Chapter 4.11

The trail was still warm enough for them to track and together they followed it.  The Shikoba left almost no sign whatsoever.  That they did at all was a measure of the swiftness of their flight.  If they had not been in such a rush Katashi had no doubt they would have lost their trail long ago.  Both groups, the chased and the chasers were in flight.

They stopped for a brief lunch Katashi, probing the knowledge of his traveling companion, asked as casually as he could, “You see the direction they’re headed?” 

Jaala smiled and nodded, “Oh yes.” 

Katashi thought this display of humor out of place even as the reply revealed nothing.  Still, he was not one to be angered over the reactions of another.  No, more this was another revelation that the man who was not what he seemed was hiding much more than he revealed about himself.  “They seem headed towards the territories,” Katashi continued.  “Doesn’t that seem odd to you?  What is out their that they could possibly be interested in?  The only thing of interest there, other than the occasional wild Roc, are a few obscure references from ancient prophecies.” 

Katashi was studying the jovial one as he spoke.  All his senses were focused on Jaala, his heightened awareness looking for anything, any clue he could discern.  It was almost unnoticeable, but when Katashi had mentioned the prophecies there seemed to be the barest flicker of recognition.  Katashi decided to press on the point a bit to see if he could learn anything more from Jaala instead of he learning everything about him.  “You are no doubt familiar with the prophecies,” Katashi asked questioningly?

Jaala laughed fully and loud.  “You’ll have to do better than that my young friend,” he said easily.  “We all have been taught from that ancient tome of scripture have we not.”  It was spoken not as a question, but as a statement.  Before there was any time to continue on the topic Jaala continued, “Come now, let’s focus our attention towards finding these Highlanders who are being pursued, and not on trying to probe each other.” 

Katashi laughed, completely unaffected at having been rebuked.  “Indeed you are right Jaala, let us continue our pursuit.”

Continue they did.  It wasn’t until the end of the second day as they were getting near the borders that they came upon them.  It was another scene of carnage.  There had been a fierce battle and all they could see were bodies of Highlanders, a half dozen or so.  This was not to be understood that no Shikoba had not died.  They always took away members that had fallen in battle.  What was clear here was who were the victors and who had been defeated.

“This one has been tortured,” Katashi noted.

“As has this one,” Jaala replied.  “It is not uncommon for the Shikoba to do so to those unfortunate enough to be left alive at the end of a battle.”

Katashi bent down to study the poor Highlander he was standing over.  Clutched in the mans hand was something.  Katashi worked on the mans hand to dislodge the object and thought he would have to break the mans fingers.  Eventually it came free though and Katashi held it up to study it.  It seemed fairly nondescript, even if it looked ancient.  He turned to Jaala to show him and was starting to speak when he noticed Jaala was staring not at him, but the object which he held.  The look on his face, at last, betrayed the emotions that lay beneath.  The look was one of surprise and what else?  Not curiosity, but more fascination and understanding, like he knew what he was looking at.

Chapter 4.10

Katashi opened his eyes, staring up at the stars.  There was the faintest hint of light from the East.  A sand or more to sunrise.  Time to get started.  I wonder though.  How good is this Jaala?  With the blade I am unequalled but in stealth I was still near the top of my class.

Katashi noiselessly rose from his blankets and moved towards Jaala, eyes averted and mind blank.

“Very good, Katashi,” said Jaala, on his back, eyes closed.  “With a little training we can make you almost my equal.”

Katashi looked at the pot-bellied once-monk and pondered his options.  This man’s ability far surpasses my own.  I am sure he could kill me in a matter of moments if we crossed blades.  I am more than capable but there is something about this man… if he is a man.  But what do I do now?  What if he insists on coming with me to track the Shikoba?

“You are very confident in your abilities.  You are contemplating whether you should kill me now, no doubt.” Jaala interrupted his thoughts.

“No my friend.  Just the opposite.  I have no doubt that you could defeat me swiftly in a contest of arms, probably even bare-handed against my blade.”

Jaala opened his eyes wide in surprise.  “You mean that sincerely?  This is none of your false humility Zealot drivel is it?”

