Chapter 5
Leonardo stood in his room, near the top of the keep, taking in the view of the colorful town below him. Lord Maru, accompanied by servants and a couple of guards, had taken the time to take Leo and Usagi through the main market and business districts. These arias had been busy, noisy and full of life.
From the vantage point of his bedroom window though, it all seemed much more quiet. Green sloping hills rose to the east, followed by a small handful of rocky peeks. To the south was a continuation of the northern grass lands he had traveled through to get to the town. Patches of deciduous fruit trees cropped up along the streams and roads that cut through the plains. Then to the west was a small bay, surrounded by beach and rocky cliffs that eventually lead out into the ocean. Sails of small fishing boats floated about like low laying clouds. It wasn't a big enough bay for the great ships that had docked at the Water Gate. But the shallow waters were enough for the local fisher men and crabbers. Leo took a slow deep breath of the salty and flowery air. It was such a wonderfully peaceful and happy place. So different than the dark underbelly of New York, to which he was accustomed. He doubted if many of the people here knew what it was to really struggle.
Lord Maru had shown off his town and spoke of his people with great pride. And honestly he had good reason too. The people seemed as friendly and skilled as the town they had built was beautiful. But then again there are those that are driven to desperation in every community no matter how it might look on the outside. And of course Lord Maru would not have shown that side of things to Leonardo and Usagi.
A knock at the door brought Leo's attention back to the room. He strode across the guest room and opened the door to a chameleon looking gentlemen.
The chameleon bowed and explained he was there to show Leonardo to where dinner, tea, and the proper presentation of the oldest four daughters would be held.
The dining hall was….chaos. Six girls, the three teen agers Leo had met earlier that day and three younger ones ranging between the ages of 6 and 10, and one young man sat at the table with Lord Maru and his wife. The children teasing each other as a nanny attempted to get them to behave themselves. The teen girls chattering away like little birds. The young man occasionally attempting to get a word in between the three chatting teens and failing. Servants rushed in and out bringing food and drink at Lady Ming ming's direction. And Lord Maru had the look of a man that had had a long day of unexpected happenings and confusing surprises and was not up for the cacophony that was flooding through his dining hall. Non the less a broad smile spread across his face when he took notice of Leonardo, Usagi, and the servant approaching the long table.
"Come and sit!" Lord Maru yelled over the voices of his children.
The servant guided Leo and Usagi to their seats. Leonardo was seated next to Lord Maru and Usagi next to Leonardo. A wave of silence moved across the room. All eyes fell to the new comers, except for Shawna who intently looked at her hands.
"Leonardo, Usagi, these are my other children…" Lord Maru motioned to everyone at the table. "The little ones Celest, Saundra, and Little Esra."
Celest, 10, and Saundra, 8, stopped picking on each other long enough to smile and wave, excited that they were the focus of the conversation. Esra, 6, was too focused on her food to care and simply continued to adamantly stuff her cheeks looking like a messy green chipmunk.
"Hmm." Lord Maru frowned at his youngest daughters lack of manners. He then turned to the young man that sat at the table next to him. "This is my youngest son Octavian. He has served in the town guard for two years now and I believe he is a promising soldier."
Leonardo nodded his approval. "How long will you serve for?"
Octavian gave Leonardo a confused and disgruntled look. "Life. What other time frame would a soldier serve for?"
Leo slowed his chewing for a moment, at the scoff the young man had thrown at him.
Usagi chuckled. "Some of the people where Leonardo is from usually only serve a few years. I found this odd as well."
"How could he be the warrior that is written about if he doesn't make it his life?" Octavian asked. "How could anyone be any worth as a soldier in only a few years?"
"Well." Leonardo started to explain after swallowing. "The weapons used by…" He looked to Usagi for help finding a way to explain the American Military system to a much older culture.
Usagi simply shrugged. "Don't look at me. I am a ronan I was trained as a samurai and follow bushido."
"I follow Boshido." Leo argued.
"mmm." Usagi agreed with his friend. "But you are ninja. It is different."
Leo rolled his eyes at the debate he had had with his friend on many occasions and decided not to pick it up again at the moment. He turned back to Octavian, "The weapons that other….clans in my home land use, do not require a great deal of skill just an ability to aim in the general vicinity of a target. There is more involved as far as strategy and defensive maneuvers but for the basic soldier… not a lot."
