Chapter 1: News from Edo

Tendo observed the courtyard turned banquet hall of Kamano Castle from the tiled rooftop of his father’s favorite pagoda. From here, he had a view of the entire courtyard and palace grounds. It was no wonder his father had tried to keep this spot to himself.

Pavilions once reserved for his art lessons were now food stalls and exotic attractions, while the smell of freshly cut grass and neatly trimmed shrubs were smothered by open charcoal grills and sizzling curries. It would’ve been almost overwhelming, but the refreshing night air swept away the senses. Bright violet lanterns hung around the courtyard perimeter as paper dragons danced and twisted around them, laughter and conversation filled the air, the faint backdrop of the drums hiding closely behind. To an eye not used to the grandeur of these festivities, it would've passed as Retivim sorceries.

Father must’ve paid good money for those.

At the center of the courtyard was a colorful array of nobles dancing throughout. Even after all the festivals and celebrations, it was a mesmerizing sight. A myriad of bright purples, greens, and yellows twirled around the courtyard’s center. Everyone was in unison, a natural result of years in the court.

Everyone except him.

Stumbling around the center of the courtyard was Kain, standing out in his fiery red attire. Despite Kain’s best efforts, the other dancers moved around him with elegance, parting ways as he struggled to dance his way through. Kain’s movements were closer to muscle spasms than dance, but at least he was enjoying himself.

“People watching again, Master Tendo?” asked a familiar voice. Tendo turned to see Minister Hoji climbing his way onto the pagoda roof. He was a short man with a full graying beard and rubbery, tanned skin. Tendo often wondered what a minister could be doing in his free time to get so tan, although he never truly asked. Hoji lifted himself up with one arm, his free hand holding a plate full of prawn balls.

“Stealing the appetizers again, Hoji?”

“I prefer to say delivering,” said Hoji, holding up his plate. Tendo smiled and took a prawn ball, popping it into his mouth.

Hoji walked over to the roof’s edge beside Tendo and took a seat, gazing upon the view. He, too, noticed Kain almost immediately.

“They say the footwork of dancing is not unlike that of battle. By that logic, your brother should be a prodigy.”

“And me a great warrior?”

“On second thought, it seems that logic is flawed.” said Hoji with a smile, “Or perhaps you two are simply beyond reason.”

“You climbed all the way up here to say that?”

Hoji thought for a moment before nodding, “Yeah, pretty much.” He popped another prawn ball into his mouth before breaking out into a wide smile full of prawn bits and dough.

“If you want the serious answer, your father wants you down there, and the ladies of the court mourn your absence.” said Hoji.

While Tendo doubted his father had said that second part, he looked down towards the head of one of the banquet tables and saw his father observing the festivities with sake in hand. The bright red robes of the Kamano family often called for attention while exuding authority, something Tendo had often struggled to keep up with. Yet watching his father down there being hounded by gossiping nobles and favor seekers, the scarlet robes fit him perfectly.

“The absence of my name perhaps, not me. Besides, I like it up here. It’s peaceful.” From here, the music of the courtyard was a distant hum and the clamor of the crowd a faint backdrop.

“What, you don’t want fifty beggar nobles asking you to marry their daughters?”

“Kain can have them.”

“That’d be a poor girl. Your brother’s more likely to spend time with his horses than a wife.”

Tendo chuckled. Hoji always had a way of cheering him up, even when he wasn’t feeling particularly down.

“But I imagine, the quiet isn’t the only reason you’re up here.” said Hoji, with a raised eyebrow.

Tendo snorted. Hoji was called many things, most of them offensive, but observant was always one of them.

“Something occurred to me down there, so I came up to confirm it.” answered Tendo.

“And?”

“I was right. There are even less guests this time.”

Hoji’s gentle smile dimmed as he nodded in agreement, looking down upon the lights and colors. The grandeur of the festivities reflected themselves in his large brown eyes.

“A sound observation.”

“Those that are here look nervous, the main gate’s been seeing less traffic every day for the past month, and father’s been meeting with the generals,” Tendo turned to Hoji, “Something’s happened, hasn’t it?”

