Price To Pay

Should I fall, it will be because the Spirits have ordained it. But, I will not because the omens are good." He then turned to me.

"Nephew, should fate be against me and Yamato win then you will lead the expedition home." He looked into my eyes and I knew that he trusted me implicitly to obey his command. For all his wisdom, Uncle was a traditionalist. For my part, I kept my council.

* * *

At dawn two armies formed up three bowshots apart, but not for war. Instead, they stood there watching as two men faced each other like a pair of fighting cocks sizing the other up. Then, faster than a blink of an eye, two blades flashed in the sun and one of the protagonists fell to the ground clove in two. For a moment the victor stared at the body of the vanquished then turned to salute me. I returned the salute. Then, I gave the signal for the army to move.

* * *

The sun was going down when grim samurai in battered armour, swords still covered in blood, escorted me across the field. Camp followers moved around us carrying either their wounded back to their camp or despatching those of the enemy.

The first scavengers had begun to arrive. They swooped down and started feasting on a body that was missing a limb and half its face. As we approached, hem, they squawked in disgust then flapped away to find a meal where they would not be disturbed. In the sky more were spiralling to join in the banquet that had been so richly provided.

Yamato and those of his lieutenants who had survived the battle stood there huddled together. Flanking them were more samurai, as grim as my attendants.

The moment that he recognised that is was I who was approaching, anger appeared on his uncovered face and he spat at me, the gobbet landing on my foot. It had been a hard battle for him. His armour was badly hacked in places and he wore a bandage around one leg. Still, he had been lucky. Only two of his five brothers had managed to survive the onslaught.

For my part, I refused to allow him to goad me. This encounter was not what I desired. Instead, I wished that we had clashed during the battle and ended it there. Nevertheless, the Spirits had willed that we should meet like this when almost everything was done if not said.

"You filthy bastard!" He could barely contain his rage. "You swore an oath that the battle should be decided by single combat. A man of honour would have respected the outcome. But, you, you perjured liar, you broke your word and created this all". He gestured with his arms as if I could not see the piles of bodies heaped around us, that my nostrils were not filled with the smell of blood and that my ears did not ring with the crying of the captured women.

"Worse than that you took the name of the Spirits in vain. For that deed you will be sent to Purgatory for ten thousand years!"

He had a point. The signal that I had given when Uncle had fallen had been not one to retreat. No! It had one for the army to attack the Kimasharu. Not every daimyo had obeyed, well at least not at first. Nevertheless, sufficient had done so that it was my army that won the field. A few of the Kimasharu did escape, but without their leaders, baggage and dependants.