Illustrated Warrior #3
Chapter Eight

Tomoe would be done with this.

"Face me, Taki!"

Her opponent stopped his retreat to stare at her. He lifted his sword and attacked.

"Didn't come here to be beaten by you -- oooof!"

She sidestepped his rush, thrusting her own sword solidly into his sternum. He tried to spin away from the blow. She caught his legs with one of her own, sweeping him to the ground.Taki groaned, his face pressed in the mud. He made no attempt to rise.

Tomoe turned to face the monks who judged her. If this was her test, it was too easily passed. Was this the end of it?

She heard the others talk as she approached her judges.

"I said she was good, didn't I?" Gojira boasted.

"You did," Keisai replied, his face turned to Tomoe. Even though he was blind, he gave the impression he saw everything. "But good enough to lead?"

Tomoe looked to the sightless man. "What is that supposed to mean?" She had won. She would be the equal of her ancient namesake.

Gojira answered as he effortlessly picked up the fallen Taki. "It's just Keisai's way, Tomoe; never satisfied. We can all see you're more prepared to lead than Taki." He shook his head at Keisai. "Now I know you've thought of Taki as a husband for little Yasuna, my friend . . ."

"You thought what?" The sixteen-year-old Yasuna exploded.

"But maybe he's not suitable after all," Gojira continued with a chuckle. "In fact, I'd say he's lucky Tomoe left him the equipment to be a husband."

But Yasuna wanted an answer. She glared at Keisai. "I can't believe you, planning out my life like that, and then telling Gojira!"

Her father, as usual, said nothing.

Tomoe turned from the others and knelt before the two monks who had come to judge the contest. Once they had acknowledged her victory, Keisai's opinions wouldn't matter. She bowed.

"I crave your approval, masters, and await your instructions, now that I have proven myself."

The two elder monks regarded her for a moment before they spoke. "You have won a battle, Tomoe. But proven yourself? That remains to be seen."

Their words were as great a blow as a strike from Taki's bohan. "I don't understand." She took a breath, willing herself to remain calm. "The battle was the proof. I have been trained especially for this, even challenged to defeat a foe before an audience of his friends, to prove that I could lead them."

The first monk regarded her impassively. "And I say again, the proof is not yet at hand."

"But-- " She cried out as he felt a sudden pain in her shoulder. A knife had lodged in the muscle above her shoulder blade. A knife that could only have been thrown by Taki.

The two elders looked to her challenger.

"Taki?" the second monk spoke. "You have something to add to this conversation?"

She swiveled her head to look at her challenger. Even that simple movement brought her pain.

Taki squatted a dozen paces away, his blood-smeared face alive with anger. "Do my actions not speak clearly enough? Then hear this." Her made a fist with the hand that had thrown the knife. "I bring proof of leadership! I bring my strength, my resilience, my indomitable will!"

"Indeed," the first monk said.

Keisai spoke then, shaking his great, shaggy mane of hair. "Oh, Taki, you do not know the error you have made." So he would share his opinions at last. "Your actions do speak more loudly than your words, but they bring nothing but dishonor. Upon yourself, and upon those who have trained you."

"What?" The defiance fell away from his face as he realized his error. "But I -- Oh, no."

He pushed himself to his feet and ran.

Still the Nara monks made no move, and showed no emotion.

"Well?" Tomoe demanded. "Isn't anyone going to try and stop him?"

The second monk replied. "A leader would not need to ask, Tomoe, and that is what you claim yourself to be -- although it's true that you could not fend off a sneak attack."

So they would blame her for Taki's treachery as well?

She reached behind her and pulled the knife from her shoulder. "That's not fair -- rhnn -- and you know it!"

The first monk nodded. "Then, if you are a leader, show us now."

This would be the true test, then. Tomoe looked quickly about her, seeing who would be best suited to join her in the chase.

"You, Gojira! Come with me!"

The giant stepped to her side. She nodded to the monks, and the two of them began to run.

"Taki!" She would ignore the pain still in her shoulder, ignore the fatigue of battle, ignore the blood that stained her robe. Taki! She would bring him back to the monks, no matter what, and prove that she was the true leader.

Illustrated Warrior

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