Matsu Sanjiro, aka Matsusagi, dismissed his man-servant after the elderly
commoner finished setting out breakfast and pouring the tea. Sanjiro was used to
dressing himself, having learned in his humble beginnings in the Hare clan. His
family had too few retainers to spare them for such frivolities as helping
perfectly healthy samurai dress themselves. Here, in the compound of the
Imperial Herald, Sanjiro could have had five people assist him should he wish
it. Still, he preferred to do such things himself.
Sanjiro looked in the full length mirror, adjusting his kimono. The mirror
itself was an ostentatious reminder that reflected just how much wealth the
Imperial line had. Sanjiro suspected it was worth more than the whole Hare Clan
holdings. Sanjiro looked dashing in the newly arrived kimono in colors of the
Lion Clan, a gift from his Lion wife on his winning the Sapphire Championship a
few weeks ago.
First, I marry into the Lion. Now, a Sapphire Magistrate. Who would have
thought? This hare can leap high indeed.
Sanjiro put on the sash denoting his status as a Sapphire Magistrate of the
Empire. He adjusted the sash, which was still stiff and starched, coming
straight from the craftsman who made it. While not as influential as an Emerald
or Jade Magistrate, the position meant he was an extension of Miya Shikan, the
Imperial Herald himself, responsible for ensuring peace in the Empire. The man
had kept the empire at peace for decades by his personal charisma alone. And now
he had a whole cadre of samurai dedicated to seeing his dream of peace flourish.
Insuring peace in an empire, half of whose clans are hell bent on fighting the
other half. We're going to need all the help we can get.
Sanjiro finished adjusting sash, placed his swords in his belt, and moved to
quickly his breakfast and tea. He paused for a second cup, allowing himself this
small indulgence before starting his day.
Once he finished, Matsu Sanjiro left his apartment in the Imperial Herald's
compound and crossed the courtyard, with its ornate fountain of dolphins on
waves, to the working offices of the Sapphire Magistrates. The buildings were
old, having been built with the rest of the compound when Toshi Ranbo became the
Imperial Capital. But their function had recently been changed and the air still
smelled of paint and sawdust from when these rooms had been converted to office
space. Sanjiro steeled himself to start the day, and opened the door.
* * *
Matsu Ramaru jumped off his futon matt when Matsu Sanjiro-Sama entered. In doing
so, he knocked over the wet ink stone he had been using to write a letter,
spilling dark ink all over the paper, blotting out the neat calligraphy
characters. The ink continued to spread onto the wooden writing desk where he
was working.
Ramaru ignored this and stood, bowing to his master, the newly appointed
Sapphire Magistrate. The Magistrate-sama returned the bow, and then indicated
the young samurai could sit. "You'd better get that cleaned up, before it
spreads further," was all the Magistrate said. Ramaru bowed profusely, and
replied, "Hai, hai, magistrate-sama. Hai."
Ramaru could not understand why Sanjiro-sama was shaking his head slightly side
to side as he walked past and into his private office and closed the shoji
screen while Ramaru began the delicate process of cleaning up the ink, which had
continued to spread while he was greeting his boss.
* * *
Matsu Sanjiro knew the boy was bright, intelligent, and dedicated. At least, he
certainly hoped so. After several mornings of incidents like this, Matsu Sanjiro
also thought the boy either exceedingly clumsy, or, perhaps, just cursed by the
kami. The other day it had been a bundle or reports, and last week it had been
of pot of hot tea.
He's just nervous. And after all, I can hardly expect him to grow into a
position as my assistant when I have yet to grow into mine as a magistrate.
Sanjiro heard the boy outside, cleaning up the most recent mess. Sanjiro reached
across his desk to the cubby holes filled with reports and correspondences,
looking again, yet again, at the boy's letter of introduction from his wife.
