Chapter 27: A game of letters

After the morning meeting in court the courtiers began to do what they were really about, meeting with one another privately and trying to gauge the political climate at this time. Each faction's scion was gauging if another faction would support them in a war, provide them a resource they needed or just block their rivals from something they needed.

But the elaborate network of meetings was maintained through letters, letters which Miyuki or her servants carefully wrote in their best calligraphy. Each was drawn carefully, every word chosen as carefully as it was drawn. Watching everyone writing so carefully, then after Miyuki reviewed them, binding up their works carefully and sealing them in blue wax with her personal seal. At this point Fuyukaze was handed the letter. He tucked it below his wrist on the long hanging sleeve of his robes, bowing carefully and walking hurriedly through the imperial palace.

He walked through the palace watching other servants and the occasional lady in waiting obviously doing the same thing. They tried their best to be discreet but one could see them reach within their sleeves or place their hand upon their chest checking to make sure their master's correspondence was safe.

Fuyukaze felt out of place however, as he was sent as a samurai to do the same duty. He approached the guest house occupied by the Rensho clan. The Rensho were a dominant force of the southern most island of Nanshima and as such had the most trade with other lands. They were famous for their swordsmanship, fielding two prominent schools, the traditional <single form school> and the newer <> school.

Of more importance however, was the fact that the Rensho clan alone were not affected by an assassination attempt on their bridal offering to the emperor. Many whispered loudly that this was not a coincidence, that the clan was trying to remove its rivals from having such close connections to the Emperor. Fuyukaze was nervous as he walked through the courtyard, the thought of treachery by this clan was foremost, perhaps he was sent as no one else would be willing to perform the task?

At the gate two warriors, one wearing rich red robes with white diamond-patterns upon it, and the other a sky blue on dark blue kimono depicting the waves of a tsunami, both regarded the approaching man with hands straying towards their blades. When he approached the man in red barked “What is your business Taeshimo” he said watching the younger man's eyes.

“I am Taeshimo Fuyukaze, younger brother of Taeshimo Miyuki.” He regarded the warriors with a stiff bow, he held his hands within the sleeves of his robes. “My sister has sent a message to the lady of your house, would you receive it?” his words were less practiced than his sister's, halting a bit at times but sounding sincere in his intentions. He looked from warrior to warrior, both a bit speechless than a samurai would be asked to do the duty of a messenger. “I see, please wait here.” The warrior in red said, turning and quickly returning to the house. <exchange stares? Silence, words?>

A few minutes later he carefully slid the door to the entryway wide, the man in red kneeling at the doorway. “Please, won't you come in?” he said his tone much more soft. Taeshimo entered the doorway, past the man in red who now knelt at the there. When he entered he found three warriors kneeling near each wall, before them lay katanas in their sheathes. As he entered he looked from one group to the other, the presence of the men was noticeably menacing. They stared coldly forward, but their threat to action was obvious, a wrong move and they would strike Fuyukaze down.

After a few moments another door opened carefully, and from within a thin looking servant in his forties approached. “Oh good samurai, please take a seat. May I bring you some tea?”

Realizing his mistake the youth quickly sunk to his knees, and doing so the warriors leaned back from their martial stance and the aura of menace faded quickly. He looked to the servant “Yes, tea, please that would be nice.” He said still looking towards the soldiery, then carefully untied the katana's scabbard from its sheath lifting the weapon from the sash around his waist and placing the tip of the sheathed sword on his right side, and laid it down slowly, with the blade faced towards Fuyukaze as a sign of respect to the Rensho. Soon after the wall opposite him parted slowly and upon a raised dais there sat Akime Shino and Rensho Tsubaki. Shino was a courtier of eighteen years, and another rival suitor to the hand of the emperor's son. Rensho Tsubaki was the nephew of the Rensho patriarch, and a known commander in the clan. Tsubaki was well known for his political as well as strategic acumen. Upon seeing the two scions of the Rensho clan, Fuyukaze bowed low in greeting.

Shino began by bowing her head as well “Welcome Taeshimo Fuyukaze, we are pleased to meet with you today.” She smiled a practiced smile, her teeth blackened with soot as was fashionable in the south. She paused and gestured softly “What brings you to visit with us today?”

