Young Samurai _ The Way Of The Dragon - Chris Bradford [73]
Jack listened as the next competitor from the Yoshioka Ryū lined up her horse.
‘Masamoto-sama, however, was cunning. Having turned up late to the first two duels, he arrived early this time. Discovering it was an ambush, he concealed himself. Just as they were setting the trap, Masamoto-sama cut a swathe through the retainers and broke the lad’s shoulder with his first attack. Yoshioka-san’s son hasn’t been able to wield a sword since.’
The girl from the Yoshioka Ryū sped down the course and improved the fortune of their team by taking out two targets and clipping the third, though it didn’t break. Yoshioka applauded loudly, shooting Masamoto a haughty look down his nose.
‘Despite the intervening years, Yoshioka-san has never got over the shame and still refuses to speak with Masamoto-sama.’
‘Will you please be quiet?’ said Kiku in exasperation. ‘It’s Akiko’s turn.’
Akiko patted the neck of her white stallion, calming it before the run. Jack crossed his fingers for her. He knew Akiko had been training hard for this moment.
The signal fan went up.
Akiko spurred on her horse.
Jack found himself holding his breath as she nocked, aimed and shot her first jindou. It struck the very centre of the target, exploding it into pieces. The Niten Ichi Ryū cheered her on.
Approaching the second mark, Akiko gripped the stallion with her thighs to steady herself for the shot. The jindou flew straight and true, cracking the target in two. Again, there was rapturous applause and Jack punched the air with delight.
All eyes were on Akiko for the final mark.
But by the time she’d raised her bow, her horse had overshot the last target. A disappointed groan rose from the crowd, but Akiko hadn’t given up. Turning round in her saddle, Akiko fired backwards, demolishing the last target.
The Niten Ichi Ryū went wild.
Unable to contain himself, Jack ran down to congratulate her. By the time he got there, she’d dismounted and was making her way back up the course.
‘You were amazing,’ said Jack. ‘That final shot was unbelievable.’
‘Thank you,’ replied Akiko, smiling bashfully. ‘But I can’t take all the credit. Takuan taught me that technique.’
Jack could have guessed Takuan would be involved somehow.
‘Well, we’d best go and wish him luck then,’ suggested Jack as gallantly as he could. ‘He has a lot to live up to after your performance.’
As they passed the start, the second Yagyu Ryū student set off. Only polite applause greeted the boy when he reached the end of the course. He’d failed to hit a single target.
‘We’re going to win!’ said Jack. ‘The Yagyu Ryū have only broken two targets; the Yoshioka Ryū have three; we’ve got five already.’
‘There’s still a rider from each school to go,’ reminded Akiko, nodding in the direction of a tiny girl from Yoshioka Ryū mounting her horse.
‘I’d be amazed if she can even reach the target, let alone hit it!’ said Jack. ‘Besides, you’re bound to get the prize for best archer.’
The girl, though smaller than the saddle she sat upon, had a fierce look of determination about her. The signal fan went up and she urged her horse into a gallop. Careering down the track, she could hardly stand up in her stirrups. But, incredibly, she managed to nock an arrow and shatter the first target. The second was demolished soon after.
Akiko gave Jack a knowing look.
The girl went for the final mark, but she lost grip of her arrow and it fell to the ground.
‘Told you,’ said Jack, a look of triumph on his face. ‘You’re going to win.’
‘You’ve forgotten Takuan, and also the final Yagyu Ryū rider. She might be good enough to win best archer,’ said Akiko, with uncharacteristic malice.
Making final adjustments to