“I am sincere, as is my faith, which if you insist on continuing to make light of I will have to defend in spite of it being my end.”

“Calm yourself young one.  I apologize.  I am just shocked that I may have found the One.”

Katashi felt this man could very well be half mad and figured directness was the best way to handle this.  “I am not sure to what you refer.  I am breaking camp and saying my morning prayers.  Then I following the Shikoba or rather the Highlanders in hopes of finding them both.  I would like to travel alone.”

“I am not leaving you now that I have found you.  Besides you don’t know how many are left from each group.  You are of exceptional skill but realistically it will take the both of us to survive.”

“I seek no encounter, simply information.”

“The encounter may seek you.”

Reluctantly Katashi nodded his assent and then packed up his things.  Retreating to the ledge again he entered a deep state of meditative prayer.  He repeated the obligatory prayer three times and then said two more, not wanting to leave until he was centered.  As he exhaled the last of this world from his mind, he opened his eyes and saw it there on the ground.  A half crushed portion of clove covered in dirt.  Picking it up he walked back to Jaala.

“Look at this.”

“It could mean anything.  Maybe they traded for it.  Maybe it was there from before the ambush.”

“Maybe there is an Asherah with them.”

“Perhaps.  There doesn’t have to be an Asherah at the center of every contorted situation though.  We musn’t assume anything.”

Katashi then realized what should have been obvious from the first.  While his features were predominantly Bishamon, Jaala definitely had the hooked nose of an Asherah.  And his name, which Katashi had just assumed was as strange as the man himself, was also an Asherah name.  The man was a half-breed or more likely a quarter-breed.  Knowledge to keep to myself–I need every advantage possible when dealing with this one.

“That is true.  Come it is light enough for us to follow the tracks.  Let’s go.”

Chapter 4.9

Finding his center was no easy matter for Katashi and he therefore took longer than at his meditation than he normally would have.  The events of the last day had produced more excitement and drama than he had experienced in the last year.  By the time he came down from the ledge though calmness was once more his native air.

Jaala had moved an acceptable distance down the trail and had started a fire and was just preparing to cook their evening meal.  “Well my devout one,” he said with just a bit too much irreverence for Katashi’s liking, “What have the God’s revealed to you while you were up on the cliff?”  Studying Katashi and realizing that he had perhaps offended he rose and walked over to him and rested a hand on his shoulder.  “Understand young monk, I mean no disrespect.  The events of the last day are certainly extraordinary are they not?  I too struggle to retain my center and humor is the tool I often resort to.  Forgive me if I offended.”  He looked into Katashi’s eyes and saw that he was judged as being sincere so he continued smiling broadly.  “Let us first gather our strength with a good evening meal and good nights sleep.  In the morning we will discuss our next step.”  Then with a hand on the young monks shoulder, gently urging him forward, “Come I have prepared a simple but most delicious stew.  I am sure it will take your mind off of the destruction we have witnessed down the trail.”

Katashi let himself be led to an evening meal.  Jaala was right.  The stew was most delicious.  They ate with Jaala talking and Katashi listening, or rather appearing to listen.  Too much was happening too fast.  He considered his mission, doubly important with the unfortunate demise of his friend.  The thing was, Katashi had had a premonition when he and Jaala had stood over the body of the dead Highlander with the arrow in his throad that the destruction they had witnessed was most important.  His evening prayers and meditation had done nothing to remove the premonition.  There was no concern for what his traveling  companion might do on the following morning.  Indeed it may be a good thing if they parted company.  There was more going on with this one than what he could see and it was a complexity he would just as soon not deal with.  No, the thing Kitashi was concerned about was disobeying the command of his Master which he would do if he followed the trail of the Highlanders.  To obey his Master though felt wrong in a way that Katashi could not quite put into words.  He let Jaala clean up after their meal and retired to a troubled sleep.

Chapter 4.8

“Shikoba.”

“Well I must say this is the most interesting journey I’ve made to the Festival of Lights in many rains.  First I find a Zealot of the High Order slinking on a game trail, then a troop of Highlanders crash through on the same path, and now we find the spoor of nomadic warriors, all in the heart of Bishamon.”

