“You will die a hero’s death,” Nichiren had maintained, but how could an assassin be a hero?

Jimmu’s ruthless determination was beginning to waver.

9

MITSUKAGE CASTLE ISE PROVINCE

AUTUMN 1572

Four days later, Jimmu served his first turn at night duty, standing watch on the battlements of the outer wall. He was accompanied by Kambei, a veteran soldier with a seamed scar on one cheek and two fingers missing from his left hand. Between patrols, he and Jimmu warmed themselves at a charcoal brazier, and Jimmu listened while Kambei told tales about the campaigns he had taken part in. His comments gave Jimmu an entirely different view of the power struggle between the warring lords.

“Takeda Shingen is the commander to watch out for,” Kambei declared at one point. “He’s as cunning as a rat. His battle banner reads, Swift as the Wind, Calm as the Forest, Fierce as the Wildfire, Steady as the Mountain, and that’s the way he likes to fight. The great opponent of the Takeda family is Lord Oda Nobunaga. He’s a cruel and ruthless warrior who is determined to rule over all of Japan. Lord Nobunaga’s most loyal ally is Lord Tokugawa Ieyasu. Many nobles look down on Lord Ieyasu because he comes from a peasant family and started his career as a common soldier, but he’s a brave fighter and a gifted commander.”

“What kind of commander is Lord Ankan?” enquired Jimmu.

“You’ll find out for yourself soon enough,” Kambei assured him. “The Takeda are on the move. They’ve laid siege to Futamata Castle. If it falls, Lord Ieyasu will ask Lord Nobunaga for help, and Lord Nobunaga will send for Lord Ankan.”

The prospect of battle thrilled Jimmu.

“Are battlefields as glorious as they say?” he asked eagerly.

Kambei looked at him askance.

“Glory is all in the mind of storytellers, lad,” he said grimly. “Battlefields are crazy places. All you see of a battle is your little bit of it. No one really knows what’s going on, and you’re generally too busy surviving to bother trying to make sense of anything. Let me give you a piece of advice. When you go into battle keep your head down and do as you’re told.”

“But what about single combat, and the noble sacrifice of samurai?” said Jimmu, repeating a few phrases that Nichiren had drilled into him.

“Noble sacrifices are all very well in stories, but they don’t win battles,” Kambei said.

Before Jimmu could ask Kambei to explain further, the sound of a footstep made him wheel around and lower his spear.

“Who’s there?” he challenged.

A maidservant came out of the dark, into the glow of the brazier. She wore a pale silk kimono. Her hair was elaborately pinned up, and her face was white with makeup. The wooden blocks on the soles and heels of her sandals forced her to take tiny, mincing steps. She bowed to Jimmu.

“I must talk with you,” she said.

“Talk to me about what?” said Jimmu, mystified.