L5r - scroll 01 - The Scorpion

by Stephen D. Sullivan

  Kaede shook her head. "Never the Scorpion. Others."

  "Isn't that their way," Ishikawa said, snorting. "Look for the Scorpion, and he's never there."

  "I just wish I knew the truth," she said.

  Ishikawa grew pensive. "Truth," he finally said, "is a scarce commodity at court."

  Kaede sighed and nodded. They'd reached the walls of the great keep itself now. The huge castle towered over them like an ivory mountain.

  "I'll go round up my guards," he said to her. "See what you can do with the young Hantei's party."

  She nodded, but her mind still seemed far away.

  "Perhaps you can change the heir's mind about this."

  Kaede smiled and chuckled slightly. "Perhaps I could, if I were Bayushi Kachiko," she said.

  "But then," Ishikawa said smiling, "you'd have to sleep with a Scorpion."

  "I'd sooner sleep with the worms," Kaede said.

  PERILOUS JOURNEY

  Just before dawn, a great host assembled behind the gates of Kyuden Bayushi. Shoju rode in front of the party astride his great gelded war-horse, a gift from the Unicorn clan. At his side, Tetsuo and Bantaro rode on horses of good but lesser quality. In all of Rokugan, the horses of the Unicorn were the best—but the strange clan, sometimes referred to as "barbarian influenced" by the Scorpion, seldom bestowed their animals on others. The daimyo of each clan had one, but rarely more than one.

  Next in the host came the ladies, hidden behind the screens of their palanquins. Noble ladies never walked long distances in Rokugan. They were always carried by bearers. The small, ornate boxes hid the ladies from the elements and the prying eyes of peasants.

  Foot soldiers, archers, samurai, and priests filled out the company. All were dressed in

  their finest clothes. Visiting the daimyo of another house required the utmost in courtesy and deference.

  Shoju had sent Bayushi Yojiro ahead to announce their visit to the court of the Dragon. Of all the Scorpion retainers and diplomats, Yojiro was the one best liked by the other houses. In fact, many people called him "The Only Honest Scorpion." Shoju had to smile at that. Sometimes honesty was the best lie.

  In the predawn light, the great host looked like an army ready to ride to battle. Every man stood at attention. Every horse held its place in line. The banners of the company flapped in the wind.

  As the sun peeked through the mountains, the Scorpion daimyo raised his hand and commanded that the great gates be opened. Silently, the gates rolled back, revealing the mist-shrouded countryside. Kyuden Bayushi faced west, toward the River of Gold. To attack the gates, an enemy would leave his back to the water, limiting the route of his escape. Many times in the past, the Scorpion Clan had used the river to trap an enemy army and crush it. Those who did not die by the sword drowned or were killed by Scorpion assassins patrolling the banks.

  This morning Bayushi Shoju saw only a misty, uncertain future before him.

  The trek ahead would be long—twenty-five days at least, thirty more likely. The Scorpion did not like being out in the open for so long, but to visit the house of the Dragon, he knew he could do nothing else.

  "It is not wise to sneak up on a sleeping dragon," Shoju had told Tetsuo. "Far better to announce yourself and walk into his lair boldly. The dragon still may eat you, but at least you will see his eyes before you die."

  Tetsuo had mumbled his agreement. The Scorpion daimyo could sense his young cousin's nervousness. Even before they set out, he saw trepidation on the young man's face—on the parts not hidden by Tetsuo's Scorpion mask.

  For himself, Shoju had chosen a proud, dignified mask. It told of the daimyo's power without being ostentatious: his best face.

  The rest of the company wore their best masks as well, even the foot soldiers and priests. They would wear everyday masks during most of the journey, and even at the Scorpion strongholds between here and their final destination, but for leaving home and for arriving in the Dragon lands, nothing less than the best would be acceptable. Every man and woman in the company had seen impudent Scorpions lose their heads for choosing the wrong face.

  The Scorpion daimyo lowered his hand and gave the order to march. Slowly, deliberately, the great column moved through the gates of Kyuden Bayushi.

  From inside her palanquin, Bayushi Kachiko watched the walls of the castle glide past. Her sea-black eyes observed every detail, from the plastered walls to the graceful arc of the roofs. She often journeyed into the far reaches of Rokugan but always held this image—the strong, well-ordered, honorable castle of her people—within her heart. It gave her courage in times of doubt and confidence that she would one day return.

