19th Day of Spring’s End 1306
For Honor – For Sendai
The very next day, the Korean Lee, brought officially-sealed messages to all of the Samurai and even one to little Kioko.
They bore the seal of Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo: High Priest of Sendai, and were a summons to the Temple of the Ancestors – and as the Exalted Patriarch was an Advisor to the Daimyo, this was not a summons that one turned down.
Heeding the call, the Samurai brought Kioko and followed Lee to the temple, where they were met by a High Priest who brought them all reverently into a meeting room deep within the depths of the temple. The room was paneled in the darkest of lacquered woods and accented with gold and red jade. Incense burned at a large and elegant shrine dedicated to the Ancestors and the room had a feeling of holiness to it.
“You are honored to stand in this room,” the High Priest said quietly – “Very few, even of the Priests themselves, are granted such a visit. This is a place where the Ancestors themselves can come to speak directly to the Exalted Patriarch when necessary.”
“Who are they?” asked Kioko, pointing up to empty alcoves above the shrine.
“They are the Stewards of the Ancestors. They record what is spoken here and relay it to the Ancestors – so little one, watch your tongue while you are here.”
“Yes sir!” Kioko replied, putting on her best behavior – then, when she thought no one was looking, she stuck out her tongue, trying to look at it and wondering why it was so important to watch it.
Looking up into the alcoves with their Spirit Sight, Yuki and Udo could see two spirits dressed as courtly scribes. They each held a pen with a long scroll and were busy jotting down details of the meeting even now.
A few moments later, Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo and the Master Wu-Jen Yunikawa entered the room (and for once, Yunikawa was without his personal guard of beautiful young samurai-ko). After all the proper protocols and bowing had taken place, everyone was directed to sit down in front of the shrine facing the Exalted Patriarch and Yunikawa.
These two great men represented the highest of each of their respective orders – and the fact that they now sat on equal lines, was a tremendous statement. Traditionally, the Wu-Jen and High Priests were considered opposite sides of Ying and Yang. Always fighting each other over something, or vying for political advantage. That they would come together now, and agree to acknowledge themselves as equals, was remarkable. There had to be some great reason behind it – or more than likely, some perceived advantage to be gained by working together for the time being.
Was it the Book of Secret’s? Had they finally broken the code? No, Miya and Yuki would have known about that, and why would they summon Kioko if that was the case?
Then Exalted Patriarch Yasuo Sanjo spoke – “Master Yunikawa and I have summoned you here to lay upon your shoulders an important task. It is one that will bring great honor to Sendai and assure the blessings and delight of the Ancestors upon us for years to come.”
“Now, Master Yunikawa has made known to me of your little So-Kitsune… oh yes, she is a cute one… the poor dear… Ah, but while Master Yunikawa believes he now has the power to return her to the Ancestral Palace, it would not be proper just to show up in such a sacred place unannounced.”
“Therefore, he has come to me for advice in this matter and I have consulted with the Ancestors.”
“True that the Ancestral Palace is not for the living, but the Ancestors have occasionally received those who have proved themselves worthy of a visit.”
“And this brings us to the task in question, and how it relates to your little So-Kitsune – Master Yunikawa?”
“Thank you Exalted Patriarch Sanjo,” Yunikawa said, continuing the conversation – “I can now return Kioko to the Ancestral Palace, but first we must prove ourselves worthy in the eyes of the Ancestors to be allowed a visit to their celestial home.”
“I have found, by delving into the secrets of our past, that a great battle was fought before the fall of Sendai – such as one, that almost repelled the invading Chinese. It occurred outside the village of Kurokawa (one hundred and sixty miles south of Sendai) and was really the last desperate stand of our people before the battle of Sendai.”
“Had those warriors who fought in that battle withdrawn back to Sendai when their cause was lost, they may perhaps have been able to hold Sendai for longer than it was – yet they stayed and fought to the last man.”
“But we do not know of this battle – why? Because the Chinese dishonored themselves afterwards in their haste, by shamefully dumping our fallen heroes into a mass grave without proper burial and destroying the records of the battle, rather than face what they had done.”
“And now there is a great multitude of the disgraced dead that cannot enter the Spirit World until properly buried.”
“You will oversee the recovery of the bones of these heroes and have them brought here to the Temple of the Ancestors, where Exalted Patriarch Sanjo and his priests will bless them and see to their proper burial.”
“This will allow their souls to finally rest and will ensure us an audience in the Ancestral Palace above.”
“Not to mention,” Exalted Patriarch Sanjo interjected, “the glory, honor, and favor of the Ancestors that it will bring to Sendai.”
“Yes,” Yunikawa agreed – “and then, with the Ancestor’s approval, I will bring you all into the Ancestral Palace, where we can see Kioko back to her home (as promised).”
“So then,” Exalted Patriarch Sanjo asked, addressing the Samurai – “do any of you have any questions?”
Author
Topic: Mythic Nippon Adventure IV (Read 230381 times)