Heart of the Ronin by Travis Heermann

Author:Travis Heermann [Heermann, Travis]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: E-Reads
Published: 2009-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

* * *

Lord Nishimuta sat on the dais in his meeting hall. His deep-set dark eyes gazed down on Hatsumi with an inscrutable glitter. She swallowed hard, feeling a sick blackness swirling in her belly like tar. She clenched her hands in her lap to keep them from shaking and shifted uncomfortably at the sharp ache in her nether region.

“So, Hatsumi, what do you wish to speak to me about?” His broad mouth bore a concerned expression. “What was so important that could not wait?”

Hatsumi prostrated herself. “Thank you for allowing me to speak, my lord.” As she straightened into a sitting position, she allowed a bit of worry to slip into her voice. “It is about Kazuko.”

Lord Nishimuta’s face lit up at the mention of his daughter, then darkened again as he said, “What is it? She is fine, is she not?”

“She has spoken to you about the ronin, yes?”

“Yes, she has. I am going to speak to him later this evening.”

Hatsumi took a deep breath. “My lord, I wish to give you another view of this man before you speak to him yourself.”

“Go on, then.”

“My lord, the ronin is a strong man, tough, and a skilled warrior.”

“That must be true for him to have defeated the oni.”

A chill skittered down Hatsumi’s spine. Dim flashes of memory sent all other thoughts spinning into oblivion. The blunt explosions of pain as the creature’s fists pummeled her into the bushes. Something tearing at her clothing, either branches or claws. The creature’s obscene laughter. The tremendous weight upon her, crushing her into the carpet of dead leaves like the weight of a downed bullock. The splitting, stabbing agony as its huge, blunt organ tore into her womb. The hideous, horned face and feral, yellow eyes, only inches from hers. Foul spittle dripping into her mouth. Vile breath in her face, suffocating her. The final merciful blackness. . . .

Lord Nishimuta’s voice jerked her awareness back to the moment. “Isn’t that true, Hatsumi?”

The tone of his words made her wonder how long she had drifted away. He was not a man who allowed underlings to waste his time. She said, “Yes, that’s true, my lord. But, my lord, he is a ronin. He has no family.”

“A ronin by unfortunate circumstance of birth, not by choice or failure. I don’t believe that to be an unfavorable mark against a man. There are many great warriors who came from humble beginnings.”

“My lord, he is not merely a penniless ronin, but an uncouth ruffian. Have you seen him?”

“No.”

“My lord, I cannot imagine anyone with worse manners and bearing. His manners are worse than most peasants’.”

Lord Nishimuta grunted. “Another unfortunate circumstance of his upbringing. No fault of his own. Besides, with time he could learn what manners he needs.”

“My lord, he is a mean, cruel man. He almost killed a diseased beggar. He didn’t like the beggar’s smell.”

“What of that? Killing one of the unclean is no crime. Doubtless, this beggar frightened my daughter. She mentioned this beggar.

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