  As they moved away from the fortress and into the samurai village beyond, she caught a glimpse of something moving in the topmost tower: a person. Her son.

  Bayushi Dairu stood in the high window, watching the procession leave the city. He had begged his parents to let him go along on this mission. Both Shoju and Kachiko had refused. It was best that he not come. Dairu was still young and impulsive. Despite his training, he was not used to the ways of the world, and this mission would require a delicacy the young Scorpion lacked. Notwithstanding the might of their host, this journey still held great danger.

  The lands of the Dragon were perilous. No one knew much about the Dragon, not even the Scorpion. They were elusive at best, preferring to stay hidden in their high mountain keeps. Those who did show themselves were powerful in the arts of war and magic. Only their self-imposed exile kept them from dominating the clans of Rokugan. And Togashi Yokuni, the leader of the clan ... he held a secret strength that only the Scorpion daimyo and his lady knew. Even Shoju could not stand before the Dragon's power, and Shoju was the equal of any man in the world. Any meeting with Yokuni could have unpredictable and disastrous results. For this reason Kachiko insisted that her son stay home, despite the boy's resentment.

  Yes, Kachiko knew her motives for not wanting Dairu along. Her husband's motives were less clear.

  Shoju knew, of course, that the boy was not his own. He'd known it since the first moment Kachiko told him that she was with child. Had other people been allowed to look upon the face of the Scorpion daimyo, they would have known it too. Shoju's countenance had been a curse upon him since his birth; Dairu, on the other hand, had the face of an angel. "Handsome as a Crane," was a comment often heard about him in the courts.

  Kachiko prayed that her husband did not hear those words too often. For all her perceptive wiles, the Mother of Scorpions could only guess her husband's true thoughts about the boy he had raised as his own. Yes, her dalliance with the boy's father had ended long ago, two years after her marriage to Shoju, but the Scorpion's memory was long indeed. That was part of his power. Shoju's other great power was to hide his mind from others—even, at times, from her.

  Kachiko could only guess whether her husband had left "their" son behind because he feared for the boy's safety, or because Dairu was not truly one of them. It was something the Scorpion lady and her husband had not discussed. They never would. Some secrets the Scorpion daimyo held tight, even from her.

  Kachiko's heart hid secrets as well.

  As she watched the white tower disappear into the blowing mist of the morning, Kachiko wondered—as she often did when she left—whether she would ever see her son or her homeland again. A single tear ran from her eye and dampened the soft silk of her mask. She turned from the castle and faced the palanquin's forward viewing slit. She felt her will returning to iron. Beyond her ornate box, no one could have seen that her resolve had ever slipped.

  While these thoughts about home and fate plagued Kachiko, similar worries crossed the mind of Bayushi Tetsuo. The young lieutenant rode at his master's side, trying to discern the future, but seeing only blowing mist. The footfalls of horses and men were muffled in the fog, and Tetsuo felt as though the world itself might end just beyond the range of their sight.

  He gazed at his cousin. Shoju's mask showed only what he wanted it to s
how: power and resolve. Tetsuo wondered for a moment if the daimyo felt the same confidence he displayed to the world.

  Of course he did. Tetsuo had never seen his cousin lacking in courage. Never. Even when they had been outnumbered ten to one in the catacombs, the Scorpion had never shown fear. Perhaps that was what troubled Tetsuo. In the vaults below the Scorpion fortress, Tetsuo had felt his blood turn to ice water. He had known fear, a fear so deep that, even now, days later, he could not shake the feeling. Fear that he could not live up to the tasks set for him, fear that he would fail his daimyo, fear that he would fail Rokugan itself.

  As if sensing the doubt in his cousin's mind, the Scorpion daimyo suddenly turned to Tetsuo and said, "Let's ride ahead of the column for a while."

  Tetsuo nodded. The two of them spurred their horses and separated from the mass of the company. Soon their retinue had vanished into the blowing mists behind them, and the Bayushi cousins rode through the hills alone.

  "Should we get so far ahead?" Tetsuo asked.

