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That didn’t seem too hard, thought Jack, glancing at Yamato who appeared to be thinking the exact same thing. But Akiko gave them both a dubious shake of the head, indicating that there was definitely more to this challenge than a mere walk.

‘The Gauntlet is your Trial by Sword, so you should carry your bokken. If you can run the Gauntlet and reach the other end, you will pass the test. I now ask all participants to leave the dojo.’

Jack and the others hesitated. What was so different about this trial that they were required to leave?

‘NOW!’ commanded Sensei Hosokawa.

A moment later, they were on their feet and marching from the Butokuden.

‘Wait in the courtyard until you are called for,’ ordered Sensei Hosokawa before re-entering the dojo and closing the large wooden doors behind him.

‘What do you think he’s got planned?’ asked Yamato as they stood shivering, ankle deep in the snow.

They could hear the sound of movement and the shuffling of a multitude of feet.

‘Perhaps he’s setting up an obstacle course,’ Jack suggested.

‘Or releasing a gaijin-eating tiger!’ snarled Hiroto, laughing with Kazuki.

Jack turned to confront them, his nerves already on edge with the forthcoming trial. The Trial by Sword was Jack’s last opportunity to prove himself. His only chance.

‘Save your energy for the Gauntlet,’ advised Akiko, ensuring her bokken was secure on her hip. ‘Sensei Hosokawa hasn’t been drilling us hard without good reason.’

Jack backed down and tended to his own bokken.

‘HIROTO-KUN!’ summoned Sensei Hosokawa from within the Butokuden.

Hiroto’s laughter died at the mention of his name, his narrow lips suddenly drawing tight with tension. He strode valiantly across the courtyard, but couldn’t disguise a shudder of nerves as he approached the entrance. As soon as Hiroto was inside, the Butokuden’s doors slammed shut with an ominous thud. Outside, the rest of the participants waited and listened.

For a while, they heard nothing but the light patter of snow falling around them from the cold grey sky. Then a thundering ‘KIAI!’ broke from the dojo, followed by the sound of fighting and a loud scream.

A moment later there was deathly silence.

The entrants looked at one another in shock.

They waited, expecting to hear more, but no further sound came from Hiroto.

‘YAMATO-KUN!’ Sensei Hosokawa beckoned, opening the doors and breaking the silence.

Yamato took three deep breaths, then made his way across the courtyard to the hall. Jack gave him an encouraging look, but he barely acknowledged it. Yamato was already in the moment, utterly focused on the unknown trial that awaited him.

Once again, the doors closed.

The hush from within the dojo was unsettling and Jack was reminded of the calm that preceded the most violent of storms.

All of a sudden the air was punctuated with screams of kiai, shouts of combat and the soft dull thud of bokken against flesh.

This time, the battle seemed to stretch on and on before a great guttural cheer exploded from the hall.

Then Sensei Hosokawa’s voice issued forth.

‘EMI-CHAN!’

‘Good luck,’ said Jack.

Emi smiled warmly at him, but her eyes belied the fear she really felt.

‘Remember what the painting in the Tiger Room said,’ Jack added, hoping to reassure her. ‘If you don’t enter the tiger’s cave, you won’t catch its cub.’

Emi disappeared inside the Butokuden.

‘When were you in the Tiger Room at Nijo Castle?’ enquired Akiko, her voice slightly strained. ‘We didn’t visit it during the tea ceremony.’

‘No. I went back.’

‘What? Just the two of you?’

‘Well… yes,’ mumbled Jack. ‘I wanted to see more of the castle.’

Pursing her lips, Akiko nodded curtly and glanced up into the sky, concentrating on the snowflakes as they fell and settled upon the ground.

A single kiai from Emi was heard within the hall and it was not long before the next participant was summoned. Several more entered before Sensei Hosokawa cried, ‘AKIKO-CHAN!’

Jack offered her a reassuring smile,