even looking in Hitomi's direction. Sukune and Yori followed him. Both made a point of watching the Dragon in case she planned some treachery. Inside, they each ordered a bowl of cold buckwheat noodles and sake, and then came back out to find a bench where they could sit in the shade, hopefully far from Hitomi. Thankfully, the samurai-ko was gone by the time they returned.
Soon the group was happily slurping their noodles and clearing the dust from their throats with delicious, if watered down,
sake. It was a fine meal on a hot afternoon.
"All fed and watered now, Crab?" Hitomi had returned, but this time she had brought a retinue of Dragon samurai with her.
"Mirumoto-san," said Sukune, "under normal circumstance my brother and I would be glad to invite you to join us and our counselor in a midafternoon tea ceremony to honor the fates for bringing us together again. However, we are bound for the Forbidden City on a most urgent matter, and we will have to take our leave of you immediately. I apologize."
The younger Hida proved again what a brilliant tactician he was. There were no flaws in his speech. Any further challenge or antagonism on Hitomi's part would reflect very badly 011 the Dragon Clan.
"I too am bound for the Forbidden City," said Hitomi, "and I say your brother can spare the time to indulge me in a duel to see if his skills outrank those of the Mirumoto School. Unless of course he would be willing to concede the point."
The other Dragon samurai's mouths dropped. The only ruder thing Hitomi could have done would be to draw her katana and attack the man. The look in her eyes spoke that very desire.
Yakamo looked coolly at the samurai-ko—the way he might look at a noisy dragonfly that disturbed the quiet of the afternoon. He stood, reminding everyone of just how much larger he was than the Dragon, used his tongue to pick some noodles from between his back teeth, and turned toward his horse.
"Come, Brother, we need to be on our way," Yakamo said lazily.
Kuni Yori spent the whole time standing behind Sukune. The opposing samurai would interpret this position as fearful. In truth the shugenja clutched his black silk, preparing to draw on its power should the Dragon retinue become more than verbally belligerent.
"You arrogant bastard!" Hitomi's fists were clenched, and her hair seemed to bristle. "Do you think that you can kill my brother and completely ignore the rest of the Mirumoto family? Do you have so little respect for the man you murdered that you deny me the right to revenge?"
Yakamo stopped. He slowly looked back over his shoulder.
"It is out of respect for your brother that I do not kill you as well, little Dragon," he said through clenched teeth. "Your behavior when last we dueled was scandalous enough that I am surprised you have the nerve to talk about anyone's cowardice. Attacking an ally is not a practice for an honorable samurai. I understand how overwhelming bloodlust can be. I was willing to forgive your transgression, given that you Dragons so rarely see real battles."
"Our battle never reached a resolution. Any honorable samurai would have sought me out when the siege was done. Or perhaps you are merely the same bullying coward as your father—willing to fight only when you know you can win."
Yakamo glared at her silently. When he finally spoke, his voice was as quiet and sharp as an assassin's blade. "Your grief is great, Hitomi, and I am willing to overlook your slights against me. But my patience is not endless, and I will not allow you to slander my daimyo."
Hitomi smiled. At last she'd found the right nerve to tug.
"Your father needs no words from me to slander his name. All it takes is his own selfish disinterest in the empire," the samurai-ko said these words clearly and distinctly so as to heighten their impact. "At a time when the empire needs warriors, he stays on his wall and turns his back on the rest of us. What kind of bravery is that? No, Hida Kisada is a coward—
Soon the group was happily slurping their noodles and clearing the dust from their throats with delicious, if watered down,
sake. It was a fine meal on a hot afternoon.
"All fed and watered now, Crab?" Hitomi had returned, but this time she had brought a retinue of Dragon samurai with her.
"Mirumoto-san," said Sukune, "under normal circumstance my brother and I would be glad to invite you to join us and our counselor in a midafternoon tea ceremony to honor the fates for bringing us together again. However, we are bound for the Forbidden City on a most urgent matter, and we will have to take our leave of you immediately. I apologize."
The younger Hida proved again what a brilliant tactician he was. There were no flaws in his speech. Any further challenge or antagonism on Hitomi's part would reflect very badly 011 the Dragon Clan.
"I too am bound for the Forbidden City," said Hitomi, "and I say your brother can spare the time to indulge me in a duel to see if his skills outrank those of the Mirumoto School. Unless of course he would be willing to concede the point."
The other Dragon samurai's mouths dropped. The only ruder thing Hitomi could have done would be to draw her katana and attack the man. The look in her eyes spoke that very desire.
Yakamo looked coolly at the samurai-ko—the way he might look at a noisy dragonfly that disturbed the quiet of the afternoon. He stood, reminding everyone of just how much larger he was than the Dragon, used his tongue to pick some noodles from between his back teeth, and turned toward his horse.
"Come, Brother, we need to be on our way," Yakamo said lazily.
Kuni Yori spent the whole time standing behind Sukune. The opposing samurai would interpret this position as fearful. In truth the shugenja clutched his black silk, preparing to draw on its power should the Dragon retinue become more than verbally belligerent.
"You arrogant bastard!" Hitomi's fists were clenched, and her hair seemed to bristle. "Do you think that you can kill my brother and completely ignore the rest of the Mirumoto family? Do you have so little respect for the man you murdered that you deny me the right to revenge?"
Yakamo stopped. He slowly looked back over his shoulder.
"It is out of respect for your brother that I do not kill you as well, little Dragon," he said through clenched teeth. "Your behavior when last we dueled was scandalous enough that I am surprised you have the nerve to talk about anyone's cowardice. Attacking an ally is not a practice for an honorable samurai. I understand how overwhelming bloodlust can be. I was willing to forgive your transgression, given that you Dragons so rarely see real battles."
"Our battle never reached a resolution. Any honorable samurai would have sought me out when the siege was done. Or perhaps you are merely the same bullying coward as your father—willing to fight only when you know you can win."
Yakamo glared at her silently. When he finally spoke, his voice was as quiet and sharp as an assassin's blade. "Your grief is great, Hitomi, and I am willing to overlook your slights against me. But my patience is not endless, and I will not allow you to slander my daimyo."
Hitomi smiled. At last she'd found the right nerve to tug.
"Your father needs no words from me to slander his name. All it takes is his own selfish disinterest in the empire," the samurai-ko said these words clearly and distinctly so as to heighten their impact. "At a time when the empire needs warriors, he stays on his wall and turns his back on the rest of us. What kind of bravery is that? No, Hida Kisada is a coward—
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