  Shoju turned to him and said, "There are only two things to fear in life, Tetsuo: death and dishonor. Which is it that troubles you? Death?"

  Tetsuo shook his head. "No, my lord. I've faced death many times at your side and will gladly do so again."

  "Is it my death you fear, then?"

  "I do not think so, my lord. Your son is strong and your wife wise. Together they could lead the Scorpion until your son is of age to do so."

  Shoju nodded. "And they would lead our clan well. So, it must be dishonor that you fear."

  Tetsuo took a deep breath. "No, my lord. Not exactly."

  "What exactly is it, then?"

  Tetsuo glanced at the fog-shrouded countryside. The mists had closed in around them. Hills loomed in the milky white haze like lurking giants. He took another deep breath.

  "I fear, my lord, that I will betray you."

  Shoju seemed surprised. "Betray me?" he said.

  "Not by action," Tetsuo quickly added, "but by my own inadequacy. I fear I will not be up to the job when you need me."

  "Do you think that if I feared this, I would keep you at my side?" Shoju asked. "Tetsuo, are you the best fighter in my lands?"

  "No, lord."

  "Correct. You are good with a sword, and getting better all the time. But my half-brother Aramoro would slay you in an instant. There are others as well. So, with all the warriors in all my lands, why do I choose to have you ride at my side?"

  "That is what I do not understand, my lord."

  Shoju looked at his young cousin, and Tetsuo fancied that he could see the daimyo's eyes gleaming behind his mask.

  "I choose you," he said, "because I trust you implicitly. You would never put your own interests before mine, or those of our clan."

  "But there are others who—"

  "Are dedicated to the Scorpion, yes, but they have other concerns as well. My wife has her . . . our son; my brother is devoted to his sword; Yogo Junzo loves only his black arts."

  "Soshi Bantaro?" Tetsuo asked, glancing back to where he thought the old shugenja might ride.

  Shoju smiled behind his mask. "Despite what he may think, Bantaro is devoted mostly to himself." "But he loves you, my lord."

  "Only in relationship to himself. He loves being close to the head of the Scorpion."

  Tetsuo nodded, and a feeling of pride welled up in his heart. He could feel his fears and doubts slipping away. "I will never fail you, my lord," he said.

  "I know you won't," Shoju said.

  Tetsuo could almost see the smile behind his lord's mask.

  Suddenly, the thunder of hoofbeats broke the silence of the morning mist. A horse charged out of the fog ahead and reined up before them.

  "My lord," said the woman on horseback—Rumiko, one of their warriors who had drawn outrider duty that morning. "It's terrible! You should return to the column at once!"

  "What's terrible?" Shoju asked, his voice like steel.

  "A creature, like nothing I've ever seen before," Rumiko said. "It came out of the mist and attacked our scouts. I was the only one to escape."

  Shoju nodded. "Ride back and alert the others. Then bring Bantaro and my guard. Tetsuo and I will ride ahead."

  "But, my lord ..." Rumiko said.

  Shoju turned his eyes on her and said, "Now!"

  "Hai!" Rumiko wheeled and rode into the mist in the direction of the column. Shoju and Tetsuo spurred their horses and galloped in the opposite direction.

  It didn't take long for the daimyo and his cousin to find the monster. It sat in the road amid the bodies of two Scorpion scouts and their steeds, stuffing its horrible face with horseflesh. It looked up at the sound of the cousins' approach.

  The creature was manlike, though much larger than an ordinary man. Great tusks and horns sprouted from its hideous face. Gore dripped from its wide mouth. The monster rose, brandishing a broken tree clublike in its huge hand. The beast was dressed in animal skins and had a necklace of finger bones around its throat. It roared as it saw the samurai.

  "Ogre," Shoju said flatly.

  Tetsuo nodded.

  Simultaneously, they drew their katana and charged.

  The ogre kicked aside the body of a fallen scout and stood ready to meet them. It raised the broken tree, as thick as a man's leg and about twelve feet long. The creature itself was nearly eight feet tall and massively muscled. It swung the tree trunk effortlessly as the cousins bore in on it.

  The samurai split formation, one attacking either side of the monster. Shoju ducked beneath the monster's blow and aimed a cut at the ogre's underarm.

