Spirit of the Ronin by Travis Heermann

Author:Travis Heermann [Heermann, Travis]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: history, fantasy, historical fantasy, samurai, ninja, oni, demon, tanuki, kamikaze, Mongols, epic
Publisher: Bear Paw Publishing
Published: 2015-01-29T16:00:00+00:00

“One may explain water, but the mouth will not become wet. One may expound fully on the nature of fire, but the mouth will not become hot.”

—Takuan Soho, “The Mysterious Record of Immovable Wisdom”

Ken’ishi awoke with a start in the early dawn and jumped out of bed, his heart hammering. He felt his left shoulder and found no wound there, no pain. Either Kaa had healed him, or their encounter had taken place in the Land of Dreams and his wound there had not translated into the mortal realm. Nevertheless, the reality of the encounter could not be in question.

He took up Silver Crane and sat upon the veranda overlooking his garden, sword across his thighs, listening to the silence of the frogs, to the trickle of dew on the leaves.

He turned his parents’ names over and over in his mind, like a child with a new treasure. Hikari. Morihisa. And, like a boy, he tucked his treasures away and cherished them.

All this time, all these years, and the truth now lay before him. What should he do with it? His fondest wish, the wish he had clung to through childhood, through endless days and nights walking the earth as a ronin when his only friend had been a dog, the wish that had sustained him in the darkest recesses of Green Tiger’s prison, had been granted. He would never know his parents, but he knew their names. They had been a symbol of hope to build amity between clans steeped in mutual loathing. Ken’ishi was the living, breathing embodiment of that hope. But no one knew or cared who he was. The war and slaughter were a century past. The Taira clan lay in bloody shreds of its former glory, all but forgotten, scattered across islands and provinces, under the watchful eye of its former enemies.

Tatters of cloud turned red, then orange. Today would be a good day to travel to Dazaifu. Ken’ishi was to be among the twenty retainers accompanying Tsunetomo to the Lords’ Council. Each lord was to be allowed only twenty retainers and their servants, to prevent any unwelcome displays of force. Ken’ishi’s rank had placed him within the circle of Tsunetomo’s highest-ranked retainers. Some of the captains were remaining behind to continue troop training and readiness, but Tsunetomo wanted “the best swordsman in the province” with him in Dazaifu.

After the events of last night, Ken’ishi knew his reputation might exceed his prowess. He needed to find another swordmaster under whom to train. Tengu were renowned for their swordsmanship, but Ken’ishi still felt terrible unease that his skills had been stagnating for far too long. What would happen when another ambitious warrior, a real one, challenged the famous Oni-Slayer to a duel? Lacking a teacher, he had grown lax in his martial studies.

When they returned from Dazaifu, perhaps he would discuss bringing in a swordmaster, similar to Yamazaki-sensei, with Captain Tsunemori.

At the Hour of the Rabbit, Lord Tsunetomo and his retinue gathered in a dual column at the gates of the castle.

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