Samurai (The Valiant Series, #3) by Joanna White

Author:Joanna White
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: asian fantasy, asian fantasy books, fantasy books about samurai, fantasy military books, fantasy war books, fantasy action books with love stories, fantasy action books
Publisher: Joanna White
Published: 2021-09-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Two

MEGUMI

IT TOOK A total of three days and nights to retake the stronghold. Toshi, my messenger, came to inform me an hour after our army had complete control over it once again. It was nearly a day after that before Akari and Shinji both returned to the capital, along with General Matsushima, General Hattori, Asano, and Ryosuke, for a meeting recounting the events that had taken place.

As they took the stronghold, they left alive only what Iwashita samurai they needed for interrogation. Ryosuke assured me that the prisoners were secured. He had his most trusted samurai with them at all times, and they had already begun the questioning.

Once all the reports were gathered, including Asano’s and Akari’s, I turned toward Shinji and asked him to recount the events of his mission, and why no one had heard from him in several days.

He immediately glared at Matsushima. “I was sent after the retreating Iwashita samurai with only one squad... twenty-five other samurai besides myself. We ended up surrounded six to one, and everyone was killed. I was barely able to make it out alive.” The whole time he spoke, he never glanced away from Matsushima.

I fought back a gasp, and I felt Akari at my right, stiffen. “Why did you not gather more men when you left?” I directed the question toward Shinji.

He briefly glanced at me, before returning his cold gaze back to Matsushima. “I was ordered to bring only that particular squad.”

I looked at Matsushima. “You told me you did not remember how many men you sent with him. Is this true?”

Matsushima smiled. “It is true, Empress. Too many things happen on a battlefield, and I have the lives of the rest of my regiment to consider. I have already spoken to you of this, and I spoke the truth then, as I speak it now.”

Shinji clenched his fists, standing up from his place on the tatami mat. “Why did you send me and only one squad against five hundred men?”

“Shinji!” Koike yelled.

“Sit down, immediately!” one of the other generals commanded; I was not sure who, though I guessed Hattori.

“You must never stand in the presence of our Empress, especially not without permission!” Koike’s tone was appalled.

Akari’s fists were clenched where they lay in her lap.

“Shinji, please return to your seat if you wish to be included in the rest of the council meeting.” I kept my tone neutral and my expression impassive as I looked at him, though internally, I pleaded with him not to force my hand.

His cold eyes shifted to me. “No, I think I’m done here,” he snapped right before he turned his back on me and walked toward the shoji.

“Never turn your back on our Empress!”

“She’s not my Empress,” he muttered right before opening the shoji and storming out of the room.

Akari’s unease radiated off of her in waves. I knew it was only a sheer force of will that kept her kneeling on her tatami mat and not running after Shinji.

“His behavior cannot go unpunished!” Koike shouted.

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