Matsu Ramaru was Sanjiro's wife's cousin. The two were close growing up, his
wife had told him, and were still fond of one another. But, she admitted in this
private correspondence, Ramaru was much more suited for life in logistics and
planning. The boy was honest, earnest, had a good head for figures and writing,
and took to academic subjects with both ease and grace. On the downside, he
could barely wield at katana without looking like a flailing tree in a strong
breeze. Sanjiro found to be true the first time he had taken the boy out for a
practice match, just for fun. His whole combat technique consisted of weaving
the blade in front of him and trying not the get hit too much. In a family like
the Matsu, this rarely worked well.
So Sanjiro's wife, upon learning that Sapphire Magistrates rated one assistant,
promptly made arrangements within the family for young Ramaru to finish his
training, "officially" pass his gempukku by the skin of his teeth, and be
shipped off to the Imperial Herald's compound in the capital with the family's
blessing. For their part, Ramaru's instructors were glad to get him anywhere
where he might have useful function. The alternative was to send him to the
Crab, where, the instructors expected, he would die on the Kiau Wall within
minutes. This solution was much better for everyone involved.
Sanjiro smiled to himself. His wife's understanding of court, politics, and the
use of power was increasing, he thought, exponentially. When he remembered their
wedding, performed by the Emperor's personal Shugenja, a troubling thought
followed.
I'd best be careful. She'll have me working directly for the Son of Heaven
before long at this rate. This position is enough advancement for the moment, I
think.
Sanjiro put the letter away and returned to the reports he's been working on
yesterday afternoon.
* * *
Matsu Ramaru gathered the morning reports and a pot of tea and cups and headed
for his Mater's office. He gently tapped on the wooden frame of the shoji door
and waited. Matsu Sanjiro-sama instructed him to enter a moment later. Ramaru
entered and slid the door closed behind him. He set the tea tray down on the
lacquered audience table then bowed deeply. Sanjiro-sama retuned the bow, then
indicated for his assistant to sit and pour tea for them both.
Ramaru sipped his tea, then set the cup down, ever so carefully, lest he spill
anything else this morning. He still could not believe Matsu Sanjiro-sama,
Sapphire Magistrate to the Imperial Herald himself, could be so casual and call
him friend. He was still dumbfounded and awed by the man's ease and casualness,
even after being here for nearly two weeks. And amazed that the man had not
beaten him for spilling things. His sensei at the academy would have beaten him
senseless for far less infractions.
But then, he's a Hare, not a true Lion. They really are different from us.
And he's married to my cousin, whom I've secretly been in love with for years.
The story of how Sanjiro had "proposed" to his cousin, a strong willed Matsu
maiden, and their subsequent marriage, had made the rounds of the family in the
recent months. The story was rapidly becoming a legend. Ramaru had been away at
the academy at the time, and so was among the last to hear of how this Hare
samurai had come to join the Lion. What surprised Ramaru was how his cousin had
so readily agreed to the marriage, right then and there.
And then there was the Hare's rise to Sapphire Magistrate, in a unexpected win
at the Sapphire Championship. There were several Lion in attendance, six
according to one version Ramaru had heard. And yet this Hare emerged as the
winner?
No wonder my cousin loves him.
There was no jealousy in Ramaru's heart. He was thrilled to learn how happy his
favorite cousin was in matrimony, although he was surprised at how readily she
took to it. In a society where couple married for political advantage, or at
least to avoid disadvantage, married couples did not behave this way. None of
the ones Ramaru knew did, anyway. Certainly his parents did not, as they rarely
spoke to each other except on family business.
And what is with that smile she comes down to breakfast with so many mornings,
after they've been together the night before? Married couples don't make each
other feel like that, do they?
Matsu Sanjiro Magistrate-sama cleared his throat, calling Ramaru's thoughts back
to the here and now. "So my friend," the senior samurai began, "what is in the
this morning's reports?"
