Cowards
Sesshoumaru looked down the long table at his advisors and generals. Everyone wore grim expressions, and the tension felt in the room was palatable.
"My lord, I think we all agree that you should wait to find out more information about where they are attacking."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his gaze at Tetsuo, an advisor left over from his father's reign.
"The snakes have attacked members of this household. This Sesshoumaru will not allow this slight to be ignored!" He barked at them.
"My lord, we simply we do not know how many there are, or how many allies they have amassed." Another general argued.
"Do we want to go to war so soon? It was just 60 years ago since the last time war was on our lands." An advisor to his left said.
Sesshoumaru ire was rising. What good were his advisors if they cared nothing for the protection of their kingdom?
"You are all cowards! You have become complacent in the peace that Sesshoumaru has won for us." Tortuga shouted, silencing everyone. Sesshoumaru looked to Tortuga surprised.
"The snake tribe has been bold and careless. War is clearly their intention, and we should not wait around till we are on the losing end of this war." Tortuga glared down the table, while others shifted uncomfortably under his stare. He looked to Sesshoumaru, "My lord, my advice is to send out spies to gather information. We need to know how dire the situation is. Also we should send out a request to our tribe allies; they will be needed soon."
Sesshoumaru's anger faded slightly. There was a reason Tortuga sat to his right. His advice was sound, but a problem lied in his intelligence system. After a spy had misled him, he was cautious about anyone else. Who else in his command might be selling him out to the enemy?
"Do as Tortuga instructed." Sesshoumaru commanded. "However, I will scout the land myself."
They all shared uneasy glances. "Once word gets out, you will be needed here to see to the allies. Do you know of anyone else that you might trust to this job?"
His mind wandered to the possibilities. Who might be willing to do this job, yet did not have any investment in either side?
"Who is the fastest courier we have?" He asked the group.
"That would be... Sano, my lord." A dark haired inuyoukai suggested.
"Send him to find a youkai slayer by the name of Kohaku. Send the slayer to me."
They all bowed. "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama!"
A/N - Thank you for all the kind reviews!