they rode, it seemed to him as if he, Irozu and their horses were quite still, unmoving, and the grasslands, the shrine, the very heavens and the earth were running past them in great grassy undulating waves. The walls of the shrine... no, the gates opened. Hamesu blinked furiously, and tried to focus on the Kitsuki concentration techniques. They fled his mind like leaves in a storm.

"Travellers, I welcome you to the monastery of Osano-Wo. The storm heralded your arrival", said an aged monk dressed in a light brown robe. The rain had soaked the robe, and it clung like a second skin to the monk. For an ascetic, he had the physique of a sumatori.

Irozu dismounted and bowed. "Venerable one, we are samurai of the Dragon. We request shelter and lodging within your walls."

"Ask them...if they have any hot sake" murmured Hamesu. The world spun dizzily around him. The walls of the shrine seems to rise over him like looming shadows, the towers were assassins, the great mass of the shrine was a coiled snake,writhing, hissing, a Naga, its foul jaws opening wide, black, dark.

"...sent us word of your coming. He wished you to know he bears you no ill-will, that what happened is in accordance with what must be."

Hamesu awoke. A cold cloth was lying on his forehead, and there was a foul, bitter taste in his mouth. The air was thick with incense. He raised his head to look around, and the effort sent fiery streams of pain running down his neck. He was lying on a thin pallet in a monk's chambers. There was a large mural of Osano-Wo standing atop the clouds on one wall. An open window on the far wall let in the cool, crisp night air. The storm had ended. In the starlight, he could see Mirumoto Irozu kneeling with another monk. Irozu bowed his head, and said "I do not understand all you have told me, but-".

The monk held up his hand and silenced Irozu. "Your companion has awakened. So Kitsuki Hamesu-sama, you join us just in time. I have things of great import to say to you, things which the very heavens quake at."

Hamesu swung his legs off the pallet and stood unsteadily. "Thank you, master. A long discourse on metaphysics is just what I need when ill."

The monk smiled. Hamesu wondered if the old man was enlightened and saw humour in existence, or just a damned sadist laughing at asamurai laid low with fever. "Hamesu-sama, I am the voice of the fortunes in this. I am Kenro, a humble scribe and seeker after wisdom. I have three prophecies to tell you. One tells of the past, the second the present, and the third the future."

Hamesu gingerly lowered himself to the floor. "It would be unworthy of me, master, to point out the contradiction in your words. I shall assume that I am not sufficiently wise to comprehend your full meaning."

"These prophecies come from the north." Kenro raised his left hand. "This is the first prophecy: words of truth shall be spoken three times."

"And this prophecy has come to pass?"

"No."

"But it tells of the past?"

"Yes." The monk smiled broadly again. Hamesu decided the old man was taking pleasure in torturing him like this.

Kenro raised his right hand. "This is the second prophecy:in three days, an unjust murder will be committed within sight of the Shrine by one whose heart is not of the temple. This will signal a great doom, and must not come to pass."

"Not of the temple? Are there any others here who are not monks?" said Hamesu. His gaze flickered around the room, and his fingers moved spider-like over the hem of his kimono. His curiosity had been awakened.

"Hai, there are two other samurai taking shelter here."

"Who?"

"Shinjo Tzu and Hida Kakaso."

"I know those names. They are the children of local daimyo,yes? Their houses have been feuding for decades, and they are at war now,yes?"

"Hai, hai," replied Kenro, "but may I please tell you the third prophecy? Perhaps before the second one comes to pass?"

"Very well. Tell us, venerable master, of the third prophecy."

"One of you will kill the other."

"How...predictable." sighed Hamesu.

"In all my career as a Magistrate, Irozu, this is the first time I've been asked to solve a murder before it happens," said Hamesu.

"You believe the monk's prophecies, then?" said Irozu in a strange tone of voice. If Hamesu did not know his friend better, he would have described it as fearful.

"No, Irozu-san. I do not. However, they do. I shall set their minds at ease, in a day or two, when I have rested, we shall continue onto Shinomen forest, and find our quarry."

"A Naga."

"Hai. We must have knowledge of our enemy if we are to destroy him." Hamesu walked slowly down the corridor. Irozu paused by the door in thought.

"Hamesu? Do you believe you could kill me?"

"No, Irozu. I have no intention of killing you. However, I do recall you threatening to kill me on Sleeping Mountain."

"I said... something like that, yes. I was... not composed... I was...tired."

"Don't be a fool, Irozu. That old monk's nonsense has upset your balance. Now, let us find those 'whose hearts are not of the temple.'"

