So I've been trying for over a year to write this, and I think I'm finally getting around to it. I own nothing but my own characters. Everything else belongs to those nice folks at Ubisoft.
There was a chill in the air, unlike anything that crept in The Myre's air, even in the harshest of winters. It was no natural cold that spread across the Samurai ranks. It was one that put everyone, from the lowest of foot soldiers to the Great Emperor himself in a state of unease. One Samurai of The Myre, an inactive sword master by the name of Kokira, took up his family odachi and began practicing against a training dummy, his skin crawling with the unnerving chill that seemed to pervert the normally humid air.
'One. Two. Three. Four.' He muttered in his head as he counted his strokes, as he'd been trained since he was brought into the world. As his blade struck the target's burlap, his strikes only hastened, until he had finally cleaved the dummy's head down the middle. He easily sheathed the sword and grimaced at the fact that his skills may rust as he saw his involvement in the war. The muscle and reflexes he'd developed over his lifetime of training will go to waste, and he will eventually be killed as a useless old man when it happens.
"Kokira!" A voice cried out, breaking the kensei from his melancholic trance. "Master Kokira!"
As it reached a crescendo, a man clad in a cyan kimono bursted into the kensei's quarters. He fell to the floor before scrambling to his knees and looked up at Kokira. His beady eyes were flooded with a fear akin to a child left in a dark cave.
"Tetsuya, what is it? Did the Knights manage to find there way here?" Kokira asked as he pulled his timid assistant to his feet.
"Worse, milord! Far worse! Men from Valkenheim! They approach the village walls bearing arms! I fear they mean to kill us all!" He panicked.
Kokira heard other men in his manor rushing out. He sidestepped the timid servent and rushed to meet these men from Valkenheim himself. After all, as the village's Daimyo, he had to act, whether these men came for peace or pillage. He rushed to the gates of the village and ascended the wall to see a sight that explained the chill he felt in his quarters.
A hundred. Maybe two. A large band of men, all of them giants in their own right, came stumbling out from the jungle, clearly battered from whatever journey they trekked to make it this far. Many were holding large swords unlike anything he'd ever seen, but none were drawn. Of the ocean of titans, one led the group, and stopped at the gate and met the grizzled samurai's gaze.
"We come in peace, Samurai! We came to ask for help! I'm not a begging man, none of us are. But we have children with us, and we need help." The vanguard shouted, clearly out of breath and weary.
"Why not ask the steel men of Ashfield for aid? Of all people, you barbarians ask the very people you pillage and burn for help!"
The Vanguard grit his teeth and spat back, "There were a hundred and fifty of us when we tried! We had to flee when they brought oil and arrows from the sky! We ain't asking as Vikings, lad! We're asking as a people in need of a little saving. We ain't Vikings! We are Highlanders, and we need your help to set our families free!"
With that rousing speech, the other men threw their fists in the air and shouted in agreement. It was almost an inspiring sight. Kokira smiled and jumped from the wall to meet the Vanguard, only to find that his eyes met the top of his chest when he looked straight ahead. He looked even larger up close, and the scent of unwashed bodies seemed to hit harder at such a distance. It all almost made the noble gag, or worse, faint. Fortunately, he managed to keep his composure.
"Tell me your name, Vanguard, and I may consider allowing your children sanctuary while I help your revolution." He asked.
The Vanguard pounded his fist against his chest and bellowed a mighty cry that seemed to light an inspirational inferno within the Kensei.
"I am Bhaltair McInnes, and I wish for nothing more than my people's freedom!"
The Kensei bowed for the Highlander before meeting his gaze again, his eyes wide and bright at the idea of him having purpose again.
"Then, as a saint of the sword, I will help you to obtain it! Bring your children to the village. I'll get everything in line, then we'll replenish your numbers at the village to the south."
The next few hours were spent following the Highlander group and bringing the children they had camped in the jungle into the village. None looked older than a teenager, with a few carrying infants in their arms. Most of the boys carried the bulk seen in the men who fought for Valkenheim. The girls were hardy, but still retained some young female figure. Regardless, they all had dark rings around their hollowed eyes that showed that they had barely rested in the time they'd spent travelling, likely also trying to avoid capture by The Knights and The Vikings. Though at first unsure, they greedily wolfed down any food they were given, and not a soul could blame them for it.
"Milord!" Tetsuya shouted as Kokira had finished putting on his armor. "What are we supposed to do while you're away? We can't just have our leader run off!"
"Tetsuya, you're in charge in my stead. As my assistant, you know how to run day to day affairs better than anyone. Should the Emperor ask for me, tell him I'm on holiday to the hot springs."
The Assistant looked baffled at his decision, but he knew better than to question his superior. He knew the shame of insubordination would hurt him far worse than any punishment he could be given. He simply nodded, and watched his lord wave him goodbye as we left him, alone and in charge.
