Chapter 3: Onwards

Everywhere was lit up in blue light. Nobunori grunted and shook off the dust from his vest. He frowned.

“What is this?”

Nobunaga turned to him, “Sakumo isn't this amazing!”

Katsuie took the pendant from his lord and hung it on the lantern. 

It gave light to the room. 

Nobunori said, “What now are we going to give the date of our people to a magician?”

Hashimaru said, "I am not a magician, I am just a simple traveller from the south, blessed with unparalleled lungs and…the Jinkai”

He lifted up the war hor, which in itself was far bigger than other normal ones, it was plaques in white and had iron plaques that secured it. 

Nobunaga asked Hashimaru, “yet we didn't get to hear the sound of it.”

Hashimaru nodded, “that's because it makes none”

“HUH?!”

Kinoshita sweated while looking between Hasimaru and his lord. Katsuie however giggled.

“To think that the rumours were true…”

Nobunori stomped his feet. “What rumors.”

Karsuie removed the pendant of the lantern and filled it with oil. The room was illuminated with a bright amber colour. 

“Years ago an able craftsman made an instrument of war that was undetectable. It was used by the armies of the south to navigate even in harsh conditions. It was said that the war horn made no sound when it was blown”

Nobunaga ribbed his chin gently, the shadows of his frame covered the room and he said. 

“We are heading first thing tomorrow morning.”

Hashimaru bowed, his fist gritted. Kinoshita closed his eyes. Karsuie folded his arms. Nobunori turned his back. 

Hashimaru was exited out back to his chambers.

…

THE NIGHT WAS PAST, THEN THE MORNING ARRIVED

Smoke and the smell of iron and grease. Over a thousand Ashigaru. Everyone secured each other's armour. Many strengthened their hands and at the porch some greeted farewell to their wives.

Hashimaru rested on the steps looking out to a young couple, the last wept and sighed. Her mother's hand wrapped around her pulling her away because the greeting time had ended. Still the young wife stretched out her hand for one last touch. 

Hashimaru's eyes trembled. 

“Feel like crying?’

Hashimaru stood up abruptly, “my lord what are you doing here?”

“Came to see my men before we set out.”

He gave a gentle pat on his shoulder. His mouth smelled of sake. 

Seriously, it's just the early hours of the morning.

He sighed.

Hashimaru turned again to the gates as the young wife and her mother walked back to the city.

“Hashimaru, I am counting on you ok?”

“Yes sir?”.

Nobunaga descended the stairs, with him were also his two generals. 

Shortly after came Kinoshita with the great katana. Which he promptly secured twice to his belt. 

“Thank you senpai.”

“Sure, I convinced Nobunaga-dono to give you charge of part of the scouting unit, they are like twenty men or so.”

Hashimaru's brows shot up, “twenty sure is a lot uh.”

The division itself stood at attention behind Kinoshita, it was made up of two samurai, one had a stature that didn't fit the armour. It was the young husband.

Hashimaru forested his left elbow on the sword's hilt. 

“Fine with me, let's head out”

…

DON DON DON

The hooves of the cavalry beat the stone pavements of. The bridge. The people saluted with cries. 

“Be safe!”

“May the good fortune be with you!!”

“Oda-dono defeat the enemies for us!!!”

That is what a good ruler does. He sets out in battle to fight the enemy that threatens his people, however the people still called him a fool and there were some retainers, merchants and also peasants alike that scoffed at the soldiers.

Hashimaru arrived at the stable and took his horse. The boy from yesterday ran out and gave him a big hug and he gave him another silver coin. 

….

The soldiers left Nagoya behind them and headed forward to Haganezawa. 

Ahead a new force joined them, it numbered a thousand two hundred foot soldiers. The leader of the troops from the inner palace was none other than: Lady Kaguya.

…

“Uh? Why are you here?”

She said “Why not? We of the inner palace whose parents were commanders are obliged to take part in the defense of our homeland.”

Nobunori gripped the reins of his horse. “Woman, what is going through your head is none other than pride and arrogance!”

“What goes through my head is known only by God. But if you refuse our support, then what will happen will happen. Perhaps you all want Imagawa to take the title of Shogun don't you?”

Nonunori gritted his teeth. 

Nobunaga said “You are welcome, let's hurry.”

She smiled and sided with Hashimaru and Kinoshita. 

Nonunori trembled “but sir…”

“We cannot afford to turn down help, being a lowlife teaches you to value help, because it will not always be present.”

…

TOWARDS MIDDAY 

The retinue continued until the Hanazawa castle was in sight. 

The footsoldiers began gathering wood and setting up tents. They hammered the nails to the ground, rounded up their weapons and set up a camp. 

Hashimaru sat on a horse and sent out some scouts, so did Katsuie and Nobunori.

Lady Kaguya came close by smiling. 

“Nice day isn't it?”

“Yea, really nice…”

Hashimaru was cleaning the Jinkai until it reflected them both. 

“My lady, I really love your eyes”

“Uh, w-what are you s-saying?”

“Ahahah, sorry.”

Lady Kaguya turned away.

From afar the dust piles of the riders returned. Hashimaru lept of the horse to receive the scout he had sent out. 

At the main tent where Nobunaga resided, they began giving reports. 

The scouts from Katsuie knelt before the Daimiyo and said.

“Long live Nobunaga-dono, we have confirmed the size of the Imagawa camp to be eight times our current size.”

Hashimaru furrowed his brows. 

The scouts of Nobunori waved it off, “you say that so casually. Nobunaga-dono, those guys were beheading each other like a game and they changed the names of the people of the province and called for their death.”

Nonbunori cracked his sake flask, “so what is what they are after. My lord…”

“We stick with the plan,” Nobunaga said.

WOOOSH

Katsuie sighed. 

Nobunori stood up and left the tent. 

Nobunaga asked, “and we're are you going now, Sakumo?”

“Back to Kiyosu Castle to organise defense and evacuation of women, children and the elderly.”

Hashimaru gruppe his horn “you won't make it back in time. The moment they move it would be too late either way.”

Kinoshita gripped his arm. Hashimaru paused for a moment before looking down.

Sakumo Nobunori drew back with his men.

A dog, a dog runs away in fear.