Irozu lent his strength to Hamesu, and the door flew open. The two stumbled into the darkened bedroom. A shadowy figure leapt out of the blackness, a bright sword flashed. Irozu's blades sang, and he fell instinctively into a fighting stance.

Hamesu dodged the attack, falling back against the wall, nearly toppling a half-suit of armour hanging on a stand. For a brief moment, the combatants paused.

A voice spoke from the darkness.

"By the seven words of Otaku, what are you doing in my bedroom?"

Light filled the corridor outside. A dark-faced monk holding a candle looked curiously in the door. By the candlelight, Hamesu and Irozu could see a tall, greasy- haired samurai wearing a nightshirt and holding a katana facing them. Hamesu bowed. "Shinjo Tzu, I presume?"

Tzu waved the point of his blade a few inches from Hamesu's face. "What insolence is this? You invade my chambers in the dead of night! I couldhave killed you both! You insult me!"

"Why did you not answer our calls?"

"I did not hear you. I do not wake easily. Normally, people are content to wait for me to awaken. I do not appreciate you charging in like wildboars."

"Forgive us, Tzu-san. May I ask what your business is inthe monastery?"

"No. You may not."

"I am an Imperial Magistrate, Tzu-san. Please answer the question."

"Very well. I am here to tell the monks that my family goes to war with the neighbouring Crab house -"

"The house of Hida Kakaso?"

"Hai - and ask them not to interfere with our armies."

"Thank you. Please forgive our intrusion."

The room darkened as the monk left the doorway. In the darkness, Hamesu could see Tzu's gaijin eyes glittering. The Kitsuki bowed and stepped back. A thought struck him, and he turned to face Tzu again.

"Tzu-san? What happened to your armour?"

"It was damaged in a battle with the Crab. The monks are repairing it."

"Thank you, Tzu-san."

The Unicorn glanced out the door. "Did that monk seem familiar to you?"

"No. Why?"

"I encountered him outside my door last night as well. Perhaps he patrols the corridors. It does not matter. Please leave. If you ever burst in here again, I will kill you both. Goodnight."

The two Dragons were herded out of the room, and Tzu closed the door behind them. Hamesu rubbed his temples. "I am tired, Irozu. Let us retire for the night."

"But the murder.."

"In the morning."

The two passed through a doorway out into a courtyard. The monastery was centred on the great dome of the shrine. There was an inner and outer ring of buildings around the dome, with gardens and courtyards between.Tzu's chambers were in the inner ring. There were a half-dozen younger monks in the courtyard, sparring. Kiai shouts and the sounds of blows echoed off the ancient walls.

In one corner of the yard, a samurai wearing a Crab mon was talking to a hooded monk. Hamesu and Irozu stopped on the far side of a fighting ring. Inside the ring, three warrior monks were practising. The fighters moved with incredibly swiftness and agility, trading flurries of blows. The lone monk feinted, then leapt over the heads of his opponents, kicking both of them in the head as he passed in the air.The two monks fell, and bounced back up onto their feet instantly. They charged again. One launched a furious set of punches, forcing their lone opponent to block.The pattern of punches moved upwards, opening a gap in the monk's defences. The second of the paired fighters roared and slammed his closed fist into the lone monk's sternum. The lone monk was sent flying backwards. He landed on his back, apparently winded. The other two closed, and were knocked down by a blindingly fastsweep-kick.

Irozu nodded appreciatively. "I can see why these monks are feared."

Hamesu was focussed on the Crab samurai. "That is, I presume, Hida Kakaso."

"Should we talk to him?" asked Irozu.

"Wait."

The Crab and the hooded monk finished their conversation.The hooded monk turned away, and for one moment, moonlight illuminated hisfeatures. His face was blackened, from soot or dirt. As Kakaso began to walk away,Hamesu called out.

"Hida Kakaso-san! Excuse this impolite interruption, but may we speak with you for a brief moment?"

The Crab turned and stared at Hamesu. "Dragons. In the south. It has a long time since I saw a Dragon."

"Hai, Kakaso-san, the Clan of the Dragon has been quite occupied of late. I am Kitsuki Hamesu, a Magistrate in service to the Emperor. My companion here is Mirumoto Irozu, a samurai of the Dragon. I am engaged in minor and inconsequential business here. If you will forgive the intrusion, I have a handful of questions to ask you."

Kakaso scowled. "Ask your questions, Hamesu-san. I have nothing to hide."

"What is your business here?"