Katashi turned without a word and made his way to the ledge overlooking the ambush.  The Shikoba were hunters and trackers without equal, and they left no trace other than the sweeping of their prints with some leafy boughs.

Making his way back to the dead highlanders, Jaala asked him “Nothing?”

“Nothing.”

“A handful of the highlanders escaped.  Here are their tracks.”

“We cannot track the Shikoba but these men we can and where we find one group we will undoubtedly find the other.”

“Why would you want to find them?  They seem intent on killing one another.  I am sure they would feel no different about us.”

Katashi said nothing and moved to the ledge to conduct his evening prayers.

Beinn 4.7

Katashi and Jaala stood looking at the carnage that was displayed in front of them.  Neither spoke but clearly they were operating as if they had been trained by the same master in the same school.  Their first thought was of an ambush, that the people who wreaked such havoc were still around laying in wait for them to perhaps get a little closer.  They looked at each other and nodded quietly as each took off in an opposite direction from the other.  A wide sweep of the perimeter would surface anyone who may still be laying in wait. 

It took close to half an hour as they moved slowly, listening, watching.  They met at the other side of the battle ground.  Jaala was first to speak.  “No one is here but the souls of these dead.”  Katashi nodded in agreement.

Jaala appeared ready to move on.  He clearly had no interest in what had happened and indeed seemed to want to put as much distance between this scene and himself as possible.  Katashi found this curious even though it caused him little concern.  “I need to go and survey this destruction Jaala.  I must see if I can find out who these men were, and who it was that attacked them.”  What Katashi did not say was every bit is meaningful as what he had just said, and that was why he must do so.  The longer the two were together the more they revealed about themselves to each other. 

Jaala nodded, “I understand.  Let me come with you.  Perhaps two pairs of eyes can see that which one cannot.”

Being confident that their was no one left behind to attack them they walked easily, if alertly to the men laying dead on the ground.  That they were all dead was not a question.  The work of the men who did this was thorough. 

“It was an ambush,” Jaala said.  “They were surprised.”

“The attackers most likely hid to the left of the trail up on that ledge of rock.  I will go up there and see what sign they left.”

Jaala nodded and walked the remaining distance to the men.  He bent over one and immediately called for Katashi.

Katashi came and stood beside Jaala and they both looked at the dead highlander and the arrow protruding from his neck.

Chapter 4.6

Katashi sensed that if he told the man they must take their own separate paths to Blathan that this would simply entail the man following him for the whole journey there.  He would find this distasteful and quite possibly unwise.  Better to keep things as they were and make their way towards the city.

“You simply see a reflection of the training I received from men much greater than myself.  Come let us continue on our way.”

Jaala regained his jovial bearing and they set out on the path for the mountain city.  Once again he began his rhythmic banter and as before Katashi allowed it to calm and wash over him.  Perhaps he does this to dull my senses, Katashi thought.  But no, I feel more alert than normal, it almost as if he brings me to a higher state of readiness.  Katashi looked sidelong at his companion wondering if this was done on purpose.

Neither sought to stop for a meal by implicit agreement, keeping a strong pace throughout the day.  Another day at this pace and we may reach the Borderlands by sunset tomorrow, marvelled Katashi.  As the sun started to move low towards the horizon.  They had come a long way and at a break in Jaala’s singsong monologue, Katashi asked if he would mind if they stopped for him to say his evening prayer and then set up camp.

“Jaala?” Katashi inquired and then he saw them too.  Scattered on and about the path up ahead were the bodies of several men.  He noted their boots, the same boots that he had seen from hiding this morning.

Chapter 4.5

With no further thought Katashi dived into the dense underbrush and held himself motionless only allowing himself the necessary final movements to ensure he was well hidden and had a view of the trail.  He counted the men as they ran by.  There were no less than a dozen.  He had trouble making out their uniforms as they were obscured by the foliage that was hiding him and he had no desire to move anything to get a better view and risk being discovered himself.  All he saw were the boots and he knew they did not belong to zealots, or any of the troops around here.  No, more likely they were mercenary, or highlanders, which really was the same thing anyway.