"Like long distance archers?" Octavian asked.
"That still requires skill, my son." Lord Maru corrected.
"Not much. They aim for the center of the swarm and lose their arrows hoping to hit something. This is why I prefer the sword, it requires skill and dedication. I have heard of ninja they are assassins. How does one become a ninja and a known warrior without a life time of dedication and training?" The boy argued.
For a moment Leo wondered if he had sounded as arrogant as the Lord's son just had. He frowned at his own lack of humility. "My clan is not like the majority of the…people where I am from. My brothers and I have trained as ninja since I could walk. I too prefer the sword. And I agree it takes a great deal of skill and dedication. I was proficient by the age of thirteen, when I first saw battle but I would have to admit I did not have it mastered until I was nearly an adult. Perhaps during our time here Usagi and I could train with you. I have found there is always more to learn. Perhaps you use a technique I have not seen yet."
Octavian looked at Leonardo with wide eyes. He was shocked That Leonardo had only been thirteen when he first saw battle. Octavian had not even held a real sword until he was sixteen and had only been training with it for the past four years. Thoroughly humbled his high handed tone softened considerably. "I would be honored to train with you."
"Perhaps your sisters, Rayen and Layla would also want to train with us." Leonardo suggested.
"What?!" Octavian guffawed.
Leonardo looked to Lord Maru. "My apologies. I thought they were the ones that were soldiers."
Lord Maru recovered from his own shock at Leo's suggestion. "Yes…b-but, women don't train with men."
"There are only two female guards on the entire island, and yes Leonardo, they are Rayen and Layla." Ming Ming interjected softly.
"My apologies I did not meant to offend with my suggestion. I just thought…since.." Leo said as a small tugging at his shirt caught his attention pulling him from his own surprise.
Little Esra had decided she liked Usagi's soft fur and was trying to climb onto his lap using Leo as a means to help her climb.
The Rabbit chuckled as he reached out to help the child, while calming Ming ming's concern that her child was being a bother. Once in his lap Usagi smiled at the little girl. "Can I help you with something?"
The little girl took an excited deep breath and pushed her fingers into the soft fur of Usagi's cheeks. "so fuzzy!" She screeched happily.
Ming ming's eye's widened at her daughter's behavior. And she would have snapped at the child. But Leo's Laughter at his friend's squished face filled the room first, followed by Usagi's and the six year olds joyous outbursts.
Emery carried a basket of lemons and a jar of baking soda as she hurried down the hall, pausing at the entrance to the dining hall to listen to the sudden outburst of unfamiliar laughter. Deciding that this was a good sign she smiled to herself and hurried on. Her sister was still in need of what she carried to remove what was left of a bright blue die on her skin.
Emery hurried into her sister's bed room. Layla turned in her bath and waved her sister to her. "Hurry."
Rayen sat at the edge of the tub, a coarse scrub brush in hand. She looked at her sister with concern. "I hope the lemon and baking soda work. Cause I don't think we can scrub off any more layers of skin."
"It will work." Min assured as she poured some of the baking soda into a bowl.
"Good thing the lemons are in season or you would be a blue bride." Emery laughed as cut lemons in half and squeezed them into the baking soda. The mix bubbled and fizzed.
"I doubt I will be chosen as a bride if I'm blue, Emery." Layla frowned as she rubbed the lemon and baking soda mixture on her face neck and chest.
Rayen chuckled. "I don't know it is a rather nice shade of blue."
Layla rolled her eyes. "He isn't going to choose me. And even if he does…"
"You're going." Rayen stated.
Layla frowned at her sister. "But how am I supposed to watch your back if I am continents away? Was that not what we promised each other when we fought to join the guard? I failed you once. I… "
"It was not your failure, Layla. It was mine. I will not let you carry that burden." Rayen looked across the tub at her other two sisters. "This is probably the only chance you will get to honor our house in the way we were meant to, born to. Do not pass up this opportunity. I beg you." Rayen looked back of Layla. "All of you. I release you from your promise. I will be fine."
Layla frowned and turned away from her sister. Not willing to give in to the request, she dunked her head beneath the water of her bath and decided to remain there as long as she could hold her breath. Being a turtle that was going to be some time.
Emery looked at the fizzing tub for a minute then asked. "So... should we get ready?"
