Distant Thunder: Chapter 8
The Twenty-first Day of the Month of Shinjo, 1137
The cold wind, harbinger of the winter that was just a few weeks away, swept across the northern plains of the Unicorn, howling and rushing in a chilling frenzy. There was little to stop the wind's dash south of the Great Wall of the North Mountains, and like a young stallion given its lead, it hurled itself madly forward, pounding down the tall grass as though it too had hooves. There were no villages here on the plains of the Moto, no city walls or tree-edged fields to break the wind, just miles upon miles of grass, broken here and there only by a herd of wild horses or the occasional wandering yak.
Eventually, though, the wind found something it could not simply blow aside: a tight ring of heavily-lined circular tents, tied securely down and braced against forces far stronger than anything this wind could manage. The yurts of the Moto were designed to last through blizzards on the high plateaus overlooking the Burning Sands – by comparison, this was nothing more than a spring breeze, for all that it smelled faintly of snows yet to come. The squat tents circled a larger, though no less squat, tent, while smaller tents lay scattered across the nearby plains. While there was no city here, hundreds, perhaps thousands of Moto samurai and their peasant followers, herders and tradesmen spread across the bare steppes, creating a vast community from the empty grasslands.
Within the largest tent, a circle of Unicorn – mostly Moto, but not entirely – crouched on woven rugs, a roaring bonfire in the center that beat back the chill of the wind. All had come to listen and advise the Khan of the Unicorn, Moto Gaheris. The Khan sat in the only chair in the room, a large throne that was truly more of a couch than a chair, with a thick red cushion broad enough for Gaheris to sit cross-legged upon it and a semi-circular back as tall as his head. Surrounding him were his closest advisors: his son, who also bore the name Gaheris; Moto Hideyo, the commander of the White Guard; Utaku Xieng-Chi, the daimyo of the Utaku family; and Iuchi Hiruko, the daimyo of the Iuchi family. Around them, several of the officers of the Khol stood watching, and in the center of the ring, right next to the fire, was Ide Tadaji, daimyo of the Ide.
Most of the time, Tadaji managed a seamless expression of serenity and poise, regardless of context. He could sip tea with the Emperor and drink yak's blood with the Khan with the same equanimity. Now, however, beads of sweat sparkled on his brow, and they were not caused by the heat of the bonfire. But then, few men can stand before the wrath of the Khan without fear.
"You have my… congratulations… Ide-san," Gaheris rumbled. His eyes were narrow and it seemed as though the bonfire's reflection in them were generating its own separate heat. "Your trip to Otosan Uchi was most eventful. Ide Tadaji will now stand beside the Emperor himself! Who would have expected `the Unicorn who can't ride' to travel so far?" Tadaji flinched at the old, cruel nickname. His club foot had never allowed him to share the bond between samurai and horse that nearly all other Unicorn experienced, but he had taken that weakness and turned it to a strength, fueling his diplomatic studies with lost ambition. At the same time, however, everyone in the room knew that, had he been born an Ujik-hai in the Burning Sands, he likely would have died in infancy, discarded as too difficult to take care of. The Moto around the edges of the room chuckled, as did Xieng Chi, but Hiruko merely frowned.
"You tied us to both the Dragon and the Phoenix in their little war, of course, and managed to get rid of some of our excess Shinjo to the Lion, which I truly appreciate, though I doubt their new Akodo husbands will," Gaheris went on, his face twisting into a grimace so grotesque that it was clearly meant to be only an insulting parody of a smile. "Well done! Especially that last part, Ide-san. Such efforts you have made to bring our Clan closer together with the Lion! Why, you even offered them a non-aggression pact. Surely there will be peace between us for years to come!"
The Khan leaned back in his chair, feigning surprise as though a thought had just occurred to him. "Except… I remember something about the Lion, yes? Something I had planned for them? Something… ah yes. I remember now." The Khan leapt out of his chair, eyes wide with fury and fists clenched, as he roared, "I WANTED TO SEE THEM PAY!"
The tent grew quiet. Tadaji said nothing, and even the other advisors were no longer laughing.
"Now that my memory is fully refreshed, Ide-san, allow me to remind you of a few things," Gaheris continued in a soft tone. His eyes still glittered in the firelight. "Two springs past, I sent my forces south and east to test the strength of these Lion, who the Empire claims are the finest warriors in Rokugan. As we moved, we received letters and visitors from their Ikoma, and you told me that I should respond appropriately, so as to be seen as a samurai and not a desert barbarian. So I met with their visitors and answered their letters, and my forces were delayed while we danced the dance of court. When the army at last reached the Firefly River, we learned – at great cost, as you may recall, including my cousin's daughter Moto Xhul – that these delays had given the Akodo time to plan their defenses. We were driven back, and the might of the Moto was ridiculed throughout the land.
"You told me I should not raid as my grandfathers did, but wage a `civilized' war, and following your advice brought me failure and shame. And now… now you tell me that you have agreed to a non-aggression pact in order to earn the votes of the Lion for your new position. You did this, even though you knew I wanted to test the Akodo and Matsu again, without any of your `diplomacy'" – he sneered the word – "to bind my hands. And now it would seem they are bound tighter than ever."
