‘Neko’s cooked up a feast, by the way. I got her to understand that a samurai can’t fight on an empty stomach,’ said Saburo, patting his armoured belly. ‘But you’d best hurry – Yuudai has an even bigger appetite than me!’

‘I’ll be left starving then,’ said Jack, heading over to the farmhouse for a much-needed meal and, if he could, some sleep too.

Jack was woken by Yori shaking his shoulder. Before he’d even opened his eyes, he’d grabbed his swords and was rising from his bed.

‘Akuma?’ he asked, blinking away the remnants of sleep.

‘Not yet,’ replied Yori, relief evident in his voice. ‘But dusk isn’t far off.’

Yori had apparently followed Saburo’s lead and kitted himself out in some armour too. But his diminutive size meant the breastplate and helmet he’d chosen swamped him. He looked more like one of his straw soldiers than a monk.

Everyone apart from Miyuki, who was on guard duty, had gathered around the hearth, warming themselves in preparation for the long night ahead. Neko had her katana in hand and Yuudai was offering last-minute tips on wielding it. Saburo was tucking into another bowl of rice, clearly worried it might be his last. On the other side of the fire, Hayato sat cross-legged, eyes half-closed in meditation, as he prepared his mind for the coming conflict.

With night soon to fall, everyone would join the watch and take their posts. This was the time of Black Moon. The attack could occur at any moment. The unpredictability, combined with Akuma’s fearsome reputation, put them on edge and Jack could see the strain in his friends’ faces. When he joined them by the fire, they all looked expectantly his way.

But words of reassurance failed Jack. He was as uneasy as they were. They were about to wage their first war. Although each of them had been in battle before, they’d had the support and experience of adult warriors leading them. This time they were to face their enemy alone. If things went wrong, they had no one to turn to but themselves.

‘Gather your units in the square,’ said Jack, attempting to keep his voice steady and at least give an outward appearance of confidence.

Bowing their obedience, the young samurai got to their feet, collected their weapons and marched out the door.

‘I couldn’t think of anything else to say,’ said Jack to Yori, his tone apologetic, as he secured his swords and put his five shuriken within the folds of his obi.

‘Don’t worry. Leadership is often more about attitude and actions than words,’ replied Yori, picking up his ringed staff and heading slowly for the door. ‘A call to action is reassurance enough for us. It shows you’re in command and know what you’re doing.’

But do I? thought Jack.