said and done, we will need a new emperor. If such is my karma, I will humbly accept it."
Kisada paused.
"But I believe it is much more likely that this incident will bring the first Emperor Toturi to power."
xxxxxxxx
Kisada left Sukune in charge of the Crab forces that remained on the Wall. His son was among the most gifted tacticians he had ever worked with, and the Great Bear felt certain if anyone could devise a plan to defend the entire length of the Shadowlands border with only one-third the normal troops, it was Sukune.
Now, as he rested in predawn darkness, the Great Bear wished he had brought Sukune along. Of course, Sukune's fragile health could never have sustained the six-day forced march.
The more they marched, the more confounded Kisada became about the dilemma in Otosan Uchi. The Crab daimyo would not know until he actually saw the situation which side his samurai would support.
Kisada had no love for the Hantei. The dead emperor had grown too weak, and his heir was too young. Still, they traced their ancestry back to the original Hantei—son of Lady Sun and Lord Moon. They were born to rule.
If the heir was dead, though, who should assume the throne?
Sukune's point, that it made no difference who was emperor, faded as the capital drew closer. This would be Kisada's one chance to have an impact on the day-to-day workings of the empire. With the right person on the throne, he would no longer have to worry about politicians and courtiers undermining his clan's actions. He might even garner greater imperial support for the defense against the Shadowlands.
Bayushi Shoju could be that person. The Scorpion were an underhanded lot, but they were not out to destroy the empire. There was a certain wisdom in placing the most devious person possible on the throne. In the past, one always had to wonder what the Scorpion Clan was up to, but if they were in charge of the empire, then there would be no further need for subterfuge— they would have everything they desired.
On the other hand, how could the clans reward someone for murdering the emperor and stealing his station? The only thing that could come of that was more advancement through assassination. Not that this would affect the Crab. Protecting the empire's border was not a glamorous job, not one that other clans were likely to want. In the end, a political bloodletting might just be what the Forbidden City most needed.
"The sun is about to come up, Father, and you have not slept a wink." It was Yakamo. Kisada could make out his form sitting nearby, but could not see his son's expression—which likely meant the boy could not see his.
"Clearly, then, neither have you," said the Great Bear. Truthfully, Kisada did not feel the need for rest. Even when they stopped, he would rather have pressed on. He knew the wisdom of not pushing his troops to their very limits before a battle— perhaps the most important battle of their lives.
"I have been thinking about the situation in Otosan Uchi," said Yakamo with a faraway sound in his voice. "None of the factions there really deserve to rule Rokugan. They are all there for selfish reasons and would use their usurped power only to further those same selfish ends."
"Which is exactly how the Forbidden City has worked since before I was born." Kisada stretched. The sky was beginning to lighten, and he wanted to be up and ready before the rest of his troops awoke.
"I also keep considering the oni's proposal," Yakamo rose, walked to his father's side, and squatted there. "Clearly, they hope to gain some advantage by having you on the throne."
"Clearly," agreed Kisada.
"Knowing that, you could very easily take their plan and turn it into something wholly to our advantage," Yakamo said slowly, trying to gauge his father's reaction. "Shadowlands oni cannot be trusted, of course, but that does not mean their ideas are entirely without merit."
This thought had occurred to Kisada on several occasions.
"No," he
Kisada paused.
"But I believe it is much more likely that this incident will bring the first Emperor Toturi to power."
xxxxxxxx
Kisada left Sukune in charge of the Crab forces that remained on the Wall. His son was among the most gifted tacticians he had ever worked with, and the Great Bear felt certain if anyone could devise a plan to defend the entire length of the Shadowlands border with only one-third the normal troops, it was Sukune.
Now, as he rested in predawn darkness, the Great Bear wished he had brought Sukune along. Of course, Sukune's fragile health could never have sustained the six-day forced march.
The more they marched, the more confounded Kisada became about the dilemma in Otosan Uchi. The Crab daimyo would not know until he actually saw the situation which side his samurai would support.
Kisada had no love for the Hantei. The dead emperor had grown too weak, and his heir was too young. Still, they traced their ancestry back to the original Hantei—son of Lady Sun and Lord Moon. They were born to rule.
If the heir was dead, though, who should assume the throne?
Sukune's point, that it made no difference who was emperor, faded as the capital drew closer. This would be Kisada's one chance to have an impact on the day-to-day workings of the empire. With the right person on the throne, he would no longer have to worry about politicians and courtiers undermining his clan's actions. He might even garner greater imperial support for the defense against the Shadowlands.
Bayushi Shoju could be that person. The Scorpion were an underhanded lot, but they were not out to destroy the empire. There was a certain wisdom in placing the most devious person possible on the throne. In the past, one always had to wonder what the Scorpion Clan was up to, but if they were in charge of the empire, then there would be no further need for subterfuge— they would have everything they desired.
On the other hand, how could the clans reward someone for murdering the emperor and stealing his station? The only thing that could come of that was more advancement through assassination. Not that this would affect the Crab. Protecting the empire's border was not a glamorous job, not one that other clans were likely to want. In the end, a political bloodletting might just be what the Forbidden City most needed.
"The sun is about to come up, Father, and you have not slept a wink." It was Yakamo. Kisada could make out his form sitting nearby, but could not see his son's expression—which likely meant the boy could not see his.
"Clearly, then, neither have you," said the Great Bear. Truthfully, Kisada did not feel the need for rest. Even when they stopped, he would rather have pressed on. He knew the wisdom of not pushing his troops to their very limits before a battle— perhaps the most important battle of their lives.
"I have been thinking about the situation in Otosan Uchi," said Yakamo with a faraway sound in his voice. "None of the factions there really deserve to rule Rokugan. They are all there for selfish reasons and would use their usurped power only to further those same selfish ends."
"Which is exactly how the Forbidden City has worked since before I was born." Kisada stretched. The sky was beginning to lighten, and he wanted to be up and ready before the rest of his troops awoke.
"I also keep considering the oni's proposal," Yakamo rose, walked to his father's side, and squatted there. "Clearly, they hope to gain some advantage by having you on the throne."
"Clearly," agreed Kisada.
"Knowing that, you could very easily take their plan and turn it into something wholly to our advantage," Yakamo said slowly, trying to gauge his father's reaction. "Shadowlands oni cannot be trusted, of course, but that does not mean their ideas are entirely without merit."
This thought had occurred to Kisada on several occasions.
"No," he
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