Tsushima, fall 1276
The galley's hull persistently cut through the waves, leaving behind frothy breakers. The sails were raised, but Fujin and Raijin [1] had been fighting for days on the snowy peaks of Ezogashima [2], having left the southern seas behind. There was almost no wind, so they had to rely on the oars completely. The deep beat of a drum echoed from the stern, setting the rhythm for the rowers. They were moving fast, hoping to reach the Azamo Bay by noon.
Jin looked forward, a bit detached, his gaze turned to the dark stripe of the land.
After the majestically elegant palaces of Heian-Kyo [3], which held the echoes of the Heian golden age, and the intimidating fortresses of Kamakura, Tsushima seemed very small. Before, the main land islands were just words, now there was power behind them, and the legends of old battles acquired colors and meaning. Jin had walked past the trails of Minamoto no Yoritomo, walked the bridge where Yoshitsune and Benkei had met, he saw the peak of Fuji disappear in the crown of dawn clouds. Tsushima could be cross-ridden in a few days; back there, the land felt infinite.
As infinite as the authority of bakufu felt in Kamakura.
The Shogun, the prince of the blood Koreyasu, was just almost thirteen years old. The shikken [4], Tokimune Hojo, spoke for him, a well-built man with soft face features and a cold gaze. He was not wearing any fancy clothes, unlike the highest nobles at court of Heian-Kyo, but he didn't have to prove his authority. The word of shikken was a rule to everyone.
Jin, unarmed and dressed in simple white kimono with no clan signs, kneeled down to him, bowed deeply, touching the floor with his hands. Shimura had taught him that there is dignity in respect, in each step and each gesture. As well as in waiting for your death.
Jin was ready.
"Lord Shimura values you highly, lord Sakai," he was told with a smirk back then. "So much that he dares to set his terms to the Shogun".
His vassals and counsels who had gathered in the audience room kept silent while the shikken was reading the documents. His face remained unchanged, and it was impossible to tell if he was angry, disappointed or intrigued. He kept staring at Jin for a long while, as if trying to see something that Shimura might have written about him.
Jin was waiting, having straightened up, his hands folded in his lap. He was calm. Anything could happen, but he had to keep his face.
"I know about the threat of the invasion," Hojo finally said after a pause. "A year ago, the Mongols had paid for their Khan's audacity with their lives, but Kublai is stubborn, like all his family, and he will not admit defeat. They will build new ships and come again. And, maybe, it would actually be easier to meet them on Tsushima, and not Kyushu".
Most counsels then nodded their heads in agreement. Tsushima had always been a transfer point on the trading route with China and Korea, one too important for Japan. If they lost control of the island, the bakufu would lose much more than a couple thousands of cho [5].
Whatever Tokimune Hojo's personal opinion on Jin was, he did not demand the criminal's execution. Maybe, the Korean spy intel was actually useful. Maybe, Shimura's loyalty was too important for bakufu – a new jito would hardly be able to take control over the other clans with such ease, nor handle the growing threat of piracy. Maybe, Hojo himself, the dangerous and prudent ruler of Japan, saw a possibly helpful opportunity in the Ghost.
"Lord Sakai".
A sudden wave splashed forcefully against the hull, dousing them with cold water, leaving gray stains on the sleeves of his pale blue kimono. Jin blinked, focusing on the present.
"Lord Nomura".
Isamu Nomura approached him, stood next to the railing, peering at the horizon. He was at least a dozen years older than Jin, a samurai of one of the vassal clans of Shogun, with perfect manners and soft, even speech. There was a Hojo kamon printed on his kariginu [6], three white dragon scales. The same symbol was on Jin's suikan [7], a gift from Tokimune Hojo.
It said a lot to the knowing people: Jin Sakai was returning to Tsushima not as a criminal, but invested with power. Now there was bakufu behind him and his words.
"The captain says that it will only take an hour to reach Azamo," Nomura said. "I'll have to accommodate my people somewhere, but, maybe, you'd like to meet with the jito first?"
Jin nodded.
"I think your people will be welcome to stay at castle Shimura until the land property issues are dealt with. That, of course, is given that you don't have other preferences".
Nomura shook his head with a slight smile.
"Lord Hojo had obliged me to follow your orders unconditionally. On the land of Tsushima, you're our master, and we will follow you wherever you say".
He bowed to Jin with calm dignity, and Jin bowed back.
