It was a question I had asked frequently in the past few years, since the chaos that followed the Day of Thunder. The death of the only champion the Dragon Clan had known, and the rise of this once-unstable woman to Daimyo had rocked us to our foundations. Some of my brethren lost faith and fled, seeing Hitomi’s new path as evil, her plans as madness. The Mirumoto, along with our brethren in the Kitsuki family, as well as the newly founded Hitomi Ise-zumi had stayed loyal, even as the opinions of our fellow Rokugani had turned to harsh words and accusations based on fear and ignorance, rather than any sort of proof.

The Hitomi who sat before me was much changed from the cold and single-minded creature that stalked Hida Yakamo during the Clan Wars. Where she had been driven, she was now contemplative, centered on someone other than herself, something besides her vengeance; she labored now to save the Empire from an evil that she said no one fully understood. And though her body was half taken over by cold obsidian, she radiated more humanity now than she had ever before.

I broke from my reverie as I realized that Hitomi wasn’t paying attention to me, but rather was observing the existence of something on the ceiling. I knew that Hitomi had called me to her throne room on Sleeping Mountain for a reason, however inscrutable that reason was. Though I waited, silently regarding her, she gazed beyond, waiting for the right moment to speak. Perhaps she was waiting for me to discover that for my self. Or perhaps she was merely testing me. One never new; that is one thing you can always expect from a Dragon: Mystery.

"How like Togashi..." I mused, becoming impatient as I awaited her reply.

Hitomi turned from the cavernous vaulting above to regard me as if she hadn't even noticed that I was in the room.

"You will go to him." She commanded abruptly, her words conveying urgency and calmness all at once.

Her command left me off guard. "To whom will I go, my Lady?" I struggled to keep from stammering like an idiot.

"Have you forgotten your eternal enemy?"

I went cold, and then grew hot as I thought of Gohei, the Butcher of the Clan Wars. I could barely speak; I was paralyzed with rage. How did she know?

"Togashi knew well of your hatred of the brash Matsu samurai." It was matter-of-fact, as though it was natural for her to know what her predecessor had known.

"And you received that news from him?" I said incredulously.

She hadn’t heard my snide remark, as she had already returned to contemplating the void above my head. I would not break this silence, I swore. I would not let her get away with taking lightly my pain and my anger. As moments stretched on in silence, I felt stubbornness turn to shame. I felt the need to explain myself; and worst of all, I felt the need to turn my Lady’s focus back to me.

"I could neither forgive nor forget Suiko's murderer, Hitomi-sama. How will I go to him? He was sent with the Scorpion to the Burning Sands. And why would I wish to go? I would rather believe him consumed by that forsaken land."

"Does a katana ask why it is to be forged? Does it shy from the flames that will temper it? You are close to seeing, Tometsu, but at the same time, your anger blinds you." She answered my questions with more questions. My patience ran low, and anger built within me. How could she possibly understand my anger? How dare she suggest I was blind! I was about to scold her for her arrogance, when I remembered that she, too, could not see past her bloodlust. It had caused her to lose her hand, her family's sword, and almost her life. What would continuing to hate cost me? My rage softened into acceptance in her presence.

"Yes, my Lady,” I acquiesced, “I know you have a reason for your orders. Even if I can see no logic behind them, I will follow them anyway. Though not without questioning, I assure you." I lowered myself into a deep bow of reverence.

"I would ask nothing less from you. I need followers who are aware, not men who are as blind as those who serve other daimyos." I rose to see her smiling at me with approval, and pride greater than any Lion’s welled up within me.

"I thank you, my Lady."

"You may go."

"But, Hitomi-sama...."

But it was too late. Hitomi’s concentration had returned to the air around her. She seemed to be listening to some other voice, which I had interrupted with my presence, and she wished to listen to again. Urgency creased the human half of her features as she looked beyond this world.

Something important was coming. My hair stood on end with anticipation of some coming event. I didn't know what it was, but with the Naga approaching ever closer to this, my clan's last castle, I was loath to leave now. I had no clue as to where I could find Gohei, save that he was somewhere in the great desert to the north of my home. And once I found him, I would have no idea what Hitomi expected me to do with him, or even if he would cooperate. I assumed she wished for me to bring him home, but Rokugan ill needed the likes of him rampaging about in these difficult times. As frustration swelled in me, I took a cleansing breath, releasing it slowly. As I pushed aside the despair I felt, and rose to make my leave of the throne room, Hitomi stopped me with a parting revelation:

"She will be with you."

I did not even pause to consider my answer, as I knew of whom Hitomi spoke. "I know. I hope she will always be."

"Is hope all you bring with to the burning lands?"

"To start with, it will be enough." With that, I took my leave of the Lady of Dragons. As I left the room I could almost feel my Lady’s smile. She had been satisfied with my reply.

I took only what one horse could carry: my armor, my daisho, food and water to last me a few days. It would be woefully little compared to what I needed. But the sword forged in low heat was of little use to its master. I said a few quick good-byes, only to those that I could not avoid conversation with. As I mounted my horse, which pawed the ground with anticipation, I looked up at Sleeping Mountain. Dread filled me at that moment, that I would never see either see my homeland or my Lady again. I swallowed hard and forced myself to turn away, to the task at hand.

So my journey started, leading through Exile's Pass, to a land walked by few of my people. I went to find what I wished lost, and, in the end, to lose that which I held dear.