by Lance Wilson
“
With is training done for the day he has decided to help carry the water from the river to the village, it is a simple and peaceful task. As he carries the water from the river through a field of spring wild flowers. Something makes him stop, and see the sunlit clouds in the deep blue sky, the colors around him, hear the buzzing of the bees, feel the peace in the air, as he absorbs all of this in there is a sudden flash of a memory.
His mother Rin, in green field not unlike this one, laughing, tossing her hair, falling back into the long grass.
The memory drops him to his knees in the field, his breathing now rapid and his body trembling. Another flash and another memory, this one a bit longer.
His mother once again, and again in the field. She leans over her young son and kissed his cheek and forehead, they laugh together and he holds onto her, holds on to her as tight as he can. When the memory fades he is still in the field his hands clutching at the earth the water spilled on the ground. Tears are streaming down his face. Slowly he looks up at the impossibly beautiful sky and gives into it all and howls out in pain, then drops to his side sobbing letting his grief overtake him. The grief takes hours to subside and only then does Byrdi stand and look at the water on the ground, he knows his job is undone and he will finish it. With that in mind he goes back to the river, fills them and makes his way back to the village. As Byrdi returns with the water, he sees Bai Shi-zi approaching with Ujio and several warriors. Byrdi ignores them at first and only pours the water to the main pool where the others can gather it, as they need. But soon there presence is unavoidable and he smiles looking over at them and bows.
“The Emperor has requested my presence. We leave tomorrow. You will be released in Saddrith Mora.” Bai Shi-zi says and puts a hand on his shoulder for a moment and then leaves him. Watching him go Byrdi only stands there for a moment unsure how he feels about all of this. Instead of saying or doing anything however he only continues his work, making his way to the river and back to town several more times before the pool is full and he allows himself any rest. By then his body is aching his mind a flurry of thoughts and the sun is setting.
It is late in the house as Byrdi sits in his room writing in his journal by candlelight. ‘Tomorrow we return to civilization. As eager as I am to be among my own kind, I confess to a curious reluctance. These months have marked me, I don’t fully know yet why. I do know it is here that I have known my first untroubled sleep in many years. I do not believe I shall ever be rid of these people; they are a part of me now. And I am a better man for it.’ Slowly he closes the journal and steps out to the front porch. He sees that the whole of the village is sound asleep, such a peaceful place. A knot forms in his throat as a tears slips down his cheek, he doesn’t want to leave, but he has no choice.
It is early in the mourning as Byrdi prepares to mount up. He again looks over the village, everyone is out to say goodbye to there warriors. He watches as Yoritomo says goodbye to his family. He will miss them dearly especially the children. Soon Neckity comes to Byrdi, bows her head. She doesn’t want to see him go, but she betrays none of this on her face.
<“You are always welcome in our home. >” She says and smiles at him. The children now coming to stand at her side.
Before he answers he takes a long look at what he is leaving, not the warriors, not the other villagers, but this family, this family that took him in and soon made him one of them.
<“Thank you>” he says and glances at the unfinished house.
<“You will finish it soon>“He continues and nods his chin to the house.
<“If that is my destiny. >” She says and smiles at him.
She bows her head again. Toshiie standing as straight as any Salatar soldier gently holds out his hand presenting him with a scroll. Byrdi takes it and gently unrolls it seeing that it is picture of the Family. Byrdi is included and Salatar characters list all their names. Toshiie bows. Byrdi bows and tucks the scroll into his coat. With that the order is given by Bai Shi-zi to get going. Byrdi and Yoritomo move out with Bai Shi-zi, Ujio, Nakao and his bodyguard of several
Dozen Vulkoori. The villagers bow and honor the warrior as they pass.
As the men make there way down the mountain pass Byrdi trots alongside Bai Shi-zi. Bai Shi-zi notices that at times during the trip Byrdi’s hand drifts inside the folds of his coat where the scroll is. He knows that Byrdi had found his home there. But there is still much he doesn’t know and much he must learn. Perhaps in this trip he can finish his lessons to this warrior.
“The Emperor sends a message for you to return to Saddrith Mora, and you go?” Byrdi says a bit confused at all this.
“Yes.” Bai Shi-zi says replying as if it were as simple as breathing
“Even though you’re in rebellion against him.” Byrdi says having never heard of a rebel going to the enemy when called.
“Against the Emperor? Never. I serve him. As I have always done.” Bai Shi-zi says and looks over at him. Not in anger or fury but in a kind of understanding.
“I don’t understand.” Byrdi says shaking his head. Lost in the idea.
“Our Emperor is young, and there are things I must say to him.” Bai Shi-zi says knowing that he must serve his emperor, even though in this case to serve him he must fight him.
“But everyone around him wants you dead.” Byrdi says plainly
“And if the Emperor desires, I will take my own life at his command.” Bai Shi-zi says and spurs his horse on to a trot.