Isamu Nomura and his people went to Tsushima in order to help with the planning and building the war fortifications. After clan Adachi's demise, there was basically no one who'd know war architecture, and Jin was sincerely happy when Hojo had ordered Nomura to follow him. Now he thought, maybe, this order had a hidden political meaning, another symbol of bakufu's good will; as well as its authority.
Nomura's benevolence was the only thing that felt slightly odd.
"I'm sorry," Jin started carefully. "That you have to make this trip. I understand that Tsushima doesn't have much to offer compared to Heian-Kyo and Kamakura castles, but I'll do all I can to make sure to tend all your needs, and the needs of your people".
Nomura looked at him with a barely noticeable surprise and laughed out quietly.
"You think Lord Hojo had sent me here as an act of punishment, Lord Sakai? I'm sorry, I didn't mean to confuse you. To be honest, I am equally bad in palace intrigues and the way of the sword, and much more gladly I devote myself to learning war tactics and architecture. You have nothing to worry about: I had asked lord Hojo of this assignment myself".
He sighed silently.
"When we were preparing for the first invasion, we set barricades in Hakata. I was sure that the Mongol army would take over Tsushima and Iki in a few weeks [8], so we had no point in protecting them. I am sorry, Lord Sakai. This time I will not make the same mistake".
Jin silently nodded in agreement.
For some time, the two stood together, watching the dark waves break against the hull, making splashes of water glister in sunlight. Then, a sudden soft wind burst shook the sail, disheveled the stray hairs.
Kami were close. A good sign.
They only reached castle Shimura on the following day.
At the other time, Jin would not hesitate, he'd return first, outrunning birds and winds. When he only had his blades and the Ghost's faceless mask there was no need to care about opinions. But now people of Nomura were following him, bowing to him as to their master; all his words and deeds were now a reflection of bakufu's will. Jin Sakai was returning home, but not to his uncle – to the jito. He needed to do everything correctly.
Last evening he sent a messenger to lord Shimura with good news. Jin himself promised to arrive before dawn.
"Wonderful masonry," Nomura said softly. He was looking at the castle fortifications with noticeable appreciation. "And a wonderful choice of place. This is the only way to Toyotama and Kamiagata, right?"
Their horses were walking close; during their journey, Jin told everything he knew about Tsushima, anything that could be useful in future: the locations of lighthouses and villages, swamps and mountain routes, castles and clans, Umugi cove and trading routes. Nomura listened carefully, asking clarifying questions occasionally, as if already planning possible schemes of attack and defense. Jin did his best to include as many details as possible, yet still had to apologize for his ignorance a couple times; he knew little of the art of war builders. Both Sakai and Shimura had always relied on clan Adachi with that.
"Yes, if you go by land," Jin said. "But there is a bay just north of the castle, and the Mongols could disembark there".
"And leave the enemy behind their backs?" Nomura chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't think so. Furthermore, they will not have enough supply ways up north. They could only attempt to take the castle from both sides… But we have Kaneda for that case".
He smiled at the corners of his lips.
"By the way, I'm recalling your words about the taken hwachas, lord Sakai. I have a few ideas on how to increase our shoreline defense and the bay. Do not worry, we will repay Kublai in full.
Jin nodded in appreciation, but didn't have time to reply – they were approaching the main entrance. They were awaited: the gates were open, pikes with familiar rising sun banners were set along the walls and the road. A small group of samurai walked out of the gate to meet them; he did not recognize any faces, but they were all wearing Shimura colors, white and red. Nomura held his horse, looked back, made a short gesture to his people to keep silent – the right to speak first belonged to the master.
Jin pulled on the reins, forcing himself to remove his hand off the blade's grip. He was not seeking fight, but old habits, a nod to the Ghost, felt like they were already mixed with his own blood. After all, he had a bounty on his head not that long ago, and two years ago these people were very certainly trying to kill him.
However, Jin was not so sure about that anymore. Sensei Ishikawa himself was teaching the archers before the attack, and if they really wanted to strike true, even the blessing of kami would not help him get out of the castle alive. But his horse took all the arrows back then.
The man in front of the samurai group came closer and bowed.
"Welcome, Lord Sakai," he said. "Lord Shimura is waiting for you".
Jin nodded to him, waited for him to turn around and led his horse after him. Nomura and his men followed.
The gate arch flew over his head, covering him in a soft shade for a moment. The hooves were knocking against the wooden planks. Behind the wall, just like years ago, a fire of red maples was burning, a hum of falling water sounded in the distance, and the sun was setting behind the curvy roofs. Memory returned with them, bright and not darkened by war, nor the recent losses; memory of sincere friendship and a guiding hand over his shoulder. Jin knew every stone in this castle, every edge, and the castle welcomed him warmly.