  The beast proved faster than it looked. The ogre dodged the daimyo's blow but received a long slash on its right side from Tetsuo. The monster bellowed its rage.

  The samurai rode off. A short distance away, they wheeled their horses around.

  "Again," said Shoju.

  Tetsuo nodded. They charged, splitting to either side.

  This time the monster was ready. It swung its tree-club to one side and lashed out to the other side with its huge foot.

  Tetsuo deflected the club with his sword. The tree whizzed over his head. The monster's foot caught Shoju's horse full in its side. The Unicorn-bred beast lurched, shuddered, and went down, taking the Scorpion daimyo with it.

  Shoju tried to jump free, but his withered hand didn't release the reins fast enough. The horse pinned the daimyo's right leg under it as it fell. Shoju grunted in pain.

  The ogre closed in for the kill.

  Shoju's right hand found some loose stones and sand on the road. He seized them and flung the dust into the monster's eyes.

  Momentarily blinded, the ogre staggered back. The daimyo's horse scrambled to its hooves and limped off. Like a rampaging bull, the ogre roared out of the mist.

  Shoju had lost his katana in the fall. He couldn't reach it before the monster would be on him. His wakizashi seemed poor defense against so huge a brute. He drew it anyway and tried to rise. His right leg protested. Rather than standing, the Scorpion daimyo merely staggered.

  The ogre raised its club for the kill.

  The creature stopped. It glared down at a length of polished steel protruding from its massive chest. The blade withdrew, and the monster spun drunkenly to face its attacker.

  Tetsuo's sword separated the ogre's head from its shoulders. The massive body crashed to the ground. The head landed in a mulberry bush some distance away.

  Shoju got up, rubbing his injured leg. He nodded at his cousin. Tetsuo leapt from the back of his horse and ran to the daimyo's side.

  "Are you all right, my lord?" he asked.

  "Just bruised, I think," Shoju replied. "I'm more worried about my horse. Find it for me, will you?"

  Tetsuo nodded, marveling at his master's bravery and resilience. He remounted his horse and rode into the mists to seek the daimyo's steed.

  When the young Scorpion had ridden out of sight, Shoju turned his attention from his leg to his withered arm. He hadn't noticed
how stiff the limb had become. It nearly cost him his life. His fingers traced the design of the tattoo under his kimono, and the familiar fire returned to the arm.

  Even in my own lands, I must ever be on guard, he reminded himself. I must never allow myself such moments of weakness. He sat down on a large rock until the tingling went away.

  A few minutes later, Tetsuo rode out of the mist, leading the daimyo's horse by its reins.

  "Badly bruised, I think," the young samurai said, "but not broken."

  "Like myself," Shoju grunted. "Yosh!" He stood and took the horse's reins. "No more riding for you today, eh, boy?" he said to the animal. The horse snorted in agreement.

  Tetsuo laughed.

  His laughter was interrupted by the thunderous arrival of Rumiko and Shoju's guard.

  Bantaro rode with them. Sweat dripped off his bald pate, and fear for his lord shone in his eyes. The shugenja looked much relieved to find the Scorpion lord standing.

  "Master, are you hurt?" Bantaro asked.

  "My horse took most of it," Shoju said.

  "What happened, great lord?" asked Rumiko.

  Tetsuo replied for his master. "Found an ogre," he said, indicating the body. "We killed it."

  The samurai of Shoju's guard rumbled their approval and nodded.

  "Actually, Tetsuo killed it," Shoju said. "After my horse had been knocked from under me."

  Rumiko and the guard nodded. New respect for Tetsuo glinted behind their Scorpion masks.

  "A pyre for the dead," Shoju ordered. "Then we ride on. Tetsuo, Bantaro, and I will rejoin the column."

  Rumiko dismounted and offered the lord her horse, which he accepted. "Let my steed stay here and recover its breath with you," he said to her. He turned to the others. "And see that my orders are carried out."

  The guards bowed in their saddles. "Yes, my lord," they said in unison.

  Shoju and the others rode back into the mist, toward the main part of the Scorpion retinue.

  They were greeted with concern when they arrived at the column. "An ogre killed some of our scouts," Tetsuo explained. This raised a worried murmur among the retainers, warriors, and priests until he added, "But the lord and I slew it readily enough."