He waited silently for them to pass, listening intently for the sound of their footsteps to disappear entirely.  It faded into silence and Katashi relaxed.  Still unmoving he stared silently at the blue sky visible through the trees.  The only sound he heard was a gentle breeze rustling leaves high overhead and the singing of a wren high overhead.  He felt no sense of urgency to get up and move and expose himself too soon.  If there were any doubt in his mind of the men lingering on he would lay here until the sky darkened.  Such was the training he had received, and the discipline within him.  After a full sand had passed and hearing nothing Katashi slowly, and with making as little noise as he could, sat up. 

He heard the slight whisper of leaves rustling, as if being blown by the wind, just behind him.  It was a completely natural sound but nevertheless he turned to see what had caused it, more out of curiosity than anything else, as there was no wind.  Not five yards from where he sat was Jaala staring back at him with that jovial grin on his face.  He smiled broadly and even threw a wink at Katashi as he said no louder than a whisper, “That was a close call wouldn’t you say friend?”

Katashi stared at the monk who was not a monk, the man who seemed to not have a care in the world, the man who seemed harmless as a dove, the man who had been close enough to take his life and for the space of a sand had done nothing to reveal himself.  Yes, this was most disturbing, but it was also information.  Katashi vowed not to take this man for granted, not to underestimate him ever again.  He forced a smile to his face and replied, “It was indeed Jaala.  Might I ask why you did not give me warning of their coming?  It seems you had ample time to secure a place of hiding for yourself.”  This was spoken with a smile, in friendship Katashi hoped. 

“Yes,” Jaala said with no trace of discomfort whatsoever, “I confess when I hear the footfalls of a dozen men my first thought is for my own safety.  Besides,” he said laughing, “I had every confidence that you were completely able to take care of yourself in such a simple matter as this.”  Finishing with the smile fading and a serious look on his face he spoke, “I was right too wasn’t I?  You are one of rare talent are you not?”

Katashi stared at Jaala wondering just who he was looking at, and reconsidering if he wanted him as a traveling companion.

Chapter 4.4

True to his word, Mushroom/Jaala kept up with Katashi’s strong pace through the morning.  Mushroom/Jaala expounded upon the festival of lights, its origins, evolution over time, how the displays were made today, and described in great detail its appearance.  Part historian, part bard, the man’s talk soothed the mind as a brook in the garden.  Katashi almost missed the point of mid-day, enraptured not by the man’s words, but by the cadence of his voice.

“A moment,” said Katashi.

“Of course,” replied Mushroom/Jaala ceasing his rhythmic speech and moving patiently to sit cross-legged with his back against an Ash tree.  Katashi moved away into the woods and bowed in the Circle of Humility pose, conducting the mid-day praters.

Katashi finished the prayers after perhaps half a sand and made his way back to the path.  Mushroom/Jaala was gone.  Katashi looked about and saw no one and felt no need to call out.  If the man travelled with him then that was good, if he did not then that was good as well.

Katashi began walking again, but had not gone far when he heard the heavy footfalls and creaking leather of men in fast pursuit.  Do I have time to hide off the path before they are upon me?