"To visit my cousin, Jinro, who is to become a monk."

"That hooded monk?"

"...was Jinro, yes."

"What is your family's relationship with the family of Shinjo Tzu?"

"We are at war."

"But you are both in this monastery at the same time. Is it not odd that samurai at war plan to stay the night peacefully in the same place?"

"If we fought here, we would draw the wrath of the monks. I have no wish to face the monks of Osano-Wo in battle."

"Did you know Tzu would be here?"

"No. How would I?"

"How indeed. Which, you or Tzu, arrived first?"

"I do not know. What is the point of these questions? What business are you engaged in?"

"The monks have asked us to investigate certain matters."

"WHAT matters??" roared Kakaso, his eyes wide and staring.Irozu subtly shifted his footing, preparing to step between Hamesu and the Crab.

Hamesu noticed the Mirumoto's concern, and said, "To tell the truth, I must confess I do not know. The monks were somewhat... cryptic. I am sorry to have bothered you. Good evening,Kakaso-san."

Hamesu bowed and stepped back. The Crab stared at the Dragons suspiciously for a moment, then inclined his massive head. Irozu bowed smoothly. Kakaso strode past them, passing through a nearby doorway. The shouts and blows of the warrior monks filled the evening air once more. Hamesu took a deep breath, and leaned against the wall for a moment. "I believe I would like to sit and meditate for a few minutes, Irozu. Please." Irozu's strong hands lowered Hamesu to the ground. The Kitsuki bowed his head, breathing deeply. Even in the cool of the evening, perspiration coated his brow.

Irozu stood and watched the monks again. Their moves were flawless. He noted that many of them knew the ancient techniques of Kaze-do, a fighting art began by a tattooed Ise Zumi of the Dragon. Thinking of the Ise Zumi disturbed him, and he rubbed his scarred jaw.

Hamesu coughed, and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief. He cursed himself for being so weak. He could feel the terrible and angry eyes of the ancestors upon him, berating him for failing to fulfil his oath of vengeance. The Naga were still out there, he could almost smell them, hear their sickening slithering and hideous voices. Their eyes burned in the night like funeral pyres, like hungry fires. They werecoming closer, closer, closer.

Irozu shook his shoulder. "Hamesu-san? You were speaking to yourself."

Hamesu glanced around. The monks had finished fighting, andmost had departed. There were four doors, two at either end of the courtyard. A monk holding a torch waited by the nearest door. Ornamental roofs cast deep shadows over the doorways. Hamesu slowly stood, wincing as pain ran through hisunsteady legs. He walked over to the waiting monk.

The door was a work of art. Carved from pinewood, and boundwith heavy iron bands, it looked as though it could withstand the blows of an ogre, but it was balanced on cunning hinges, so a single man could close it with ease. A massive bar could be thrown across the door from the far side to secure it. Carvings on the door showed Osano-Wo in front of a Lion castle, demanding they send him a wife. Hamesu and Irozu stepped though the portal, and the monk closed and locked the door behind them. Hamesu glanced around, then turned to the monk.

"Do you practise in the courtyard every night?",p> "Hai," replied the monk.

"Forgive my curiosity. The other door on this side of the courtyard - how can I reach it from here?"

"The fastest way is through the courtyard. The monastery is not always peaceful, and it has been designed to be a fortress as well as a holy place. The internal corridors are designed to confuse invaders. There are few easy paths. To get to the other door without passing through the courtyard requires going almost entirely around the circumference of the monastery." The monk nodded,contentedly. "We're very proud of it."

Hamesu looked around, then smiled and nodded. "I am going to bed, Irozu. I can't solve mysteries in my condition."

Rain was falling, and thunder was growling somewhere faraway.

Without opening his eyes, he called "Irozu?"

"Yes, Hamesu-san?"

"Is it another storm?"

"Yes. We cannot leave today. No-one can."

"Very well. I will rest today. Please go to the forge and see if Jinjo, the monk, works there. If he does, then I believe I have solved the riddle f the second prophecy."

Mirumoto Irozu stepped out of the shadows by the bed,swords ready.

"If you move, Jinjo, I will kill you."

Jinjo's mouth gaped open, and he tensed as if to run.Shinjo Tzu opened his eyes and sat up in bed. The Unicorn picked up the sword from the stand and held it at Jinjo's throat. "This dishonourable coward would have killed meas I slept."

Hamesu entered the room. "No, Tzu-san, he would not," said the Kitsuki. Hamesu bowed to Hida Jinjo.

