The Inuyama Rebellion- Part Twenty-Six

“Masato, we’re not stopping.”

Masato nodded, agreeing with the young master. As they rode along at the back, he had watched the Lord’s procession draw closer and closer to the enemy camp, even after they had given the letter to that official. Now they were almost there, and nobody had come for Taro, or even slowed down.

His heart began to sink, it was clear they didn’t believe them, or didn’t care. He sighed. He had done his best, and now…now there wasn’t much left to do except pray. Maybe Shiori-san had been right after all- it was in the hands of the gods.

Then he heard Taro yell at his horse, and the young lord shot away towards the front of the procession. The guards around them were so surprised, they didn’t react, and before they could Masato too had kicked his horse and was dashing forward.

“Stop!” Cried the general, but he was already left behind as Masato and Taro raced ahead past the lines of troops- right for his father.

“Father! Father!” Cried Taro, drawing the attention of the samurai ahead of them.

The official they’d met earlier was also at the head of the line, and at a word from him several riders turned to face the boys. Two of them took their horses out of the line and stood there with spears in hand- now raised at the oncoming young boy!

Masato’s heart caught in his throat as the young master, heedless of the danger, continued to rush headlong at the mounted samurai.

“Father! Father!” He cried. “Don’t go! I don’t want to lose you, father!”

Then another rider broke from the line between Taro and the spearmen- a samurai in green and gold armor moved his horse to block the way. Taro’s horse instinctively pulled to a halt, despite the urgings of the young boy, and this new samurai took advantage of the moment to grab the horse’s reins and keep it from running further.

“Whoa! Whoa!” Called the new samurai as he struggled to keep the horse from riding on. “Stop it boy!” He yelled at Taro. “I’m trying to save your life!”

Masato, who had now caught up with Taro, brought his horse alongside the boy’s. He could see Taro had tears streaming down his face, and he was still crying “Father! Father!”

“Stop it, young lord!” Masato begged. “Please, Taro-kun! Stop!”

“Taro-kun?” Said the new samurai, and for the first time Masato got a look at the one who was also trying to save the young lord’s life. Masato was shocked, for this handsome young man was Inuyama no Tetsuya- Lord Inuyama’s youngest brother, and Taro’s uncle!

“Tell me your family name, boy!” Yelled Tetsuya, pulling Taro close.

Taro, shaken awake by the sudden rough treatment, stopped yelling and gasped under the intense stare of the samurai. “I-Inuyama no Taro…” He stammered, mostly in fear.

The samurai’s gaze suddenly shifted to Masato, who also had to force himself to keep from backing away.

“Is this the lord’s second son?” He demanded of Masato.

Masato squeaked that it was.

“Explain.” Tetsuya ordered.

In as short a form as he could manage, Masato did. He was only marginally aware of the other samurai who had also stopped to listen to this while the rest of the convoy rode on. Once he had finished, having skipped details like his master’s death and the events at the temple, the men began to talk excitedly to each other.

“Where is this letter you say the woman gave you?” Tetsuya asked.

“I-I gave it to him,” Masato said, pointed forward toward Hasegawa Yohei.

Tetsuya followed Masato’s finger, and then nodded to himself. “Ride with me,” he told them, and wheeled his horse around to lead them forward.

When they got to the two spearmen, who were still waiting, one look from Tetsuya made the men stand aside and let the boys pass. At last, they drew so close to the front of the line that Masato could see the crest on the helmet of their lord. But, before they could approach any further the official appeared.

“Young lord,” said Hasegawa Yohei politely to Tetsuya. “It is too important a time now to disturb your lord brother, please take these young men back with you and wait.”

But Tetsuya would have none of it. “These boys have an important message for my brother. Come with us.”

“Y-Yes…my lord…” Said the Chief Advisor, his eyes dropping in deference to the younger man.

Together the group rode forward, at last reaching the head of the line.

Tetsuya called out, and Lord Inuyama raised a hand to halt the procession, then turned to face them.

Masato had only rarely seen his lord, and never in full battle armor. Lord Inuyama was an imposing man normally, but in his gold and green armor he looked every bit like a king. Even the black eyepatch he wore to hide the eye lost in battle long ago didn’t mar his handsome, regal features.

“Elder Brother!” Called out Tetsuya, “Come and see who has returned to us!”

The lord approached, looking mildly annoyed. “Is this another of your japes, brother?”

“No, elder brother. It is not.” Tetsuya turned to look at Taro. “Look at this young lad, and tell me who you see?”

There was a look of further annoyance on the lord’s face, but then it melted away as it was replaced by astonishment as he stared at his son. “Taro? Are you…Taro?”

“Father!” Cried Taro, tears again rolling down his rosy cheeks. “Father, I have come home.”

“How is he here?” The shocked lord asked his younger brother. “Why?”

And so Tetsuya told him, and the lord listened.

At last, Lord Inuyama turned and looked at his Chief Advisor. “Is this true, Hasegawa?”

“Perhaps, my lord. Perhaps.” Said the sweating man. “I thought it best to wait until after until…”

“Until what?” Said the lord with icy fury. “Until we marched into a trap?!?”

“W-well, m-my lord…It may not be a trap, we do not know.”

“Are you saying the Kurokawa have made a liar of my son?” Asked Inuyama, his single eye glowing with the fire of anger.

“N-no, my lord. Of course not. But…”

Lord Inuyama raised a gloved hand to stop him. “Go to the Sugura and tell them I am sick- we will return tomorrow.”

“My lord?” Yohei asked, alarmed.

“Do it.” Then he looked at Tetsuya, and the other men assembled around them. “Turn the line around, we’re returning to our own lands.”

All agreed, even Yohei, who Masato watched start out for the Sugura lines- which were now so close he could see the faces of the samurai waiting on the seats in front of the tents.

As Masato watched, the man in the middle of those warriors suddenly folded the fan he’d been using and raised it into the air. This was followed by a horn blast that was so loud it made everyone in the Inuyama party stop and turn to look around.

Then the air was filled with the sounds of men yelling at the tops of their lungs as foot soldiers carrying spears began to pour from the treelines on either side of the field.

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The Inuyama Rebellion- Part Twenty Five

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The Inuyama Rebellion- Part Twenty-Seven


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