Ramaru cleared his mind and concentrated at the task at hand. Unlike kenjutsu,
fighting, and battle lore, this was something he was good at. "My Lord,' he
began. "There has still been no further news on the assassination of the Dragon
Senesi at this summer's Bon Festival, and the Crane are still embroiled in some
kind of internal conflict, with several of the Crane leaders murdered, and the
remainders looking within their clan for the culprits rather than without. "
The Magistrate-sama digested the news as he took another sip of his tea. Ramaru
continued. "The reports regarding the Crane go on. They have been scantly
represented at several recent Court events. If you will recall your own Sapphire
championship, only two Crane were present, a merchant and a single bushi.
Matsu Sanjiro-sama nodded and chuckled. "Yes. Had the honorable Crane sent a
larger contingent, I might not be here." Matsu-sama nodded for Ramaru to
continue.
Ramaru continued from the report. "The Crane were similarly underrepresented at
other court events this past summer. The Imperial Herald himself is concerned
their internal conflicts may result in a destabilization of the Empire. The
Imperial Herald would like to see the Crane strengthen their presence at Winter
Court to forestall this course of events. "
Matsu Sanjiro-sama nodded as he continued to digest all this, as well as digest
his tea. He nodded solemnly. "The Imperial Herald is a wise man. He sees events
not only as they are, but as they might soon be. I was present in Friendly
Traveller Village when one of the Crane Daimyos, Daidoji Hayashi, was killed. In
their own territory no less. Very tragic. Miya Shikan-sama is right to be
concerned."
Ramaru shuffled his papers, coming to the next order of business. "My Lord, you
have been invited to a court event by the Nobuto family, vassals to the Yasuki
family of the Crane. Yasuki Hatsuhara-sama is hosting an event for those samurai
with whom he has dealt in the past year. The focus of the event is an annual
celebration of all male children born to the Nobuto. It says here the
celebration will last four days, and is to be held in an area known for its hot
springs. "Ramaru's Lion upbringing exerted itself as he read the details of the
invitation, written in flowery script on ornate blue paper. "This sounds more
like an excuse for some kind of decadent Crane relaxation than a true festival."
Ramaru crinkled his nose slightly at the thought.
Looking at some other papers in the stack, Ramaru checked the Magistrate-sama's
schedule. "The event will still allow time to travel from northern Crane lands
to Kyuden Isawa in time for Winter Court."
Sanjiro looked confused for a moment. "Hatsuhara? I know this person, but from
where? Oh, yes, now I remember. Yasuki Hatsuhara is a shugenja with a bad
temper, made worse by a curse by the fire kami. So the reputation goes, whenever
he gets angry, the fire kami surrounding him become agitated and set things
ablaze. I am surprised at the invitation, as he bears me ill will regarding a
seppuku I attended last year where he thought he should have been the second."
Ramaru looked up, surprised at his master's candor. "You served as a second at
someone's seppuku?" The awe in his voice was barely contained.
Sanjiro made a dismissive motion with his hand. "It was a long time ago. A Yotsu
family samurai attempted to steal something not his, but for the right reasons.
I prefer not to discuss it. Now, please inform Yasuki Hatsuhara-san that I will
be pleased to attend his festival assuming my new duties to the Imperial Herald
allow for it. But I will be returning here rather than attending Winter Court. I
suspect events at the Court will require one of the Sapphire Magistrates to be
available to respond elsewhere in the Empire, and since I am the newest
magistrate, that duty will fall to me. "
Ramaru made the necessary notes, then reviewed the Nobuto invitation one last
time. "It says here the Magistrate-sama's wife is also invited. Shall I send
correspondence informing her?"
Matsu Sanjiro-sama considered for a moment, then replied. "Yes. Please inform
her to withdraw funds for the journey from the household account and that I look
forward with great expectation of meeting her there."
"That will be all for now, my friend, We will continue your instruction in Go
this afternoon. I expect you will soon need only a five stone handicap, and will
need fewer still by Spring."
Matsu Ramaru rose, bowed to his master, gathered the tea tray, and backed away
to the shoji screen before turning and leaving. His thoughts were confused as he
went.
Why would someone want to spend four days in a Crane resort with nothing to do?
With your wife?
Behind him, Matsu Sanjiro had that same smile on his face his wife often
displayed when coming down to breakfast.