The Samurai and the Prisoner by Honobu Yonezawa

Author:Honobu Yonezawa
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Yen On

1

Summer. The season of death.

Waves of heat battered that which drew breath, nipping away the life from the old, the ill, and the very young. Rapidly the cadavers of the dead did rot, afflicted by the sultry air. The water turned stagnant, and the vegetation wilted. But the pall of deathly silence covering Arioka Castle was not solely attributable to the season.

With the exception of the raid on the castle that took place in winter, the Oda had yet to attack Arioka. They built forts and branch castles one after the other; none could enter Arioka, and many were forbidden to leave. At first, the officers and men of Arioka mocked Oda’s perceived cowardice and took pride in their castle’s steadfastness. Yet after half a year of confinement, everyone was beginning to suspect, albeit in the backs of their minds, that the reason the Oda weren’t attacking wasn’t because he couldn’t win, but rather because he could win without needing to. And if and when the Oda won, they wondered, what would become of them?

In the summertime, the specter of death was strong.

One moonless night, in Murashige’s residence, the lord of the castle met with Ikeda Izumi.

“You cut down an enemy or two, I hear,” said Murashige. “Give me the details.”

Izumi replied while still prostrate.

“Yes, my liege. While my troops were guarding the castle, they spotted two brigands near the samurai district’s gunpowder storehouse. Upon being asked their identities, they fled immediately. The troops gave chase, and the brigands, seemingly unfamiliar with the castle, found their way blocked by the fosse. With nowhere to run, they drew their swords and engaged. The troops were greater in number, but the brigands were desperate, leaving me no choice but to take their lives,” he said apologetically.

Murashige had ordered that brigands should be captured alive to the best of the soldiers’ ability.

“I see,” said Murashige. “Is the gunpowder storehouse untouched?”

“Oil was scattered. Had the watchmen come a moment later, the storehouse would be lost to us.”

Murashige nodded. The incidence of Oda subordinates running around inside the castle had increased in recent weeks. Brigand sightings were being reported on a daily basis, and more than one or two bodies of castle folk struck down by unidentified assailants had been spotted as well.

While Arioka was a strong fortress, it also covered a wide area. The troops couldn’t watch over everywhere and everything, no matter how expertly they were distributed. There was no telling how many of Oda’s saboteurs lurked within the ramparts of Arioka. That had been a given since the beginning of this war, and as yet, they had averted major incidents by maintaining high alert. But now the enemy was romping about the castle more freely. It could be said that the troops were ceasing to pay careful enough attention.

“The gunpowder storehouses are all supposed to have sentries. What were they doing?”

“My liege.” Izumi lightly wiped the sweat from his brow. “Two foot soldiers were on watch. A posse of strangers offered them drink, and so they left their posts.

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