Nō traveled with Yoshida and the other soldiers for two days in the wilderness before finally coming to a small village somewhere on the outskirts of the Ryū domain. He did not see either of his companions during that time, though he asked for them at every opportunity. Though he was not mistreated by the Ryū, he was not treated especially well either. He was blindfolded intermittently so that he was disoriented to his location and made to walk long distances with little time for rest. This he was already used to from his travels with his teacher, so it bothered him little, but the anxiety of the unknown ate away at his patience.

  After entering the village, which he came to learn was called Kofu, he was locked away in a small, abandoned farmhouse. He was fed and allowed to bathe, which was a comfort, but he was not permitted to leave or see his companions.

  “You will learn soon enough,” Yoshida answered tersely when Nō asked once again inquired about his companion’s whereabouts.

  He stayed four more days in the small house and was allowed to move about freely within but was unable to leave, and a guard was always posted at the door. There were windows, and most of his time was spent looking out from his dull prison, inspecting the comings and goings outside. There was much going on, and Nō came to believe that this small village was being used as a supply station for a great movement of soldiers.

  Companies of Ryū warriors came and went, never staying long, before departing once again. These soldiers moved around with a palpable energy of anticipation, much different than the usual lethargy of peacetime warriors. The young man overheard Yoshida speak of a war, though he could not guess with whom the Ryū were at war with. The locals of the town did their best not to interfere with the swarming mass of soldiers but were working dutifully to equip them at send them on their way.

  On the seventh day of his capture, news came to Nō by way of Yoshida, who came to visit him in the morning.

  “Your time has come,” the grim soldier said. “Bathe and ready yourself, for you shall be presented for questioning.”

  He did as he was told and, in the evening, he was brought out of his prison and into the village thoroughfare. He could see that the village had finally been emptied of the majority of its warriors, and a calm silence filled the dusty streets.

  “Strange,” he thought, “Where did they all go to?”

  He was brought to a large, central building that was guarded by heavily armored samurai. After several minutes of waiting, he was directed inside and taken to a closed chamber. As the tatami doors were pulled open, he was enveloped by a heavy smoke of incense that poured out like a slow wave. The guards allowed him in and then positioned him on his knees. He could barely see anything through the darkness and the haze, but after a few moments, the outline of a slender figure kneeling before a lacquered table appeared before him.

  “Introduce yourself,” a voice came from across the room. It was a strong voice, a direct voice but it was distinctly female.

  Nō thought it unusual to have a female interrogator but did his best to do as he was told. “My name is Nō,” he answered, as fear began to grip his heart.

  “What are you, Nō?”

  “I am a Truist monk.”

  “Why is a Truist monk here, on the borders of my realm?”

  “I am training in the way of the Kaijin. I followed my teacher here and one other companion whom your men promised to save.”

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  “Kaijin?” the voice shot back, and there was an air of hostility about it. “So, your companion is a Kaijin?”

  “Yes,” he lied, figuring that explaining the complexities of Gintaro's tenuous status with the Order was not necessary at this time.

  “He did not identify himself as such,” the voice returned angrily.

  Nō did not know what to say, so he thought it best to remain quiet. Silence permeated the room for several moments as the incense continued to burn.

  “My…lady…” he finally ventured. “Are my companions here? Are they all right?”

  “Answer me first,” the voice returned fiercely, “And tell me truthfully, why are you three here? Is it to spy on us?”

  “No!” the boy cried out. “We were ambushed on the road. We came into the Ryū lands to seek aid.”

  “That sounds like a lie.”

  “Was not my companion poisoned by ninja craft?”

  This question was met by a short pause. “A clever machination. One crafted to soften our suspicions.”

  “To knowingly poison oneself is madness!” the youth returned, growing hot.

  “These are evil times,” the figure in the distance said, finally rising to her feet. She strode forward and as she did, the smoke seemed to part until her features were finally revealed. She was dressed in a simple black and red kimono and at her side, she wore a menacing long sword. Her long hair was worn down and it seemed light and feathery so that it seemed to blow about her as she moved. Her eyes were cold and piercing but her face was soft and beautiful. She lowered her chin and peered down at the young monk kneeling before her. “Yet perhaps you are not so evil.”

  She smiled faintly at him and then knelt a few feet away. “Your companions are indeed safe. The Akaii woman is healing well from her injuries. It seems that the healers were able to tend to her just in time. I have not thought it fit to question her in her compromised state, at least not yet. Your teacher, on the other hand, is a stubborn one and will not answer my questions. He claims that you were headed north before you were assaulted by a ninja, but why you were going that way remains a mystery to me. I was hoping you would elucidate.”

  Though her face seemed gentle, Nō felt uneasy answering his teacher. “I should not presume to speak for him,” he said quietly.

  “And if I told you that you would suffer greatly for your silence, what say you to that, monk?” Her voice was still calm, but there was a heaviness behind it, like a battle-axe. He knew that she could very easily make her threats a reality.

  “I was brought up as a Truist,” he answered carefully. “We were taught to endure all things for what we believe in.”

  “There are few things that can endure dragon’s fire,” the woman returned.

  “Then I shall perish in the flames.”

  The woman eyed him darkly for a few moments before relaxing her features. “I was afraid that you would say that. Fear not, I shall not hold it against you, loyal apprentice. You do not seem the type that the Tora would send as spies besides, though why anyone would go north is beyond my comprehension. Very well then, but until I am made aware of what is going on, I am afraid that you must remain within my power.”

  “My teacher must want to be freed so that we can depart,” Nō interjected. “At least when Saru is well enough.”

  “And he has expressed the same to me, but in these times of war, I shall not let three travelers pass through my lands without an explanation. And after the service we have rendered for the Akaii woman, I think that we deserve at least that. I will let your teacher brood on it until he is ready to talk. Until then, you must return to your previous residence. Yet not, I think, without a proper meal. Will you be so kind as to join me for supper?”

  The boy was stunned by this invitation and could say nothing to refuse. “Yes, of course,” he muttered.

  “Good,” she said with a gentle smile. “I will summon the servants and they shall prepare the table.”

  Nō shifted uncomfortably, for he was not sure if this next question was appropriate being in his current situation, yet he spoke, nonetheless. “If you don’t mind me asking, my lady, but who are you?”

  One of her sharp eyebrows raised at this inquiry as if anger were going to flare up suddenly, but she checked it with a soft chuckle. “You must truly be an outsider after all. I am the ruler of this domain. My father was the Elder Dragon of the Ryū. I am the Dragon Princess, Ryū Kurea.”

  The monk’s face went pale, and he seemed to shiver at her response.

  “Do not be afraid,” she said with a knowing grin, “For there are two kinds of people in this world. There are those who eat with the dragon, and those who are eaten by the dragon. You should consider yourself fortunate to be the former.” She chucked again, rose, clapped her hands twice, and then strode back to the table, as the smoke whirled around her like a cloud.