Court Games

Three days later, they found themselves at the Nakanoi Court keeping to the plan that Yumi had outlined for them. She remained outside in the shadows unable to enter the estate to protect her identity in all of the maneuverings.

Seiji had been to the court a few times in his years, the last time he went alone after he took over the clan from his father. The times before were when he was a child and kept mostly to the back. There were few to no eyes on him.

Perhaps because he dealt with Komagata on a regular basis, his court never felt that awkward to be in front of. However, the Nakanoi were different, threatening to put him into a cold sweat. Though it probably didn’t help that if things went poorly, they might execute him. It was Yumi’s plan that he followed and he trusted her.

She explained it all to him quite thoroughly and he followed it all. What she said made sense and sounded like the perfect plan. Though it seemed to rely on a lot of pieces being exactly how she saw them. This was the sort of game that Aya played all the time with unwavering confidence, but Yumi wasn’t Aya even if that was her goal. ‘I trust Yumi. It’s just these people I don’t…they’re all scheming…’

Chapter 542 – Court Games

In front of him, the head of the whole clan, was an old man that he barely knew and had only a few words with. According to Yumi’s information, he held the majority of the power in the clan and had quite a few military campaigns under his belt in his younger years. Everyone looked to him for his opinion. “Young Nagahama, it’s been a while.”

“Yes, Lord Nakanoi. It’s good to see you in excellent health.”

“Seems you’ve matured since the last time.”

To the right of him, a new voice spoke, “Spare us the flowery words.” This was the youngest son of Lord Nakanoi, Masahiro, a bit of a fiery temper something that Seiji could relate with, but still the man was his elder in years and definitely status. “Father, he’s returned to us without his Lord and in defeat.”

“Silence Masahiro,” barked across the chamber. The eldest son spoke up now glaring sharply at the impertinent attitude of his brother. A more level headed individual, but power hungry, he was the one that Seiji watched carefully in the room. “Our cousin abandoned his land and fled before the enemy. The man was always trouble.”

“Indeed, that is disappointing to hear. But I’m curious to know why you’ve returned to us, Young Nagahama. Why have you returned alone?”

Seiji glanced around the room feeling the tension increasing. This didn’t suit his strengths, but he had to be the one to do it. “My Lord put me in defense of the city while Lord Hirohata faced the enemy. It was only when he fell in battle and enemy assassins had already slipped into the city that I learned the Lord I spent my years and honor on had retreated, taking all of my men with him.”

Grumbling and murmurs spread throughout the chamber. Those of lower status that had no place to speak could only whisper in rumors and petty plots of their own. “I stayed to see the people escape safely before the enemy completely overwhelmed us and retreated.”

“It’s good to hear a more detailed account of what happened. Information has been poor since the loss.”

“I returned so that you could hear what happened and to ask for your aid, my Lord.”

The old man leaned forward some with a little curiosity, though some of it seemed put on as though he already knew what Seiji planned to say. “My aid is it? And what would you wish to do?”

“My Lord has betrayed me and his people. The men that my father trained and raised for him. I ask for your permission to seek justice for this dishonor and to retake the land that he lost.”

A dead silence spread through the chamber. Some like the elder already knew where things were headed, a man betrayed would naturally want revenge. Coming to the elder would make it official and be granting approval to his action. The weight that it would carry would be enormous within the domain and what that would mean for Seiji’s position.

Those of lesser families watched him with great interest as what this meant could change the entire power dynamic in the court. Seiji’s family had technically a lower status than many of the others, but their reputation and value pulled more weight than their position. It would be a power play that only he could take advantage of.

They already wanted to figure out ways to get in with him. Politics was an annoying and backstabbing field that Seiji hated, even though he had to play it more than he would have wished. In this era, strength came in many forms and when the weaker ones sensed a change they would quickly abandon their support. They just wanted positions of power with no interest in loyalty.

“It would be in your rights,” agreed the elder.

“Father, you promised me those lands!”

“It should be someone from the Clan that deals with our cousin, Father.”

Seiji thought back to Yumi recounting how things would go as the family argued. It unnerved him a little how accurately Yumi predicted their actions. Though with how she laid it out, it made sense. If he knew what she did, he probably would have seen the same thing.

“Seiji, you’re going to open with wanting revenge for your betrayal. They’re already going to know small details to help support what you say thanks to Nerine’s work. Now, the power dynamic in the Nakanoi Clan is a little imbalanced right now.

“The head of the Clan runs everything, but everyone knows that he’s going to be dead soon and that he is going to pass leadership over to the eldest son, Kichiro. He’s wanted control for a while and even attempted a couple of assassinations on his father according to Nerine. He’s ruthless and wants the seat badly. Komagata has been on the outs for a while within the family being a cousin and more than likely Kichiro would have removed him soon.