Fuyukaze blinked and shifted quickly reaching up his sleeve “I have a..” suddenly the half dozen samurai were on one knee hands upon swords ready to draw and cut the youth. He was still for a moment before saying slowly “a letter, I have a letter from my sister.” He slowly slipped his hand from the sleeve of his robe, revealing the letter and holding it up before the room. The bright blue wax aimed towards Tsubaki.

It was then one samurai took his hand from his sword and carried it across the room to present it to Tsubaki. Tsubaki broke the seal carefully and read over the contents, then smiled softly, looking up to meet the eyes of the young Taeshimo clansman. Slowly seeing their lord smile the warriors resumed their kneeling posture upon the soft mats. “Forgive us, my men have been on edge since the recent unpleasantness here at court.” His attention turned to the bushi who took the letter “Agano, please take Fuyukaze into the antechamber and make him comfortable.”

With that Agano bowed to his master and backed away until he was at the young man's side “Please won't you follow me, my lord will not leave you waiting long.” He turned to Tsubaki and Shino, and both Fuyukaze and Agano bowed low to them. Fuyukaze rose stiffly, slowly taking his sword from the floor ceremonially placing it in his left hand before backing away bowing again before he left the meeting room. Tsubaki then led Fuyukaze to a small room, its shuttered wall opened to the garden beyond. There was a easel standing there prominently with a ink drawing of the garden laying upon it as well as several brushes and stones. Agano knelt down next to the opening and Fuyukaze did the same sitting across from him.

“It is fortunate your lady avoided the trouble we had on the way here.” Fuyukaze said plainly, just looking at the apple tree covered in snow. He drew his hands into his lap, the accusation burned just behind his lips. He wanted to scream at the damned Rensho vermin, their coin in the hands of the ronin he defeated. Surely the letter was an accusation or perhaps blackmail to force them to the Taeshimo cause.

“We traveled most of the way by sea, perhaps that is why the band was unable catch us.” He said plainly “Honestly however, it was inconvenient. With everyone at court thinking we attacked and killed their loved ones, our lady sits in silence, only the Tagarii emissary and your sister have even spoken to us during our time here.” He smiled “Well, save for the wild accusations of a madman.”

“Your family's reputation for swordsmanship is well founded, it is good you protected your lady's honor from such insult.” He tried to force himself not to stare at the man, knowing his expression would harden into the sneer of hatred. “Still, no one will dare challenge you in these matters now.” He said, choosing his words carefully, but it was truthful. With Haya dead it would be suicide for the Taeshimo house to accuse Rensho, all one could do is just watch and hope the Shogunate would come to the obvious conclusion.

“Reputation will do little if all of Wa joins for a war against our clan, we will fight valiantly, but no one can match the combined strength of all the clans combined” Agano spoke plainly. With that Fuyukaze paused mulling over the words, indeed the clan had chosen suicide. What were their hopes? Indeed even if the heir were to marry into the Rensho, it would be years before Hyumachi retired. Even then if the Shogun declared the clan <anathema sounds better, dont like enemy of the state>anathema, even the Emperor would be hard pressed to preserve it. Even then, the clan would be crippled, and reduced in station significantly. Was the Rensho daimyo a madman? What could he have been thinking?

The young samurai's thoughts were interrupted by the door opening quickly. Flanked by two warriors Lady Shino opened the door herself and smiled softly. “Gentlemen” her voice was soft but Agano had already fallen to his knees and elbows in a low bow, Fuyukaze followed suit after.

“I am sorry to keep you waiting.” Lady Shino continued, her voice carefully practiced in the same gentle tone as Miyuki had. “You can tell your sister that her friendship in such troubling times is very heartwarming. Please return this letter to her and convey our thanks for such warm company on this cold winters day.” She smiled and placed the letter over Fuyukaze, the boy hesitating before taking it from her tiny hands.

“Thank you Lady Shino-sama, I am very grateful for your hospitality.” His voice was strained to feign sincerity, even if he really was astounded. His sister wanted to bring a message of friendship to these villains? The boy took the letter and carefully tucked it between the layers of his robes upon his left breast. “I will convey your message to my sister immediately.” He paused and bowed low, touching his head to the floor.