Read Online L5r - scroll 05 - The Crab by Stan Brown, Stan - Free Book Online
Authors: Stan Brown, Stan
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finally said. "I will not seek such a resolution. It would throw the empire into even more confusion. We march to make certain the smoothest, fairest transition of power takes place. If the Scorpion is strong enough to hold the city until we arrive, we will support the sitting emperor. If Bayushi's weak will prevents him from solidifying his hold on power, we will help the other clans dethrone him."
Kisada was making this decision as the words came from his mouth. Seconds earlier, he would not have known where he stood on the matter.
"The most important thing for the Crab Clan is a strong emperor. Exactly who that is matters not at all."
STRENGTH
The empire is no more." From the stony hill where Hida Kisada stood, he could see that Otosan Uchi was burning. The capital was still the better part of a day's march away. At least four separate military camps surrounded it. Within its walls, battles raged, but not in the Forbidden City—the walled and magically protected citadel where the emperor and his retinue lived. "The other clans have managed to take back most of the city, but the Scorpion is still secure in his lair. The real battle has not even begun yet."
"How can Bayushi hold out against such overwhelming odds?" asked Yakamo. He had expected to find the city devolved into chaos, with the Scorpion crushed and the other clans fighting among themselves for the Emerald Throne. He never imagined Bayushi's samurai could stand up to a head-to-head confrontation. They were trained for skulking and attacking weaker forces.
Kisada raised his arm and motioned forward. His troops had marched harder than anyone had any right to ask. In only six days, they'd covered the two hundred fifty miles separating the Great Wall of Kaiu and Otosan Uchi. The Great Bear knew that to rest now and watch the turmoil below would only weaken the soldiers' morale. Seeing the capital in flames could push them to even greater physical extremes, but only if Kisada kept them moving.
The Crab army swarmed over the hills, not in a long straight line but in waves that nearly spread from one horizon to the other. Surely Bayushi Shoju could see this from within the Forbidden City. The Great Bear was beginning to feel a grudging respect for the Scorpion. If he gauged the action in Otosan Uchi correcdy, the Scorpion forces had only just relinquished control of the main city. They started fires as they fell back to the inner gates of the imperial compound. From there, they could fight a defensive battle for weeks or months. The walls were tougher and harder to breach than even the Carpenter's Wall.
If I were in there, Kisada thought, with my own men to guard the walls, no one would ever take the throne. Perhaps Bayushi is strong enough to run the empire. Perhaps he does deserve the support of the Crab.
The Great Bear's thoughts were interrupted. A single rider approached his retinue. It was a Scorpion samurai with the imperial mon flying from a banner strapped to his back. The scuffs and tears in his armor and kimono told of the fight he had to get through the enemy lines. He rode straight up to Kisada, dismounted, and lay down on the ground in the deep bow reserved for only the most honored dignitaries.
"My lord, Kisada-sama," said the Scorpion, panting, "I am Tetsuo, cousin to the emperor."
"Get off the ground, you crawling insect!" Kisada growled.
"Hai! Hai!" Tetsuo rose to his feet but did not look Kisada in the eyes. Instead the Scorpion remained bent over double in an extended bow.
Kisada disliked this behavior in anyone. The only superiority that mattered was the strength of a samurai's sword arm, not the station one held. He especially distrusted groveling from a Scorpion. If he could not see a Scorpion's eyes, the sneaky bug must be lying to him!
Clearly, this Tetsuo would not look the Great Bear in the eyes.
"What is your message, 'Cousin'?"
Tetsuo bowed a little deeper. "My lord, the first Emperor Bayushi sends his compliments to the
Kisada was making this decision as the words came from his mouth. Seconds earlier, he would not have known where he stood on the matter.
"The most important thing for the Crab Clan is a strong emperor. Exactly who that is matters not at all."
STRENGTH
The empire is no more." From the stony hill where Hida Kisada stood, he could see that Otosan Uchi was burning. The capital was still the better part of a day's march away. At least four separate military camps surrounded it. Within its walls, battles raged, but not in the Forbidden City—the walled and magically protected citadel where the emperor and his retinue lived. "The other clans have managed to take back most of the city, but the Scorpion is still secure in his lair. The real battle has not even begun yet."
"How can Bayushi hold out against such overwhelming odds?" asked Yakamo. He had expected to find the city devolved into chaos, with the Scorpion crushed and the other clans fighting among themselves for the Emerald Throne. He never imagined Bayushi's samurai could stand up to a head-to-head confrontation. They were trained for skulking and attacking weaker forces.
Kisada raised his arm and motioned forward. His troops had marched harder than anyone had any right to ask. In only six days, they'd covered the two hundred fifty miles separating the Great Wall of Kaiu and Otosan Uchi. The Great Bear knew that to rest now and watch the turmoil below would only weaken the soldiers' morale. Seeing the capital in flames could push them to even greater physical extremes, but only if Kisada kept them moving.
The Crab army swarmed over the hills, not in a long straight line but in waves that nearly spread from one horizon to the other. Surely Bayushi Shoju could see this from within the Forbidden City. The Great Bear was beginning to feel a grudging respect for the Scorpion. If he gauged the action in Otosan Uchi correcdy, the Scorpion forces had only just relinquished control of the main city. They started fires as they fell back to the inner gates of the imperial compound. From there, they could fight a defensive battle for weeks or months. The walls were tougher and harder to breach than even the Carpenter's Wall.
If I were in there, Kisada thought, with my own men to guard the walls, no one would ever take the throne. Perhaps Bayushi is strong enough to run the empire. Perhaps he does deserve the support of the Crab.
The Great Bear's thoughts were interrupted. A single rider approached his retinue. It was a Scorpion samurai with the imperial mon flying from a banner strapped to his back. The scuffs and tears in his armor and kimono told of the fight he had to get through the enemy lines. He rode straight up to Kisada, dismounted, and lay down on the ground in the deep bow reserved for only the most honored dignitaries.
"My lord, Kisada-sama," said the Scorpion, panting, "I am Tetsuo, cousin to the emperor."
"Get off the ground, you crawling insect!" Kisada growled.
"Hai! Hai!" Tetsuo rose to his feet but did not look Kisada in the eyes. Instead the Scorpion remained bent over double in an extended bow.
Kisada disliked this behavior in anyone. The only superiority that mattered was the strength of a samurai's sword arm, not the station one held. He especially distrusted groveling from a Scorpion. If he could not see a Scorpion's eyes, the sneaky bug must be lying to him!
Clearly, this Tetsuo would not look the Great Bear in the eyes.
"What is your message, 'Cousin'?"
Tetsuo bowed a little deeper. "My lord, the first Emperor Bayushi sends his compliments to the
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