Swept along after the bushi and the kinsmen of the Lord of Yōsashima, Satomine was to seat himself before them. His head bowed at first, he hesitated for some time before he threw himself into the telling of his tale. As he recounted what had taken place since the great Takimoto army’s departure for the north those around him listened raptly, with the heir Yukinaga interrupting him only after the newcomer had fallen quiet at the death of Yoshinobu.

  “Sit here, we intend to eat soon, and my father and I would have you well fed and treated as one of us,” He instructed with unusual sympathy.

  Surprised as he had not taken the other man for the sort to behave so courteously, due to how during the prior time he had visited Yukinaga had comported himself poorly. The man had been so drunk that his father had ordered him out of the fortress, and to go hunting less he take his head.

  Grateful for this small act, Satomine bowed his head and moving to take the place vacated by the heavily bearded heir of Yōsashima he was impressed when almost immediately a platter of food was called for. Platters were swiftly delivered along with chopsticks, with Satomine now finding himself seated between the heir to the keep and the small pedestal of sorts that the lord was seated upon.

  “Satomine-kun, I would hear the rest of thy story but hope that this is not an imposition for you,” Yōsashima told him genially as he leant back in his own seat as a servant girl bowed, before she laid the platter before him.

  This done she swiftly bowed once more, crawled backwards away from him and with the other two servant-girls swiftly departed leaving the men alone. None of them had spoken a word though their presence had served to quiet some of the uncertainties that loomed over the herald of Yoshinobu.

  “I disagree tonō I would have us hear the rest of this tale at once, while preparations are made for his room.” Katsuie one of the favourites of Yōsashima growled at the newcomer, asking of him when the youth continued to eat whilst studying him with worried eyes. “It must be asked, and we have refrained from doing so out of courtesy. However, is it possible that you might have had some involvement in the murder of our beloved lord, Satomine-kun?”

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  Almost choking on the rice he was in the midst of swallowing, the bushi could not help but stare at the old man with sincere shock and horror. “What?” He asked when at last he could speak with the word coming out more as a croak. “I- how could I- No, I loved Yoshinobu-dono! He was as a father to me!”

  The other man continued to study him with a piercing gaze, one that could well have punctured the armour and breast of another man far better than any katana or arrow could well have done. It was with more than a little apprehension that Satomine risked a glance at those around him, only to tremble a little when he saw how they glowered at him also.

  The feeling that arose in his breast then was not solely fear though, as fury intermingled with that sentiment to overshadow all others. “I am and have always been loyal! None loved Yoshinobu-dono more than I! I would challenge any man present herewith us who would otherwise question that!”

  His bold words uttered with the sort of heat and passion that only the young could summon forth, were greeted with many smiles and nods by some. It was also received with some measure of doubtful looks from others, notably those nearest to Yōsashima in blood and favour, as his most senior of retainers and sons’ knew his mind best. Each of them was filled with suspicion towards the youth and was of a view Satomine guessed that all outsiders were to be regarded with suspicion.

  It was some time before he was to be rescued by Yōsashima himself, who let slip a great booming laugh after several minutes, “There is no need to be so serious Satomine-kun! We are all friends here, and all know of the courage with which you have always served the house of Takimoto! You are welcome herein my house, yet as I understand there is much that we must discuss. While thine friends rest, will you not join me and inform us of all that has happened hitherto now?”

  The relief which the youth felt then was as nothing compared to that which filled his companions as they left to join the physician. Nodding his head, the young bushi was to follow after the mighty Yōsashima, not noticing as he failed to glance over his shoulder just as all others failed to, the distant figure on the hill upon which Satomine had observed the fort from a few mere hours prior.

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