He has made many mistakes, but, maybe, some of them can still be made corrected.
Jin immediately recognized the familiar figure; the samurai escorting him silently stepped away, clearing the path. Shimura was waiting at the stairs of tenshu [9], fully dressed as the head of the clan; the lord and jito on his land and in his rights. His careful gaze slid briefly on the people of Nomura standing in behind, and stopped for a moment at the black and white kamon of Hojo on Jin's suikan. Shimura said nothing, maintaining his usual restrained dignity in front of other people, but Jin still noticed how his lips flickered, as if trying to suppress a smile.
Jin knew the meaning of that smile: "I'm proud of you".
It was very hard not to smile back.
He dismounted, giving the reins to one of the samurai, came closer, calmly and without any rush, feeling dozens of stares on him. He stopped in front of Shimura and bowed deeply and respectfully, as a junior bows to a senior; as a vassal bows to his master.
"Lord Sakai," Shimura said evenly. "I was told that you had important news".
"I'm sorry for making you wait, my lord," Jin replied. He bowed again: "The Shogun has ordered to deliver a message to you".
Lord Shimura accepted the carefully folded papers from his hands, he unfolded them; there was a seal of Tokimune Hojo, and Jin knew that the samurai who stood close had noticed it. No one said a word, nor moved a muscle, but he felt how their gazes were changing, how respectfulness soaked through hostile wariness. He was no longer a criminal sentenced to immediate death, his mistakes and sins were left in the past, erased by the black and white kamon.
The Ghost had disappeared, died at the walls of Kamakura. There was Jin Sakai left, and behind him stood the authority of the Shogun and the emperor's court.
Shimura finished reading, folded the papers carefully and gave it to the servant. And allowed himself one short smile.
"The Shogun has restored your title, and his will, of course, will be fulfilled. I am glad that our recent misunderstandings were successfully resolved. Also, it seems like you've brought help with you, lord Sakai?"
"Yes, my lord," Jin took a step to the side, nodded to Nomura. "Lord Isamu Nomura and his men honored us by agreeing to help with building of fortifications".
Nomura stood close, calm and respectful as always, bowed deeply. Shimura nodded softly in return.
"I am honored to welcome you on the land of Tsushima and in castle Shimura, lord Nomura," jito said. "My servants will accommodate you and make sure your people have no unfulfilled needs. Lord Nomura, lord Sakai, please, join me for dinner; we have a lot to discuss".
Jin bowed silently, feeling the weight of the past years let go of him with his every breath. Above them, a gust of wind raked through the maple crowns, tearing off a handful of leaves and swirling them around, sliding over the flawlessly red banners, tussled the golden wings of the oriole who had landed on the bamboo frame.
The debt of the Ghost was paid, the duty of jito awaited. Jin knew that many clans wouldn't be satisfied by his return; that lord Shimura would have to decide on something with the pirates; that new cruel tax collections were going to begin, as well as preparations for the new invasion. Ones where Nomura would require his support. After all, he had to tell Yuna and Kenji of what had happened, and offer Norio help with restoring of the destroyed temples and shrines.
But Jin thought that he could allow himself to delay all that for tomorrow's morning.
Shimura's gaze spoke for him: "Welcome home".
The end.
_
[1] Fujin and Raijin – in shintoism, the gods of wind and thunder, competitive brothers.
[2] Ezogashima – Japanese for "Island Ezo", an old name for Hokkaido.
[3] Heian-Kyo – an old name for Kyoto
[4] shikken – a regent to the Shogun in Japan, during the Kamakura period. Factually is the ruler of Japan, "shikken" means "the holder of power"
[5] cho – a Japanese measure of area, 1 cho is 0.009917 square kilometers. (TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: I searched the whole internet to find the English translation, but could not find it anywhere, so stuck with the rules of spelling. In Russian, 'тё' is an actual accurate spelling of a Japanese word)
[6] kariginu – a cape made of bast fibers.
[7] suikan – a cape made of thick fabric, a part of standard samurai uniform alongside with kariginu.
[8] "the Mongol army would take over Tsushima and Iki in a few weeks" – historically speaking, that's what happened.
[9] tenshu – the main tower in a Japanese hirajiro type castle, usually the tallest.
® At the authorship of Astera, translated by FanfWriterR