"Moto-dono," Tadaji said at last, "there are other concerns that must be taken into account." Though he still sweated fiercely, his voice held the same even calm it always had. Some of the Moto seem impressed, despite themselves, at the diplomat's self-possession. "The Lion know you wish another chance to battle them. They will not require a delay through diplomacy this time – they are already prepared. It would be unwise to risk such a campaign now. Motso and Ginawa are hoping to lure you into some kind of trap; by agreeing to this non-aggression pact, we lead the Lion to think we are willing to stay our hand, to look elsewhere for challenges. They expect you to violate the pact, but if you withhold your wrath for a time, they will grow wary, then careless, then distracted by some other foe. The Lion can never wait for their enemy for any real period of time; they must act, and once they have turned to seek a new target, then it will be the time to strike, if that is your will."
"You think to teach me strategy, emissary?" Gaheris snapped. "You have forgotten who you are speaking to. I have planned raids for decades, battled Yodotai and Senpet alike. The Moto are strong and swift, but your meddling would deprive us of our swiftness, leave us to hobble about like an old woman. Let the Lion believe that they are ready for us. We have never yet shown our speed, thanks to you. The Lion will plan and plot, and still fall before us."
Gaheris turned away from Tadaji, strode back to his throne and took his seat upon it once more. "Ide Tadaji-san, it is obvious that your new duties as Imperial Advisor will make it impossible for you to lead your family at the same time. Clearly, your responsibilities to the throne take precedence. Therefore, I believe it is time for a new Ide daimyo." He turned, nodding to one of his Moto guards, and the tent flap was opened to admit a broad-faced man with a blunt nose, surrounding by the soft yellow glow of a returned spirit. Tadaji gasped as he recognized the figure, who carried a large, unstrung bow across his back along with the traditional daisho of a samurai in his obi. "I believe you know Ide Gokun, do you not?" Gaheris asked Tadaji with a gloating smile.
"But… but… my Khan! Please, Moto-dono, do not do this! Gokun-san is a fine warrior, but… but…" Tadaji could not finish the sentence, but all in the room knew his thoughts. Ide Gokun, the youngest son of Ide and Otaku themselves, had died his first death at the dawn of the Empire in battle against the Shadowlands. He had refused to follow his father's philosophies of peace and negotiation, preferring instead to pursue his mother's path as a warrior. That he had taken Ide's name was a shame to the Ide family, as most considered him at best a misguided soul and at worst a traitor to his father's beliefs. Gokun himself did not look completely happy with the situation as he stepped fully into the room and bowed to his Khan. The spirit did not meet Tadaji's pleading gaze, but his eyes were troubled.
"I can think of no one more suited to leading Ide's family than his own son, returned to us by the Fortunes' will," said Gaheris, still smiling. Most of the other Unicorn in the room nodded agreement, but Xieng Chi looked suddenly worried. "I have every confidence that Gokun-san will lead his family in accordance with the spirit of the Unicorn."
Gokun bowed his head. "I will serve my Khan in whatever capacity he commands," the bushi said simply.
"Indeed you will, Gokun-san," Gaheris laughed. "I have no doubt of it." He turned his attention fully back to Tadaji, and the laughter cut off as though it had been sliced by a katana. "As for you, Tadaji-san, no doubt your new position awaits your presence in the capitol without delay. I will send word if I require your services."
Tadaji's face was a pale yellow, but he had already regained control over his voice. "Hai, Moto-dono," he said steadily, rising and bowing deeply. He turned to go, but as he reached the tent flap, Gaheris spoke up again.
"You should hurry, Tadaji-san. Perhaps if you rode…?"
Tadaji did not flinch this time as the laughter exploded behind him, merely squaring his shoulders and stepping out into the icy wind. The tent flap cut off most of the sound as it fell closed once more, and only then did he allow the anguish he felt show itself on his face. For a brief moment, the aged diplomat allowed the anger and pain to flow through him, his fears for his Clan and his rage at the abuse he had suffered. Just for a moment. Then he steadied himself, remembered the teachings of Ide: "When every hand is raised against you, the only way is the peaceful path. A mighty warrior might slay a hundred before the hundred and first slays him, but the peaceful emissary need never fear death at all." He shook his head, then set off to prepare for the journey back to Otosan Uchi.
Within the tent, the laughter died down slowly, and Gaheris settled his burning gaze on Gokun. "Now, Ide-san. Let me explain what I require from my family of emissaries."
"My Khan," interrupted Gokun carefully, "my father once told me that no man can change what is in his heart. I am no diplomat. I will serve in your armies faithfully, but I do not believe I am the best servant in the Unicorn for this position. Surely there are others better suited…?"
The Khan laughed again, though with a great deal more restraint than he had shown before. "No indeed, Ide-san. You are the best suited in your family for my needs. You see, I will no longer suffer the Ide to act as boulders in my path to glory. I am not interested in making peace. You, more than any of your kin, understand that peace comes only when those who might threaten you learn to fear you. The Empire does not fear me. That must change.
"So here are my commands. The Moto do not break their promises, even when given through someone else. I will honor Tadaji's pact with the Lion and Crab. O-Ushi still honors the White Guard and sends her Hiruma to learn at the feet of our scouts, so I know she recognizes our strength. But Motso and Ginawa… these two have humbled me. I wish to make them regret it. But I will not do so while this pact is in force."
Gaheris leaned forward, his burning eyes holding Gokun's tightly. "So Gokun-san… find me an excuse."