"I salute your courage, if not your intent."

Jinjo fell to his knees. "You know. My family is lost."

Tzu glared at Hamesu. "Explain this."

Hamesu took a silk handkerchief and wiped his brow. "It is quite simple. Jinjo knew you had your armour with you- he worked in the forge. He knew you are aheavy sleeper. He planned to steal your armour and sneak through the shadows intothe chamber of Hida Kakaso. He would then murder Kakaso, and run through the courtyard, locking the heavy door behind him. The monks would have to take the long way round. In that time, he could divest himself of your armour.The monks would have simply seen a man wearing Unicorn armour, and assumed that you killed Kakaso."

"But why would he kill his own cousin?"

"If Kakaso were killed by you.the monks would enter the war between your two families on the side of the Crab. Your House would be crushed, Tzu-san."

Jinjo looked up, his eyes burning. "I would have done what I had to do, to win. I..I could not give up, even though my mother asked me to become a monk, as a member of each generation of my family has always done. My House above my honour, above my cousin's life."

"...a heart not of the temple" breathed Irozu.

Hamesu turned away. "Well, Jinjo-san. I shall give you into the custody of master Kenro. We shall not tell Hida Kakaso of the events of this evening."

"Jinjo's life belongs to me!" shouted Shinjo Tzu.

Hamesu looked the Unicorn in the eye. Tzu lowered his gaze.

"Forgive me. I will not question the judgement of a magistrate. You are a wise and honourable man,Kitsuki Hamesu-sama. I am in your debt."

Shinjo Tzu cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted."Hooo! Naga! Forest-folk! We wish to speak with you."

There was silence broken only by the incessant sound of falling water. Then, seven green shapes seemed to detach themselves from the green of the leaves, and uncoiled. A Naga slithered forward, its strange mouth moving, as if it were trying toremember how to form words in the human tongue. The Naga's shining eyes stared at Shinjo Tzu - then flickered over to stare at Kitsuki Hamesu. For a moment, Mirumoto Irozu sensed a great clash of chi energies between the two, born of hatred, of loathing,of dark destiny.

Six arrows slew six Unicorn samurai. Irozu grabbed Hamesu's shoulder and threw the Kitsuki behind a large boulder, then dived for cover himself. Even as he rolled, his hands were reaching for his swords. Shinjo Tzu drew his katana, and charged the Naga. The Naga produced a strange, spear-like weaponand sliced Tzu's chest open before the Unicorn could strike. Within a heartbeat, all the Unicorn were dead.

Hamesu drew his own sword. The massive, mossy rock shielded them from the Naga bowmen, but the Dragons could hear the undergrowth crack and break as the Naga slithered through it. Irozu whispered urgently "There are seven, four to our left and three to our right. I believe I can kill them, but ensure that the three to not get the chance to shoot me."

Hamesu shook his head. "There are seven, four to our left and three to our right. You won't get within twenty paces of them!"

Irozu ignored him, and closed his eyes. The scar on his mouth turned white, and his breathing slowed. He flexed his wrists, crossing the two swords over his chest,then opened his eyes. Sunlight reflected off the leaves, throwing a yellowish cast over his face. "I am Mirumoto. We do not fail." Irozu charged forward, crashing through the trees. There was a humming sound, then an animal roar of pain, and something large fell to the ground.

One of the Unicorn corpses lay a short distance from Hamesu. The arrow which had slain the infantryman had precisely pierced his throat, killing him with a single shot. So many of the bodies had been like that on Sleeping Mountain. Perfect, clean, kills. No waste. No thought. Like a man would cut wheat,so the Naga had killed Dragon. They had killed without reason, without emotion,without remorse, without anything. Evil beyond hatred. Sweat ran down Hamesu's face, his vision blurred. Somewhere out there, Irozu was fighting, perhaps dying,but Hamesu was rooted to the ground like all the trees in Shinomen. Kyuden Kitsuki burned before him. The uncounted dead lay in heaps, unburned and unavenged,slain by the uncaring, inhuman things, a single arrow in every throat. Hamesu's eyes burned, the pain of his loss, of his survival when all others had died, stabbed at his stomach and heart deeper than any wakizashi. There was nothing left, nohope, no honour. The unjust universe wheeled around him, a single arrow in the throat of life.

Mirumoto wrote: Spirit has no time, no hesitation.