Hoji shrugged, “Weather’s getting cold. Maybe everyone’s going south, down to Fuki. I’ve heard it's fishing season right about now.”

Hoji could feel Tendo glaring daggers into him. Guess the boy’s grown up a bit more than I thought.

“There’s been talks… Just rumors, mind you... from down in Edo. The Shogun is dead.”

Tendo had met Shogun Danzo on a few occasions, a loud and lumbering man. A bellowing laugh that could fill the largest of halls and an army of servants dressed in black. He seemed a jolly man in the banquets, but Tendo’s father often warned him of the sheer terror the man was on the battlefield. A Retivim with bright gray eyes, who could steel himself on will, shattering weapons upon his armor like skin.

“He seemed lively last time he visited,” said Tendo, his face deep in thought.

“Aye, it seemed like he had decades left in him. His death was rather unexpected and your father did not take it well.”

“An illness?”

“No,” Hoji hesitated, “The reports say… he fell in battle and a small rebel insurgency south of Shukaku has claimed responsibility.”

“Father says he’s never returned from battle with a single scratch.”

Hoji nodded, “That’s exactly why things aren’t adding up down there. The man was a veteran of a thousand battles, yet he fell at the hands of some… rabble? No, there are darker things at work.”

“Treason then?”

Hoji nodded, “Danzo kept himself steeled at all times, even here at your father’s hall. I do not believe he would’ve slipped, but even the strongest shield is useless to a traitor's blade.”

“Do we know who it was?”

Hoji shook his head, taking a bite out of another prawn ball, “I imagine it was one of the other Retivim Houses, not that it matters. The twelve of them are tearing each other apart, in the shadows of course, as we speak.”

Tendo looked towards the southern mountains, their dark peaks looming over the horizon. He had wondered why the flow of merchants from Edo had slowed. Now he knew why.

Hoji nodded solemnly, “I do not know what is coming, but with the Shogunate in disarray, the balance has shifted. Kamano has maintained its place and prosperity through your father and Danzo’s friendship. For better or worse, the Shogun was our shield and now that shield is lifted. Kamano is a valuable province for any of the other houses, and they’ve eyed your father’s wealth for years. Pieces are already moving in the shadows. Rumors of ships from Hokkaido, conscription in Kyushu, movement in the southern reaches. They’ll move quickly… before your father can stabilize the situation.”

“This hardly seems like the time for festivals then.”

“Your age is showing, Master Tendo. In times like these when we must precisely not show weakness. A moment of doubt, the slightest trace of fear, and our enemies will be at our gates. We must remain vigilant and act stronger than we are. At the very least it buys us time.”

“Father hasn’t told us any of this, to me, to Kain. We need to make preparations. Kain and I could help!”

Hoji let out a sad laugh, “War is coming whether you know it or not, Master Tendo. I imagine your father’s shouldering the burden, so the two of you don’t have to. At least, not yet. I mean, look at him, he can’t eat for five minutes without another messenger coming in.”

Tendo looked upon his father’s table again, and saw Hoji was right. Messengers constantly scurried in and out of the courtyard, and his father’s face grew increasingly strained.

“This may be the last banquet for many years, boy. Best get down there and enjoy it. If not for your father, do it for me.”

Tendo doubted he could enjoy the festivities after what he’d just learned, but he nodded anyway. He needed time to process everything, to think this over. War has been a distant phrase muttered by the older soldiers or depicted in the silk tapestries. Yet here it was, looming over the banquet, dimming its vibrant colors.

Before Tendo climbed down, he turned back to Hoji one more time.

“Hoji?”

“Yes, Master Tendo?” Hoji answered, still looking down at the view.

“Are we going to be alright? If a war truly comes?”

Hoji was silent for a moment, but his positive voice broke through once more.

“I may not look it, Master Tendo, but I’m quite the strategist,” said Hoji, turning to look at Tendo one more time. He popped another prawn ball in his mouth and smiled, 

“You’ll be alright.”