About an hour and a half later the four women sat on cushions, in the tea room, around the low table.
Steam drifted from the spout of a decorative tea pot. Layla watched absently as it swirled about before fading into the air. Her skin hurt. The scrubbing and the lemon concoction had taken the dark blue die to a light underlying hue, but not without the consequential pain. She felt like she had lain too long in the sun and then got in a fight with a cat. Her face hurt the worst. And in all honesty she wanted to stick her face in a cool pudding or water or anything to lessen the burning sensation. But a lady couldn't risk ruining her make up before meeting a possible husband. Beauty before comfort and all that. She let out a sigh and watched as the puff of air shifted the swirling steam.
"Are you doing alright?" Min asked her sister softly. "Did the aloe help?"
"A bit." Layla admitted. She shifted her position on the pillow she was sitting on. "How much longer are we expected to wait?"
"uuuuhg I know!" Emery leaned in to her sister with an over exaggerated expression of annoyance on her face. "I was trying not to say anything but since you did…"
"The tea is still hot." Rayen stated. "We really haven't been waiting that long."
"What was it he said to you?" Min asked "Something about being surprised?"
Rayen nodded.
"Well I'm not." Layla stated. "It is a sign of self-importance, being late."
"Or that father held everything up by talking." Rayen argued.
"Ya, he does do that." Emery nodded vehemently before stuffing a tea cake into her mouth.
"Emery! We are supposed to wait for our guest." Layla chided.
Emery opened her mouth to show her half chewn cake. She hadn't had dinner and at the moment she didn't care if she was being rude. It wasn't like Leonardo was going to notice if there was a tea cake missing.
"Gross!" Rayen chuckled and swatted at her twin.
Emery closed her mouth, finished chewing and smiled.
Finally the doors to the tea room were opened. The chameleon servant walked through followed by Lord Maru, Leonardo, and Usagi. The servant led Leo to his seat at the end of the table the twins seated to his right and Min and Layla to his left. Lord Maru and Usagi were sat at the opposite end of the low table.
"My apologies my daughters." Lord Maru smiled as Emery poured his tea. "Leonardo crafted his own Ninjatos. (a katana like sword) I had to see the craftsmanship of them. Nothing to interest the four of you, I am sure."
The mouths of Rayen and Layla both snapped closed. As they would have had great interest in the craftsmanship of the swords, and how it compared to their own.
Their sudden change from expressive interest to tight jaws and low cast eyes was not lost on Leo.
"You were about to say something?" he asked softly watching as Rayen poured his tea.
"Just that Layla and I also crafted our own swords." She gave a small smile.
Her father frowned.
"Really?" Leo smiled at this small commonality.
"The blacksmiths refused to make swords for women…" Layla stated flatly.
Leo raised an eye ridge at this. "Why?"
"Because being a soldier and carrying a weapon is a man's place not a woman's." Lord Maru stated. His voice hard. "There is nothing written to disallow it, however."
Layla's Jaw clenched.
"I just didn't have a black smith." Leonardo said trying to soften the weight building in the room.
Rayen laughed awkwardly as if trying to break the tension that radiated off her sister, Whom was being watched by Min and Emery. "Our first attempts were awful. But the final result was good I feel."
Leonardo smiled at Rayen. "My first attempts didn't go well either. I was impatient with folding the steal and they were terribly misshapen. I have broken a few in battle." He drew one of the ninjatos from its sheath on his back and offered it to a surprised but ecstatic Rayen. "I have melted down and reused the mettle from other broke blades a couple of times and the tsuke are from my first ninjatos."
"I would love to see yours." Leonardo suggested as Rayen inspected his handy work.
"Father prefers we do not wear them unless we are working." Rayen stated as she offered the sword to Layla.
Leonardo watched as Layla took it and quietly looked over the sword. "Oh." He said quietly. He was starting to feel as though he was drowning a bit in the culture shock not to mention lucky that Lord Maru hadn't chased him out, spitting and yelling about all his faux pas and obvious miss assumptions.
"I did mention that Emery is a skilled botanist." Lord Maru motioned to Rayen's twin. "A more fitting skill set if I do say so."
