I awoke.
I faded back into this reality of pain. Hell was... a small room and a ragged futon?
I turned on my side and nearly vomited from the agony of it, but there within my sight was bowl of cabbage soup. I nearly passed out reaching for it, and my trembling left arm - my right was bound? - spilled a few precious drops as I brought it to my lips. It was cold and clammy and one of the best things I had ever eaten. Hunger sated, I slipped back into unconsciousness.
I awoke to whispers. I heard soft footsteps and suddenly what light I perceive through my closed eyelids dimmed. I forced my left eye open a hair.
I saw a darkness, the hint of shapes, my body felt as though it was ablaze. Clarity slowly came to me and I saw that I was in a sick ward in what appeared to be a temple. A silhouette moved toward me, and I lapsed back into unconsciousness.
When next I woke there was a young monk trending to me. "Ah good," he smiled, "you're awake." I smiled weakly and promptly fell asleep.
This sort of patter continued for a few weeks until I was able to cling to consciousness, and then able to walk for longer periods of time. I learned of the great defeat the Ota had suffered at the hands of the Imagawa, but also that some of the army and most of the generals had escaped. My heart soared! Then I learned that the Imagawa had, of course, pursued them and now lay siege to the stronghold of Tsuchiura-jo. I was despondent. As soon as I was able, I said my farewells to that quiet house of contemplation to make my way home.
The walk to Tsuchiura-jo was agonizingly slow. The monks had provided me with some food and a few copper coins for the journey; the Ota had long been patrons of their secluded temple. The roads were crowded with clusters of people. Some were fleeing the conflict, some headed toward it, but all traveled in groups so as to avoid the lawlessness that invariably follows conflict. Some days into the journey my group dropped to the ground at the roadside. I stood still, confused, until a farmer pulled me down by my sleeve. "Imagawa officer coming," he muttered. "He'll see no difference between a ronin like you and a peasant like me."
I was about to dismiss his warning when I saw them: a troop of perhaps forty mounted men followed by a hundred or so foot soldiers and the usual porters and so on. But the horsemen were what caught the eye: to a man they were mounted on some of the finest horses that I'd ever seen, each one black as a moonless night, with bells on their harnesses and golden streamers flying from their mains and tales. Their riders sat atop ornate saddle cloths and saddles, their clothes or armor brilliantly colored, scabbards bedecked with pearl and gold inlays. Then I heard what they were saying:
"It's a shame about the Ota, really," a young man in the middle was saying to a companion. "Fierce fighters -"
"Smart, too," the companion added.
"Quite," the first agreed. "What I would give to have them on our side, guard our norrthern flank."
"Best fighters since the Izu-no-Hojo? I'd take them," the companion agreed.
"Now, the problem..." and they were too far to be heard over the sounds of marching horses and men. But I knew what I needed to do.
I leaped up, hastily pulling my sheathed sword from my sash and casting it to the dirt, and ran towards the procession. As the guards whirled to face me I threw myself to the ground, perpetrating myself before them. "Please," implored them, "request an audience with your master! I have knowledge that could be very valuable to him...wha??" My speech ended with a confused yelp as three Imagawa guards grabbed me.
"What's all this then?" The voice, though inquisitive, had an unmistakable air of command. I cut through the guards' dismissal of me to shout that I served the Ota, earning myself a blow from a guard and an appraisal from the man who had ridden back to our roadside scuffle. "And you are?" he asked.
"Iwamoto Kennosuke, your lordship," I answered, pressing my forehead to the dirt. The man snorted - somehow even that was elegant - and bade my captors release me. "Look at him kneel," the mounted Lord chuckled, gesturing at me. The gods must have favored me for it was the man I had heard speaking earlier, a lean man with dark, clever eyes and an immaculate topknot. "The man can't even hold any weight on his right arm," he told them. Then, to me: "Come then, Iwamoto, and let us speak, but be sure not to waste my time."
We retired a short distance from the road, and a pavilion along with tea - tea! - was set up; the guards set up a perimeter less the handful that accompanied this Lord and his two companions. "I apologize for my rudeness Iwamoto, for I have not yet introduced myself," the Lord began once we were all seated. "I am Iwagawa Ujizane," he continued, smiling at my obvious surprise, "son of Imagawa Yoshitomo. This is Aso Kazutoyo," Ujizane introduced a man who appeared around thirty, "one of my most trusted advisors. Tell me, what is this news you have for me?"
"I can get messages, a message, a trusted message to the Ota," I managed to stammer.
At Ujizane-tono's raised brow I explained my situation, my initial despair upon waking, the hope I regained and the way it was crushed once I learned of the siege of Tsuchiura-jo. When I finished, the young lord leaned to his advisor and they conversed quietly for a moment, and as they talked I could see the excitement building throughout Ujizane's entire body.
"So, you could persuade your Lord to negotiate with my father? With assurances, of course; I know his reputation against those who have fought us." Yoshimoto had often been merciless to those who opposed him. I hesitated, then nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes this could work," Ujizane murmured to himself, rubbing his forehead. "A general, high ranking but not the clan head... The Wakatono will be visiting -" a strangulated cough escaped one of the Lord's companions but Ujizane silenced him with a dismissive waive of his hand - "It is common knowledge! If the heir of Takeda Shingen leaves Kai with five hundred horse then of course everyone who could care will know! With him there... yes. It is settled." He made eye contact with me. "If Yoshimoto guarantees your clan's safety with important winesses that should be assurance enough to negotiate." He paused as if waiting for me to disagree, and when I did not he nodded briskly. Azo-san, see to the arrangements. Tozawa, get a man you trust to accompany Iwamoto-san here." With that he left to speak to an important-looking samurai, likely the captain of the guard.
Then the advisor leapt up and walked briskly to the guards while I was questioned about my rank and credentials. He returned shortly with another bushi who was instructed to sit to the side and behind Ujizane's companions.
Ujizane himself returned for a moment and then departed, and again I bowed low to him. His advisor then barked a series of instructions to me: "This is Yokota Kiyokuni, he will accompany you. You are to take a message he will carry to your master detailing the terms of his surrender and terms of a vassal contract. Takeda Yoshinobu will be visiting us in one week; as the son of our closest ally any treaty he bears witness to is nigh unbreakable by Lord Imagawa, especially since the young lord harbors a strong disliking for Yoshimoto. Return to the siege camp as soon as possible and be sure to do so in the daytime lest some sentry shoot you in the night."
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