The Demon and the Nightingale

Chapter 9

                Because their province was located in an area that had many mountain ranges, it made perfect sense for the Yamanoha clan to have their stronghold hidden in the heart of a high mountain that was surrounded by dense, nearly impenetrable forests and steep, craggy cliffs.

                Near its peak, a narrow fissure lead into a dark passageway that had many twists and turns. Only someone who is familiar with the correct route can go in and be able to enter the Yamanoha clan’s inner chambers - and into its vast, hidden sanctum.

                The clan is made up of thousands of shinobis, specialized assassins, and spies, as well as their families. It was no small group of disorganized individuals with a simple penchant for killing. The clan is a long-established open secret in the area with a frightening but hard-earned reputation. They were well-trained and well-organized - and very, very good at what they do.

                Tonight, was one of the all-important assemblies headed by Master Gorō, and each and every one of the clan, young and old, lowly and exalted, have to be present. To be absent was completely unthinkable. Everyone sat in the audience area, which was a clear space with a floor made of densely packed earth and clay. Some sat on the bare ground while others, like the women, the children and the elderly sat on foldable mats of woven grass and bamboo. Before them were the Yamanoha elders on a raised stage and lined up, seated on carved wooden high-backed chairs. Master Gorō’s own chair was empty because he stood forward to address all the clan.

            “The Yamanoha clan are at a crossroads!” Master Gorō thundered before the assembled crowd before him. It was a gathering of the entire Yamanoha clan, the majority of which consisted the various shinobis, but also included others who support them in the background. These included the villagers and artisans who provide weapons and supplies, and their families. As well as the elders, who are the bearers of knowledge and wisdom that enable the Yamanoha clan to continue with its way of life, to survive and thrive for centuries.

            Tatsuya chewed on a grass stalk as their clan elder continued talking, a sign that something important is weighing on his mind. Half of it was on Master Gorō’s speech - while the other half was on Lani … To an ordinary bystander, he was simply a bored-out-of-his-skull man chewing on a blade of grass because there was nothing more interesting to do.

            Unfortunately, he was not surrounded by ordinary bystanders.

            “Lani again, am I right?” Kai said in an almost-inaudible whisper as he squatted down on the ground next to the burly smith.

            Tatsuya shrugged. He was long used to Kai’s sudden appearances - and disappearances. “Phooey.” He continued twirling the grass stalk in his fingers and chewing it.

            Kai gave no outward sign of having heard his comrade. Having worked together over the years in countless, dangerous missions, each already knew the other’s secret long before. And made an unspoken agreement to keep it secret.

            Master Gorō continued his speech. “We have continued to grow by leaps and bounds, thanks in no small part to the loyal patronage of the noble Matsuda clan. But how long will things remain as they are?”

            The members of the audience exchanged looks and whispered amongst themselves. What could this mean? Is the clan in great danger? Whatever could Master Gorō be hinting at?

            “Good! You’ve already begun talking amongst yourselves! That means your puny monkey brains are actually working!” A few bursts of brief nervous guffaws and laughs could be heard here and there. While the elder Master Gorō may have a sarcastic side, they all know when he is deadly serious.

            “Master Gorō, would you care to explain what you meant by the Yamanoha clan being at the crossroads?” Master Shun, another elder on the same footing as Master Gorō, spoke. Master Shun was several years older than Master Gorō and the clan’s revered expert in poisons and other special chemicals the clan uses, but reading the future and between the lines were not his particular strengths.

            “It simply means that, Master Shun,” Master Gorō replied. He then turned to address the assembly. Our clan has come to a point where more than one direction that will determine our fate lies before us. To take one direction can mean our continued existence. To take a different direction can mean the demise of the Yamanoha clan.”

            “But how do we know which direction to take, Master Gorō?” someone in the audience asked.

            “Aha! Therein lies our predicament!” he replied.

            Although his face remained blank and expressionless, Kai felt an uncomfortable tightening sensation in his stomach. It meant something big, and potentially bad, was brewing.

            My beloved … will this be the last time I’ll be able to see you … ?

            Tatsuya, on his part, felt the tiny hairs at the back of his head stand on end. Still, he continued to lazily chew the blade of grass in his mouth as if nothing happened.

            That damn bastard Shingo won’t take this lying down … Lord Matsuda’s not gonna like this …

            The rest of the audience gasped - and waited. For Master Gorō to say something is a predicament usually does not bode well for the clan.

            The old man continued, knowing full well that most of the people listening to him have an inkling at what he was hinting at. “I don’t know. I really don’t know. All of you know about my ability for predicting the future. My predictions are usually accurate in some way or another, and there have been very few times I made mistakes. But even with such unfortunate situations, I was able to actually see something of the future. I am afraid that is not the case here.”

            The entire assembly area suddenly became as quite and still as death itself.

            “So what do we do now, Master Gorō? Lie down and accept our fate and let things just happen?” another one from the audience asked.

            “Why not talk about it further, Master Gorō? Share with us what else you know. We are all willing to listen, and most of us can spare the time tonight to know everything that needs to be known,” another elder, Master Jūzō said. A master tactician, Master Jūzō is known for being patient and diligent.

            Master Gorō replied with a smile. “The children and their mothers, and the elderly are allowed to retire early. The rest can stay to hear more of what I have to say.”