It is along sunset as they begin to approach a large inn. A boy working in the fields see Bai Shi-zi approaching. He doesn’t believe it, the Great Bai Shi-zi. He drops his hoe and races away, calling out.
“We will stop here for the night.” Bai Shi-zi says and raises his hand letting the men know it is time to stop.
The Vulkoori all dismount and walk into the in. The innkeeper greets them with respect and then tells them that they may have the run of the inn. No one else is staying there and he can tell that they will need the room. Byrdi is shown to a room where he watches the sun set in the west. Soon he hears a tap at the door and a younger Vulkoori smiles at him and gestures for him to follow. The Vulkoori then guides him to a room where he opens the door. Byrdi finds himself watching Bai Shi-zi kneeling at a table preparing a traditional Salatar tea ceremony. The Vulkoori then leaves to join his brothers in there guard.
“Sit, Captain.” Bai Shi-zi says and never taking his eyes off his tasks.
Byrdi sits. By now he has learned how to sit on the ground. Bai Shi-zi begins the exacting, delicate and precise tea ceremony.
“Do you drink tea?” Bai Shi-zi asks his voice casual, like talking to a friend.
“I’ve had little else for some time” Byrdi says smiling, he is proud that he has been able to give up alcohol.
Byrdi watches entranced at the graceful movements of Bai Shi-zi and the ceremony.
“How’s your poem coming?” Byrdi asks trying to make conversation.
“I am having trouble. The truth is I am not a very good poet.” Bai Shi-zi says and chuckles at his own joke.
Byrdi only smiles, there is another reason he is here and he knows it, but this is a game of manners and to just ask would be rude. He must wait tell Bai Shi-zi asks him.
“Do you know why you were sent here?” Bai Shi-zi asks his voice calm, but the under tone tells Byrdi that this is the real conversation.
“To protect the railroad.” Byrdi says calmly, those were his orders.
“Why is the railroad here?” Bai Shi-zi says taking the role of the teacher once again.
“So Saddrith Mora can control the whole country.” Byrdi says calmly
, that was his idea anyway.
“You have seen my province. All mountains. Far from Saddrith Mora. Yet the rail line must come here?” Bai Shi-zi asks wondering if he will get the lesson being taught. To help him out he tosses a bit of coal on the simmering brazier on the table.
“You have something they want” Byrdi says looking hard at the Vulkoori
“What do they want in my mountains?” Bai Shi-zi seeing that he is a fast learner.
“Minerals… Gold.” Byrdi says knowing that in reality gold drives all wars and conflicts.
“There is no gold in these islands.” Bai Shi-zi says with a chuckle.
“Coal? For steamships.” Byrdi says his eyes getting larger.
“And why would steamships be so important?” Bai Shi-zi asks finally pouring the tea for the both of them.
“The Kainith elf kingdom.” he says lowering his head.
Their new weapons of destruction are not enough, now they want ships to conquer the whole of the lands.
“The islands of Salatar have nothing. The Kainith elves have everything.” Bai Shi-zi says impressed at Byrdi’s quickness.
“Mine the coal to create a way station for the trip to their kingdom… Freeze the others out and Salatar and elves have a monopoly on the Kainith elf trade.” Byrdi says lowering his head that he has not seen this earlier.
“Add to this the Kage Zaibatsu. You know the Zaibatsu?” Bai Shi-zi says sipping his tea now.
“The wealthy families.” Byrdi says looking deep into the old warriors eyes.
“As patron of the railroad, Kage owns all land within four hundred feet of every new rail line. As my country grows, so will his wealth. This is why you are fighting.” Bai Shi-zi says telling him the real reason the Denerith elves were brought to the islands.
“And you will tell the emperor to stop them?” Byrdi says sipping his own tea.
“I do not tell the emperor what to do.” Bai Shi-zi says lowering his head.
“Then what do you hope to accomplish?” Byrdi asks not sure what else to ask.
Bai Shi-zi looks at Byrdi, the slightest gleam in his eye.
“Will you return to your home?” Bai Shi-zi asks sipping at his tea once more ignoring the question.
“I have a job here.” Byrdi says wondering why he didn’t answer, there is something more that he is doing that he’s not talking about.
“You should return to your home.” Bai Shi-zi says smiling at him.
“Why?” Byrdi asks wondering if this is just a different path to the answer he seeks.
“Because I do not wish you to be my enemy again.” Bai Shi-zi says and lowers the tea, picking up his pen and returns to his poem that is stretched out in front of him.
“Go home Captain. I wish you peace.” Bai Shi zi says but doesn’t look up from the poem.
Byrdi waits but Bai Shi-zi just continues to work on his poem. Knowing that they are finished he drinks the last of his tea, bows politely and returns to his room.
