Sou was joined by his generals as they surveyed the castle before them. Daisen Castle, home of Wada Kuniaki and the stronghold of Bijo province. It sat high upon a mountain top with a clear 360 degree view in all directions. The Daisen River, where the castle took its name, flowed at the foot of the mountain, providing easy and constant access to fresh water. This would be beneficial to the Yashiro forces, but it would also allow the Wada to hole up in their castle for a long period of time. Sou couldn’t afford that.

“What do you think?”

“Intelligence reports very few forces in or around the castle, sir. From what we can gather it’s simply the castle garrison. They either don’t know we’re coming or they don’t have the forces to deal with us right now.”

Arai Riko. Samurai, personal attendant and one of Sou’s closest friends since childhood. She understood him like no one else and had a habit of getting things done before he even asked. She was swift and tiny and excelled in gathering intel. Some say she would have made an excellent ninja, but she was happy with her lot in life.

“If we were to meet them on the field, we’d outnumber them 10 to one. Easily.”

Sou crossed his arms. The Yashiro camp sat nearby, close to the river beyond the hill they were currently standing upon. They had brought everyone they could afford to spare without leaving their homelands entirely undefended. Sou’s father, Ryobe, had likely reached Konoe province by now for his younger sister’s marriage to the soon-to-be daimyo, Itami Motoki. His father had left a loyal retainer behind to keep Oohara Castle running, but neither of them could afford to be away for too long.

“So what you’re saying is that we’re looking at a siege?”

“Yes, sir.”

Exactly what they didn’t need.

“Have we investigated the castle? Is there no way to get in?”

“Nothing that we have yet discovered, sir,” Riko replied. “It’s a fortress. The walls are 20 feet high, there are innumerable traps set within the rock walls themselves, if we even got close enough we’d likely find ourselves taking a nice hot oil shower before we could attempt to mount them.”

“Wonderful.”

Sou turned to Harada Toshio. Third son of five, his father was also a loyal retainer of Ryobe’s and current head of Hirozaka Castle. Toshio was a skilled warrior from whom Sou had learnt many things growing up. He trusted him with his life, and greatly respected his thoughts and ideas. “What do you think?”

“I think this is futile.”

“So optimistic, as usual.”

Toshio ignored the crack.

“In known history nobody has even been able to break into Daisen Castle. At best we can hope they don’t know we’re here and count on the element of surprise to gain entry. At worst, we’re looking at a few months of starving them out. We could send some of the men back home, but we’re going to be spread thin regardless, and while we’re trying to starve them out who’s to stop the Kuroda or the Bitou or even the Shiroyama from advancing upon your lands, my lord.”

“My father won’t attack so long as I’m still alive,” Ayane retorted. Toshio had never been particularly kind to her. He had warned Sou many times not to get too friendly with his captive, that given even the slightest chance she would betray him for a single grain of rice. The Harada had been Yashiro retainers for many generations now. Like his father, Toshio was highly suspicious of anyone or anything that might bring harm to the family they so proudly served.

“Even if we assume that Lord Bitou doesn’t think his daughter is dead and refuses to make a move on your territory, we cannot safely assume the same of the Kuroda,” he continued. “The Shiroyama have also made their intentions to move on the capital quite clear, and while they may be busy dealing with the other clans in the east, we still stand between them and their goal. Their forces are massive. If they decide they want to take your lands while simultaneously fighting in the east, they undoubtedly could.”

“I think Daisuke’s too busy trying to decide whether he wants to fuck or kill the great ‘Dragon of Goeshi’ to be bothered with Yashiro lands right now,” Riko laughed. The rivalry between Shiroyama Daisuke and Togawa Ryoma, the so-called Dragon of Goeshi was infamous Yashima-wide. They had met in battle several times with neither managing to emerge as the victor. They danced back and forth over the same lands to the point where some suggested neither actually wanted to win. They enjoyed the fight too much.

“We’re getting off track here,” Sou reminded them. “Okay, so we have two choices. We wait them out, or we find a way in.”

“We could wait them out. They’ll run out of food sometime,” Riko proposed.

“I don’t think we have the time or resources for a long siege, my lord,” Toshio said.

Sou turned to Ayane. “And you?”

“I think everyone is right.” She looked pointedly at Toshio. “You can’t afford a long drawn out siege, but you also can’t charge the gates head on. It’s a tough one.”

Sou turned around and looked at Kazu, who had been waiting quietly in the trees a few paces behind them. The young man had already proven himself in combat, but Sou was still unsure of how his mind worked.

“Kazu. Tell me your thoughts.”

“Me? Uh, well, I think that…” Kazu suddenly stopped mid sentence, his eyes widening in horror. He charged at Sou frantically. “My lord, get down!”

He pushed Sou into a tree and covered his face as an arrow whizzed above their heads.

“What the-?”

Everyone turned in the direction it had come from. A woman dressed all in black smiled and waved at them before taking off.

“Shit. Well if they didn’t already know we’re here, they do now! Get back to the men! We charge now!”

Riko and Toshio bowed their heads and took off.

“Kazu, I want you to-” he turned but Kazu was already gone, chasing after the mysterious woman.