“He’s just wanting to take over, otherwise the land goes to Masahiro who their father long promised him as a way to ease the tensions between the brothers.” Yumi laid out the map of the area as she pointed around for her plan.

“We’ve got Komagata holed up for now. He’s scared now that he believes Kichiro knows about his failure. His plan to seek aid is falling through, so now he’s trying to find a way back into the court. So he’ll be busy while we make moves here. Both sons want Komagata out of the picture and to prove themselves though with different motives.

“They’re going to fight over who should be the one to take out Komagata, but in the end it’ll be Kichiro that’ll be picked because he’s the eldest and has the stronger army. So the head will let him go ahead and deny your request, but since your family is important, he will want you to stay in the court and see to the training of his men. This will be your in.”

“Enough!” firmly, though surprisingly quietly commanded the elder bringing silence to the room. He had finally had enough of the sons bickering and needed an end to it. Seiji could see that he did actually want to give it over to Seiji to handle, almost not trusting them. Though he felt like there were other factors involved that the elder saw that made him hesitant to send his sons.

Peace in the chamber restored, everyone looked to him for his final answer on the matter. “Kichiro, you will be the one to bring back Komagata to face the judgment of this clan.” Whispers ran through the back of the chamber over the decision. People already started changing their sides again. Whoever went after Komagata would have the accolades and momentum that would shore up their position.

Seiji saw the youngest looking like he wanted to protest the decision, but it was from his father. He could say nothing with the final word given. All he could do was be angry that he lost the land that he wanted. As youngest, he would get nothing, his hope hung on Komagata failing and the land turning to him so that he had something of value.

This was a very dangerous game to be playing with such hungry wolves at the table.

“Now that you’re without your Lord, young Nagahama, I want you to stay here. Your reputation for the soldiers you train would serve of us well in these turbulent times.”

“Yes, my Lord. It would be an honor to serve.” Seiji lowered his head in acceptance of the judgment. ‘It’s just how she said it would go…let’s hope the rest goes the same…’ He stood up once the Lords departed and turned back to go towards the entrance of the chamber. However before he could get to the door a man about the same age as him approached him with an oily looking expression. ‘Yumi…’

Nearly an hour later, he freed himself from the annoying voices and self-interests of small players. He was alone outside of the building finally. ‘You warned me, but that was the only thing that you didn’t prepare me for. Damn, we’re really going to be destroying this whole clan…’ The plan was to meet up with Nerine after the meeting, though they knew it would go long so it would be just a matter of finding her.

“Nagahama boy, do you have a moment?”

Seiji turned around to see the old man coming up from a garden near the chamber building. ‘Sooner than she predicted, but I guess not everything plays the same…’ He nodded and began an approach. “My Lord, I thought you had already left.”

He raised his hand up to stop the formalities. “I’m guessing your father didn’t prepare you for the vultures, eh?” A small smile came over his face seeing the exhausted expression on Seiji.

“I’d rather be standing under the waterfall in winter.”

“Aye, it’s a troubling thing to live in the noble ranks.”

“Was there something you wanted?”

“Straight to the point, though I guess you’re wanting to get some rest at this point. I want you to look over the men before my son leaves. He’s talented, but the men respect you. I’d like to hear your evaluation of the men, especially now that you’re going to be working with them closely.”

“Yes, my Lord!” The old man waved at him again to stop the formality. “I’ll do what I can.”

“Glad to hear it. I’d like to leave my son a strong army. I don’t like the rumors that I’m hearing from the Matsushina Court.”

“Rumors?”

“They say there’s a witch or demon disguised as a woman that’s taken over the court.”

Seiji gave him a little bit of a grin for the superstition suggestion. “A demon, a woman controlling the court? Probably just lies that Matsushina spread to make his enemies afraid.”

“Either way, I can smell the blood in the air, boy. I don’t have the youth anymore to keep Matsushina in check and my sons are hardly tested. You’ve fought them many times already.”

“I lost nearly every encounter.”

“Failure is a good educator, victory breeds weakness.”

He nodded to him. The man was more wise than he imagined, but war and age probably did that. If he could stick around longer, Yumi probably would have more trouble with this area, but he was too old. The man might have power now, but the sons would see that divided before long as they played right into Yumi’s hands.

For now, Seiji had his role to play as well for the sake of Yumi’s plan. “Yes, I’ve seen a lot battling them. Though they go to face a different enemy, I’ll give my advice for their victory.”

“Glad to hear it, boy!” He patted Seiji heartedly on the back as though he had found a trusted adopted son. There was a little bit of a pang that stabbed him looking at the old man. All just pieces on a board, he told himself that as often as he could. They were also fake, but that ceased to be something that he could rely on for some time. No amount of repeated that made it convincing.

The two departed soon after the old man concluded his talk with Seiji. Walking away, he felt more confident than ever about Yumi’s chances. ‘She saw it all. I’m not sure where she picked this up, but she might have a shot against Aya after all. Let’s do this!’