The Vulkoori guards are alert, their senses heightened to almost superhuman proportions. But there is another way. Another way of learning combat. A way without the beauty, the philosophy and the moral code. They are almost imperceptible at first… their head-to-toe black clothes a perfect camouflage… their silence and stealth are otherworldly. They are the Umbragen, masters of stealth and spying. They float across the ground… creeping an inch every hour… complete physical control. One black-gloved finger moves. Then the next. They crawl and then wait, Poised on their fingertips and toes. There is no sound as they strike. The Vulkoori guards are garroted in an instant. Other Umbragen catch the Vulkoori’s weapons as they fall. No sound disturbs the peaceful night. Two Vulkoori guards are in position. One of them glances up at the stars. An Umbragen throwing star instantly slices into his jugular, blood sprays onto the streets. The other guard turns, a series of Umbragen slice into him.
The Umbragen use mew claws to crawl up the walls like spiders. A Vulkoori guard stands at the edge of the roof. An Umbragen silently moves toward him. Stops. Ten feet away. He pulls out a small needle-shaped projectile, dips it into a sack of poison. Places it carefully into the palm of his hand. And with the flick of his wrist, the needle flies silently through the night stabbing into the Vulkoori, he crumples. Other Umbragen immediately pour over the edge of the roof catching the Vulkoori before he falls.
In his room Bai Shi-zi cannot sleep. He stares out the window at a nightingale, unaware of anything going on outside. Ujio sits in his room. He is unblinking. Alert. Swords at the ready, He too is unaware of anything, but always poised, always ready, this is his nature. Byrdi cannot sleep either. He sits leaning against a wall. Thinking. In there own room Yoritomo drinks tea with Nakao, the huge martial arts master. A guard stands sentinel. Above his head, unbeknownst to him, two Umbragen descend on ropes. One of them swings a long chain—to which I barbed-knife is attached. As it lodges in the guard’s chest, the second Umbragen swings down just in time to catch the dead guard, silently, before his body hits the ground.
Bai Shi-zi lies in bed listening to the night bird. It stops singing. Bai Shi-zi smiles sadly. He decides to give up on sleep, leans forward to rise. An act saves his life. For when the Umbragen come, they come all at once.
An Umbragen suddenly comes tearing straight through the paper wall, his sword slashing down, just missing Bai Shi-zi. Bai Shi-zi calls out an alarm, diving and rolling across the floor for his sword. He instantly kills one Umbragen using his steel-tipped “war fan” to slash his attackers throat. Another smashes in through the window. Umbragen explode into the main hall. Vulkoori who come out of their rooms are cut down by a variety of weapons one takes a throwing star in the face, others are felled by the traditional Umbragen short swords ideal for fighting in confined spaces, chain-knives, nun-chaka and others.
More Umbragen drop from the rafters on ropes. An Umbragen smashes through the paper wall Byrdi grabs the nearest object, a low tea table, and swings it at his head. The Umbragen dodges the blow and slices at Byrdi with short-sword. Byrdi barely avoids the blow by ducking behind a post as the sword lodges deep in the wood. Byrdi flings himself, bodily, at his attacker.
Umbragen throwing stars spin across the room, killing a Vulkoori. Yoritomo emerges from his room, readying his bow, but the dead Vulkoori falls back blocking his way. From behind the rice wall, Yoritomo lets fly an arrow without even looking. It passes through the wall, killing the Umbragen on the opposite balcony.
Ujio screams a war cry and begins to battle his way up the stairs. With breathtaking moves, he slashes hands and limbs, forcing the Umbragen back. Nakao fights his way up beside him, desperately trying to reach Bai Shi-zi’s room. Using only his bare hands he catches an Umbragen’s wrist and hurls him over the railing. Byrdi and the Umbragen are in a death struggle, kneeing, gouging, and butting. They awkwardly smash through a paper wall into the next room.
Bai Shi-zi wields his long sword in one hand and his short sword in the other. His movements are both beautiful and deadly. But more Umbragen are pouring in through the window, threatening to overwhelm him.
Rolling on the ground, Byrdi manages to grab a chopstick and STAB his adversary through the eye. He picks up the fallen short sword and steps out into the hall. Arrows whiz past, thudding into the wall beside his head.
Bai Shi-zi, breathing heavily, his kimono shredded and bloody, is fending off the Umbragen’s increasingly savage attacks as Byrdi enters. Byrdi screams, distracting them just long enough for Bai Shi-zi to take advantage and kill one. Then, just as an Umbragen it about to kill Byrdi, Bai Shi-zi flings his short sword it pinwheels across the room, hitting Byrdi’s attacker in the chest. Without missing a beat, Byrdi pulls the short sword from the dying Umbragen’s chest and uses it to stab another Umbragen who, thinking Byrdi defenseless, has launched an attack.
Ujio and Nakao are bac
k to back, a perfect fighting machine as they fight their way to Bai Shi-zi’s rescue. They battle Umbragen wielding lethal kusarigamas, the Umbragen swing chains; the attached blades slice the air Nakao catches the chains and flinging the Umbragen over the balcony.
Yoritomo is pinned down. Darts and throwing stars shred the rice paper wall above him. He picks off another Umbragen before changing his position.