Emery looked at her father as if unsure how to take the praise that also passively suggested that she was somehow more womanly than her sisters. She recovered quickly and smiled at Leonardo. "Yes. Umm, I, uh, provide Min with the necessary plants and herbs to make her medicines so she can heal patients as well as the ones used for poisons by Layla and Rayen." She moved her hands about animatedly as she started to talk, slowing her movements and quieting her voice as she realized a conversation about knowing poisons was probably not what one should have with a potential husband, just in case.
Mia however did not pick up on dig from her father or the change in her sister. Instead she washed down the piece of cake she had been eating with a sip of tea and included her two cents on the topic. "Really a lot of it is the same plants. It is the dosage that is important. Opium Poppies for instance, they are lovely and fragrant. The opium derived from the fruit can help with pain management as well as cause a euphoric high. It will however cause dry mouth, dry and bloody nose, as well as constipation if not properly dosed and even a little too much is most certainly fatal. I do not suggest eating the fruit."
With no regard to the sudden silence in the room or eyes now blinking at her, Min took another bite of cake.
Even as the frustrated sigh left Lord Maru a small smirk spread across Leo's lips. They were perfect. And taking home one of them was not going to do.
With a smack of her lips and an exasperated "Well…" Layla stood and gave Leo a quick nod. "I see no point in wasting any more of your precious time. Thank you for taking the time to meet with us. Father." She bowed quickly to her father. Apparently forgot about Usagi, and started for the door.
Leo turned in his seat and watched the slightly blue tinged turtle walking away for a moment. "You have certainly not wasted my time."
"What?" Lord Maru had been unable to manage his surprise and as the man sputtered an attempt to recover Leo continued.
"Matter of fact I think the four of you are exactly what I am looking for."
Layla stopped and glowered at Leonardo for a moment. "You can't possibly mean to marry all of us."
"Bring me saki." Lord Maru motioned to a servant.
"Make that two." Usagi agreed. "This is becoming most interesting."
Leo shook his head at Layla. "No. I do not intend to marry all of you." He would have to be insane to embark on that treacherous idea. "I have three brothers. All of which could use wives."
"One's with our," Layla looked at her father as her threw bake a cup of saki then back at Leonardo, "Skill set."
"It is written, in the code of the samurai that while husbands and fathers are absent, the governing of the house hold is entirely in the hands of the wives and mothers. The education and defense of a man's children and home is entrusted to them. I personally would not want to entrust this to the unskilled and under educated." Leonardo turned back to address the women that sat at the table. "I have three brothers I will write to, if your father will approve and if the four of you actually wish to be married."
Layla sat back down at the table as Min and Emery nodded their agreement.
Leo looked to Rayen. "Did you change your mind?"
Rayen shook her head as she opened her mouth to speak, but her father beet her to it.
"She has lain with a man and is not fit to be presented. Your graciousness toward her has been kind but unnecessary." Lord Maru's voice was soft with his announcement. He took no joy in informing Leonardo of his daughter's shame. "It is a pitty. From what I am gathering of your… unexpected preferences, she would have served your clan well."
Leo watched Lord Maru for a moment deciding how much this information mattered. Though there was something special in knowing one's wife had never been with another he knew it didn't affect her abilities to be a good mother or wife. Hell he was pretty sure Raphael could not offer the promise of sexual purity either. And lord new all of them had their own more pertinent short comings. Not to mention the hook up culture America seemed to drown in. No, her lack of virginity was not important in this sense. Though her own shame and hurt in regards to it was obvious as she looked down at her plate, back rigid and turned away from him. Her fingers delicately running along the edge of her plate as she attempted to not be bothered by her father's announcement.
"Did you suddenly forget how to swing a sword or something?"
Rayen blinked at Leonardo, "Well..no."
"Then it isn't relevant." He took a sip of his tea then addressed Lord Maru. "I will write my brothers in the morning. It will take them a few days to get here. If that is ok with you."
Lord Maru looked at his eldest daughters, "They are unusual women. You will find no others like them here. If you and your brothers are in fact willing to honor them by taking them as your wives I give my blessing."
"Thank you. I do have a request."
Lord Maru frowned but nodded for Leonardo to continue.
"I ask that my brother's and I are allowed some time to court your daughters. It is important that they enter these marriages willingly."
"Important? Why?"
"I wouldn't want to piss one off and have her poison my tea." Leonardo grinned. His statement followed by a few nervous chuckles from around the table.
