Jimmu’s anger flared, taking him over so completely that it seemed to be someone else who said, “You talk too much, Sadamichi.”

The mess hall fell silent as all conversations ceased. The thunder sounded louder than before. The storm was on its way.

Sadamichi cocked his head to one side.

“Excuse me, did you say something, Farm Boy?” he asked.

Letting his anger out into the open was so exhilarating that Jimmu made no attempt to curb it. He was tired of Sadamichi’s gibes, and tired of pretending to be meek.

“I said you talk too much,” he replied, “and my name is Jimmu.”

Sadamichi squinted down his nose at Jimmu.

“You should say sir when you address someone of my standing,” he said peevishly. “You obviously need a lesson in manners. I was brought up to respect my betters.”

“So was I,” said Jimmu.

The other guards swapped amazed looks. Jimmu was doing the prodding now.

Sadamichi smiled. “Am I intended to take that as an insult?”

“Take it any way you like,” said Jimmu.

Sadamichi deftly rolled the chopstick between the fingers of his right hand.

“You’ve a lot to learn, Farm Boy!” he said with a sigh. “I’ll overlook your ignorance this once, but let me offer you a little advice. Don’t offend a man unless you’re as good a swordsman as he is.”

“But I’m not as good a swordsman as you are, Sadamichi,” said Jimmu. “I’m better.”

Lightning pulsed through the opened shutters. A second later there was a peal of thunder.

“Perhaps you’d care to prove it, Farm Boy?” Sadamichi said. “We could go to the exercise yard and settle the matter with wooden practice swords. Just a bout between friends. I wouldn’t dream of challenging you to a proper duel, of course. It would be dishonorable of a man like me to kill a peasant.”

“I’m not a peasant, and I’m not your friend,” said Jimmu. “And I’m not afraid to fight you.”

He felt giddy, and hardly recognized himself. Who was this headstrong youth disobeying all of Nichiren’s instructions?

Rain rattled against the shingles on the roof.

“Good!” someone commented. “It’ll clear the air.”

He was not talking about the storm.

News of the duel spread quickly throughout the castle, so that by the time Jimmu and Sadamichi reached the exercise yard, quite a crowd had gathered. Bets were being exchanged, though few were laid in favor of Jimmu.

The storm was at its height. Rain fell in white lances; the thunder and the lightning came simultaneously. It was as dark as twilight.

The lightning illuminated the wet faces of the waiting men. Suddenly, they shuffled aside, and to Jimmu’s surprise, Captain Muraki and Sergeant Hankei appeared.

Despite the rain, Jimmu and Sadamichi were bareheaded. They were removing their breastplates and armored sleeves, but both snapped to attention as the captain approached.

“At ease,” said Captain Muraki. “I’ve been told that there is bad feeling between the two of you. Is it true?”