The torches which lined the courtyard of the Kurokawa clan’s summer residence had been lit and a small stage had been erected. Upon it the great lord of the Kurokawa sat on a stool in resplendent robes fanning himself casually from the heat of the summer evening. His vassals and lords were gathered around him as though prepared for an audience, or a trial. Nearby, a number of servants stood, gossiping quietly- waiting to see what would happen next.

Armoured footsteps sounded in the night air, and five samurai dressed for war dragged two people to stand before the lord, an older man dressed in servant’s clothes, and a young boy in the finery of a noble son. The samurai shoved them down onto their knees, bowed to their lord, and took a step back.

“Good evening, your lordship.” Jiro said as he bowed politely, then rose and nodded to the man standing next to the clan leader. “Gempei-san.”

Taro, for his part, looked around in wide-eyed worry, and was shocked to see his elder brother standing nearby- free.

“Brother!” He gasped. “What are you doing here?”

“Not being foolish like you are.” Came Masahiro’s answer, and under his younger brother’s pained gaze he turned away.

“Gempei,” asked Lord Kurokawa to his guest. “Do you know this man?”

“Yes, my lord. We have crossed swords many times. This is the samurai Yamaguchi Jiro who serves Lord Inuyama.”

The lord thought a moment, and then tapped his fan shut into his hand as he remembered. “Ahhh. Yes! Well, that is a stroke of luck. I have heard your name many times, Yamaguchi-san. You are the fencing instructor to the Inuyama clan, are you not?”

“As you say, my lord.” Jiro agreed. “I’ve taught them how to fight for two generations and they’ve never failed to take a Kurokawa head in battle.”

That got Jiro a sharp crack to the back of the head from one of the guards behind him.

“Watch your tongue, dog!”

Lord Kurokawa motioned his man back. “Enough of that, Captain. I would hate to harm such a distinguished guest.” Then after a moment he added. “I have heard your Kirekusa fencing style from my warriors, and I would like to see it myself to judge its worthiness. Could you perhaps give us a demonstration?”

That brought a wry smile to Jiro’s face. “Well, I would be happy to, my lord. Merely give me a sword and I will give you a full demonstration of its abilities.”

Kurokawa laughed at that. “Oh. I’m sure you would, swordsman. I’m sure you would.  However…You! Servant!”

As he said the words, he gestured at the closest of the servants who were watching the proceedings. A tall, muscular young man with a slightly dull expression whose eyes suddenly shot open in surprise. After a moment’s hesitation, he gestured towards his nose.

“M-me? My lord?”

“Don’t just stand there, servant.” Barked Gempei.  “Come here!”

“Y-yes master,” answered the lad as he shuffled forward with his head down. “Of course master.”

“Go and fetch a wooden bokken from the training hall.” Ordered the Lord.

“Of course, honoured lord.” The servant answered, giving a quick bow before running off.

Then Kurokawa turned and looked at his guest. “Gempei, when he returns would you help our fencing instructor show me how he fights?”

Gempei gave a quick bow. “With pleasure.”

“Oh, and Gempei?”

“Yes, my lord?”

“You may use your real sword.”

*                      *                      *

What the Lord of the Kurokawa did not know, however, was that the servant he had selected to fetch the wooden practice sword in fact had no idea where the training hall was, since he was in fact not a servant of the household at all.

Masato was, however, in an extreme state of panic.

“What am I going to do? What am I going to do?” He babbled to himself. “They’re going to kill sensei!” He stumbled along blindly, desperately trying to think of a way out of this situation and berating himself for being so stupid. His master was going to die, and it would be his fault!

So lost in thought he was, that Masato ran right into another servant coming the other direction, nearly knocking the man down.

“Hey you! Where do you think you’re going?” Cursed the man, regaining his balance. He was a middle aged man, probably one of the senior attendants. Masato instantly feared he’d lost all his chances and bowed quickly to apologize.

“Oh, sorry master. Our lord asked me to fetch him a bokken from the training hall and I was rushing to get it.”

The man gave him a long look, obviously trying to recognise him and failing. Finally he shrugged. “He did, eh? Then why’re you going that way? The training hall is the other way! That’ll take you to the storerooms.”

“The storerooms?” Masato said reflexively. “Oh. I’m so sorry, our lord gave me an order and I was too worried about following it.”

“You’re new, aren’t you?” The retainer brushed off his robe, then added menacingly. “Better calm down, boy. Get distracted around here and you’ll lose your head.”

That brought Masato, who was trying to get out of this conversation as quickly as he could, up short, and he stared at the elder servant a minute.

“I-I’m sorry, what did you just say?” He said with sudden interest as a candle was lit in the back of his head.

The servant shook his head in disgust. “Are you deaf as well as dumb? I said keep your eye on your job!”

“Yes,” Masato answered thoughtfully as an idea came blazing to light in his brain. “Of course. Thank you. I’ll follow your advice.”

“See that you do. Now, training hall’s that way. Try not to get lost again.”

“Oh, you bet I won’t!” Masato answered with determination, then turned and ran the way the man had pointed.

He knew what he needed to do to save sensei- now all he needed was time.

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