‘They have!’ interrupted Nakamura, suddenly spotting Jack among the ranks and pointing furiously. ‘That’s the gaijin boy who attacked our camp.’

Akuma fixed his gaze upon the blond-haired blue-eyed warrior, who stood sword in hand beside a small warrior monk, a samurai in full-body armour and another ronin with a bow. His expression grew dark and murderous.

‘I demand to speak to your leader now,’ snarled Akuma, addressing the farmers.

With Junichi dead, the villagers glanced at one another in confusion. There had been no time to consider who would be his replacement. Then slowly, like a change in the direction of the wind, all eyes turned to Jack.

Saburo patted him on the shoulder. ‘It appears you have the honour.’

Jack stepped forward, doing his best to appear as poised and confident as his opponent.

‘You’re their leader?’ spat Akuma, incredulous. ‘What mad man put the infamous gaijin samurai in charge – and a mere boy at that?’

‘You did,’ shouted Jack. ‘When you killed Junichi, the head of their village.’

Akuma now reassessed Hayato, Saburo and Yori. ‘You’re all children!’

He turned to his brigade of bandits and said mockingly, ‘They’ve hired young samurai.’

Astounded, the bandits howled with laughter. The farmers shifted uncomfortably, their confidence wavering in the face of such ridicule.

‘You farmers must be desperate,’ said Akuma, letting out a cruel laugh.

‘They’ve beaten you twice!’ shouted Sora, stepping forward from the ranks. ‘And they’ll defeat you again!’

Akuma stopped laughing. ‘Not this time,’ he replied, furious. He eyed the extensive moat surrounding the village, noting the spiky thorn bushes. ‘A ditch won’t save you. But … I’m not a merciless man. Hand over your rice now and we’ll spare you and your families.’

Jack almost laughed at the suggestion. He’d witnessed the sort of mercy Akuma gave out – it involved torture and death.

‘Leave this village alone and we’ll spare you!’

Akuma looked outraged. ‘Beware, gaijin, you’re delivering this village a death sentence.’

Sayomi leant over from her horse and spoke softly to her leader. Akuma’s expression transformed from thunderous to triumphant. He addressed the farmers again. ‘I have a better deal for you. Hand over the gaijin samurai and I promise – on my honour – to leave you and the rice untouched.’

Pulling on his reins, Akuma retreated to his line of bandits and rammed his trident into the snow. Holding up his hands, he cried, ‘As you can see, my intentions are honest.’

Jack heard an argument break out among the ranks of farmers.

‘We should do it,’ urged the elderly farmer who’d led the vote against Jack before. ‘He just wants the reward.’

‘You believe that devil?’ said Yuto, standing up to the old man yet again. ‘Once he has Jack, he’ll destroy us all. Jack’s our saviour!’