Hamesu smelled the foul breath of the Naga, heard it crawl and wriggle towards him, but even before he consciously sensed it, he was killing it. His sword cleaved through the snake-man, rich black blood gushing out over the boulder. If he attacks first, kill him. Another one was drawing back the string of its bow. Hamesulooked down the length of the arrow into its cold black empty eyes, then sliced its arm off with his wakizashi and cut open its heart with his sword. If you attack first, kill him.

The third one thundered towards him, the branches bendingand tearing in the fury of its charge. Kitsuki Hamesu awaited his opponent, two swords ready. If you attack at once, kill him. Mirumoto's words rang in Hamesu'smind, but his spirit knew that the truth of them. I do not believe I can win. I know I will.

The Naga died, four cuts in a breath. Hamesu leaped over its corpse and ran after Irozu. He found his friend standing in a glade, three Naga corpses scatteredaround him. The ground was slick with blood. A trail of blood lead out of the clearing, towards the forest edge.

Irozu said, "One young one fled the battle. It was injured.Leave it be."

The Naga lay coiled in a patch of sunlight, its back to a tree. There was a deep gash in its upper tail, the rough equivalent of a human's thigh. Hamesu was no judge of a Naga's age, but there was a softness to its face and a certain quality to its expression that suggested youth. Its black eyes gazed at Hamesu,and the timeless Akasha stared at him.

Hamesu knelt by the Naga. "Do you know who I am?"

The thing writhed, blood spurting from its wound. Its lips wobbled, then it hissed.

"A huuman, a Dragon ssamurai."

"You killed my family, Naga. Your kind murdered them without cause."

"You harboured...the Foul. It was...necessary."

"The foul?"

"You do not...underssstand. You cannot underssstand."

"Oh, but I shall. You will tell me what I want to know,Naga." said Hamesu. "You are right, I am a human, and a Dragon samurai. But I am also a magistrate, Naga."

"The lawsss of huumansss are no concern of oursss. The Akasssha movesssuss."

"Now it is you who do not understand." Hamesu drew a knife from his belt. "I am a Kitsuki-trained magistrate. I have seen many things. I have hunted deranged killers in the farming provinces, who butchered their victims like animals, or tore at their flesh like wolves. I have seen the torture chambers of the criminal gangs of Ryoko Owari. I have heard detailed tales of the Scorpion techniques of pain. My sensei once told me of the methods of the bloodspeaker cults.

"I am a Kitsuki. And we forget nothing we see or hear."

"Do not do this, Hamesu", said Irozu, coming upon the two.

"I will do whatever is necessary to see justice done, Irozu. Go and meditate if this disturbs your chi."

"Do not do this, Hamesu."

Hamesu turned and stared at Irozu. A sheen of sweat covered his face, his breathing was shallow and fast, and his eyes had a strange light in them.

"You saved my life long ago when you could have let me die.You took responsibility for my life and actions. Either strike me down and be done with your responsibility, or turn your back and let me do my work. I am sick of your convenient bouts of conscience and morality. There are dead Naga back there, and there will be dead Naga here in a few minutes. There is no difference - except that this one will tell me what I want to know first." Irozu looked Hamesu in the eye, then bowed his head. "I donot know what to do."

"Then do nothing."

Irozu opened his eyes. "Is it over?"

"Hai. Now, we ride east."

"East? Why?"

"The 'foul' the Naga spoke of. It is some sort of elemental Darkness. From what I could gather, they fought it long ago."

"Why would you seek this elemental Darkness in the east?" "Certain qualities of the tale remind me of certain secrets learned by the Kitsuki...about what the peasants call ninja. The Scorpion clan may have left some lore relating to these 'true ninja'."

"You believe this Darkness can be found in the Scorpion lands?"

"I think so, Irozu. Let us hurry, though. Night is almost upon us." Hamesu wiped the blood from his hands, and threw the cloth onto the Naga's corpse, then he walked off towards where they had tied their horses.

Irozu watched the Kitsuki march east, out of the forest.There was a dark shape just visible on the horizon. Irozu squinted, and as he did, he saw the last light of Lady Sun shine off the wet roofs of the Shrine of Osano-Wo. He glanced back, and saw the dead Naga's eyes were looking due east, towards the shrine.

"In three days, an unjust murder will be committed within sight of the Shrine by one whose heart is not of the temple. This will signal a great doom, and must notcome to pass."

Irozu turned around and watched the sun fall into darkness.The dying light hurt his eyes, but he kept watching until the sky was dark and empty. It seemed to him that in that sunset he was keeping vigil over the death of hopes.

"We no longer hope," he realised. "We no longer believe. All we have is the attempt itself. All we have...is tenacity."