Beinn 4.3

Katashi eyed the stranger warily, unsure of just who and what he was looking at.  He seemed friendly enough but long ago Katashi had learned to look past the outward appearance that things presented to him.  In the end the thing that made him decide to trust the stranger was something that made him smile. When Katashi simply stood there , unmoving, looking at the man and not accepting his offer of sharing a meal with him the man simply looked at him and smiled, and nodding in understanding began to consume the meal himself.  This made Katashi smile because it was exactly the same thing he would do himself.  He recognized this wasn’t much to go with but it was enough, this and a feeling that this man in large part was what he seemed, at least with respect to the offer of a meal.
The bacon was truly delicious too.  The both ate with relish.  The stranger was visibly pleased when Katashi sat down to join him.  At length Katashi looked up at him.  “Thank you for sharing your meal this morning.  I am on a journey and must be leaving now.  I have far to go.”
“A journey indeed,” Mushroom said.  “I too am going on a journey.”
Katashi looked at him not believing in coincidences, “And where might I ask are you going?”
“To Highland City,” Mushroom replied.  Then without being asked he offered up some additional information, “The festival of lights is next month and I always go.  It is a good time to be in Highland City.  Have you ever seen it?”
Katashi of course knew what Mushroom was talking about.  The festival of lights was a pagan festival that marked the beginning of spring.  He had of course never seen it and had no desire to.  He considered it a vulgar abomination, as did all members of his sect.  Still, Katashi had the decency to not offend, even if the man should have known by the robes Katashi was wearing that it would indeed be highly unlikely for him to have answered in the affirmative.  He smiled slightly, “No, I never have.  I am a zealot and choose not to participate in such rites.”
Mushroom was not at all taken back by the response.  “Yes well I understand of course.  Still even a zealot can choose to have a little fun on occasion don’t you think?”
Katashi merely smiled in reply.
Again, with effervescence and not at all taken aback by Katashi’s subdued manner he continued, “Well my good man you have lead a sheltered life indeed.  If the occassion ever presents I will take it as my personal responsibility to expand your education.” Then abruptly changing subjects, “But where are you going?”
“Katashi studied the man as he replied, “I too am going to Highland City.”  Mushrooms face lit up at his reply and Katashi found himself liking the man in spite of himself and any remaining caution he had over the situation was swept aside.
“Wonderful!  Then we should be traveling companions.  Together we will be much safer.  Oh and I can assure you that in spite of what you may think by my appearance I will not slow you down in the least.”
Katashi merely nodded in the affirmative.  Mushroom was fairly bouncing with excitement.  The journey at least would not be dull he thought to himself, and then hoped this was not a premonition of any sort. 
“Understand Mushroom, I am a Priest, and will therefore need some time each day in solitude.”
“Yes yes of course,” Mushroom replied.  “I have known quite a few of you and am well acquainted with your needs.  Trust me,” he said with a conspiratorial wink, “You and I will get along well indeed.”

They broke camp which after all wasn’t hard as they both seemed to be traveling rather light.  Katashi really was comfortable with the situation too.  The only thing that gave him pause was a brief glimpse of the handles of two long narrow blades, tucked deep in his pack.  He recognized them immediately and knew them as a weapon of choice of those highly skilled in the art of the blade.  He himself was a master with them.  Strangely this gave him no pause at the time.  He merely noted it as something that seemed oddly out of place.

Chapter 4.2

Katashi awoke to the sound of someone near.  In an instant he was on his feet, Kizahsi drawn, only to see before him a short, bald man cooking bacon over a fire.

“No need, warrior, there is plenty for both of us,” said the man with a grin.

Katashi re-sheathed his short blade and studied the man for a moment.  He had a paunch, but otherwise did not give the appearance of being overly heavy.  The bamboo tattoos encompassing his arms marked him as a monk, but he did not wear the garb of one.  His face was pleasant to look at in a coarse way, broken nose countered by jovial eyes and gap-toothed smile.

“Good day, monk.”

“Ha ha, monk no longer.  Only a fool uses a staff that is cut of the wrong height for him.  And I, my friend, am no fool.”

“I see.”

“Almost done,” said the once monk turning to fish through his bag.  “That’s not it.  That’s not it.  That’s not it,” he muttered, pulling out in succession a hollowed out bull’s horn, a half-carved block of wood, and a circular stone tablet.  “Ahhh.  Here we go,” he cried pulling a turtle shell out of his pack, putting half the bacon on it.

“What is that?” Asked Katashi pointing at the shell.

“Your breakfast,” smiled the man with the belly.

“Thank you.  My name is Katashi.”

“I know.”

Katashi mused on this while he ate his bacon.  Either it is a true statement in which case I am hardly in any danger as he managed to start a fire and cook breakfast before waking me and could have killed me.  In fact he would most likely be here to aid me if he knew me.  Or this is a false statement in which case I must weigh all statements he makes but again should fear no harm from him.  Satisfied that he was not in immediate danger he posed his question again, “what is this bowl made of?”

“Why do you not like it?  Unfortunately I don’t have another,” the man said smiling and laughing.

Katashi felt fairly confident the man was having fun with him and decided to save the question for another time or perhaps never.  “It is fine.  And how are you called, my friend?”

“Jaala.  That is how I am called.”

“Ah then.  Well met, Jaala.”