The Ring of Water - Chris Bradford [44]
‘They were stolen,’ repeated Ronin, his tone firm and even. ‘We can prove they’re my master’s. Just examine the tang of the blade, there’s –’
‘They may very well have belonged to your master,’ Araki interrupted, raising his hand to Ronin. ‘Your description is precise and your word as Obata’s son is more than enough. But I won those swords fair and square in a duel. By all rights, they belong to me now.’
‘That doesn’t change the fact they were taken unlawfully by your opponent.’
Once again Araki and Ronin fell into a staring match, waiting to see who would break first.
‘I’ll return them,’ declared Araki, much to Jack’s astonishment.
Ronin remained deadpan, aware the samurai had yet to finish.
‘On one condition. That your master defeats me in a duel.’
Jack’s elation was instantly quashed, replaced with a cold dread.
‘Surely no one need die over these swords,’ countered Ronin.
‘First blood will be enough,’ Araki conceded. ‘However, your master must prove he’s worth such magnificent swords. My last opponent was a great disappointment, despite the promise of his weaponry. So anything less than an impressive display of swordsmanship will result in sudden death.’
‘Agreed,’ said Ronin without hesitation, much to Jack’s growing dismay. ‘When and where?’
‘The Sound of Feathers waterfall, tomorrow at dawn.’
Jack’s consternation increased. Not only did he have to contend with the forthcoming duel, but they’d have to evade detection by Kazuki and his network of metsuke for another day.
Above the sounds of the students training, a bell rang out three times.
‘We’ll look forward to it,’ said Ronin, getting to his feet and bowing respectfully. Jack did the same, doing his best to remain calm, despite the threat presented by Hana’s warning.
The old man reappeared to guide them out.
‘Oh, by the way,’ said Araki, a smirk on his face, ‘does your master need to borrow some swords?’
‘No,’ replied Ronin coolly. ‘He’ll use mine.’
27
BACK TO SCHOOL
‘The metsuke were huge! And very hairy!’ exclaimed Hana as they hurriedly put distance between themselves and the Yagyu Ryū. ‘They wore black kimono with red sun kamon like the others. That’s how I spotted them.’
‘Our luck was in. We got out just in time,’ said Ronin in amazement.
‘Did these watchers look like overgrown apes?’ asked Jack.
Hana laughed. ‘Yes!’
‘They’re Kazuki’s cousins from Hokkaido – Raiden and his brother Toru – both students of the Yagyu Ryū.’
‘Then it may have been a coincidence. They could have simply turned up for training,’ said Ronin, leading them across a bridge spanning the canal. ‘But with so many metsuke around, we need to find a place to lie low.’
‘Why not Jack’s old school?’ suggested Hana.
‘Because it’s right next to Nijo Castle!’ said Jack, shaking his head at her naivety.
‘Exactly,’ replied Hana. ‘That’s the last place they’ll look.’
‘Good thinking,’ agreed Ronin, much to Jack’s surprise that the samurai had even listened to Hana. ‘Where better to hide than under the enemy’s nose?’
Outvoted, Jack allowed himself to be led across the city and back to the Niten Ichi Ryū. If he was honest with himself, Hana’s idea wasn’t a bad one. It was just that he was reluctant to return, preferring to keep alive his memories of the place as he’d known it.
‘We can’t go through the main gates,’ said Ronin as they neared their destination. ‘It’s too exposed.’
‘There’s a side gate that the students used,’ stated Jack.
The three of them cut through a network of alleys and reached the smaller entrance unopposed. Even at this gate a sign had been posted, declaring Closed by order of the Shogun. When the street was clear, they approached and Ronin tried the handle.
‘It’s locked!’ He backed up to shoulder-barge it open.
‘Let me try first,’ said Hana, stepping into his path. ‘It’ll be obvious someone’s broken in if you do that.’
She pulled out a knife, tucked discreetly into the back of her obi. The blade gleamed, its edge honed razor-sharp.
‘Where did you get