The bandit leader’s heartless disposition chilled Jack to the bone. The man reminded him of the ninja Dragon Eye. Both shared the same ruthless and inhuman nature, and they matched one another in their sickening appetite for torture. Yet what worried Jack the most was Akuma’s reaction to the destruction of his camp. The bandit leader had paid no attention to the fire. His only focus had been the capture and punishment of those responsible. Akuma was clearly a man who would go to the ends of the earth to exact his revenge.

This worried Jack greatly and he wasn’t alone in his concerns.

Over by the eastern entrance Hayato was firing arrow after arrow at the target beneath the bridge. He’d been practising non-stop. Although Jack couldn’t judge the accuracy of his shots, Hayato’s furious determination suggested he still wasn’t satisfied with his performance. Like Jack, this young samurai understood none of them could afford to make a single mistake against a foe as formidable as Akuma.

Booming laughter suddenly burst forth from Sora’s farmhouse. It sounded strange and out of place against the tense atmosphere gripping the rest of the village. Neko came flying out of the door, Yuudai in close pursuit. They were re-enacting her episode with the bear again. Neko scampered away in delight and hid behind a wall as Yuudai stalked her. Then she jumped out, arms raised. Yuudai feigned shock and ran away, before they both charged back inside the farmhouse.

Smiling to himself, Jack thought, At least they’re managing to keep their spirits up.

The jingle of metal rings alerted Jack to Yori climbing the rise with his shakujō.

‘Dinner will be ready soon,’ he said. ‘Not that I feel much like eating.’

The thought of the impending battle was evidently tying his stomach in knots. Jack didn’t blame him. He knew the ordeal his friend had gone through during the Battle of Osaka Castle. Yori still suffered nightmares from thinking about the corpses he’d hidden beneath in order to escape certain death. That was one of the reasons he’d become a monk rather than remain a samurai warrior.

Jack placed an arm round his friend’s shoulder. ‘When the time comes, your role will be as lookout in the watchtower. Stay there. But if our defences are breached, stick with me.

I promise not to let any harm come to you.’

Yori put on a brave face. ‘I’ll be fine,’ he insisted. ‘Everyone’s worried about what tomorrow will bring. It’s just that as a monk I need to show strength of spirit to the villagers. They want to be reassured by my faith.’

‘I have total faith in you,’ said Jack. ‘I couldn’t have done any of this without your wisdom.’

Yori bowed his head in humble acknowledgement.