1 More to it than meets the blade



Ayame took her time, her back flat against the wall, muttering to herself as she unsheathed her two blades.

'Yeah yeah, Eraiyu can talk. Meet me here... Yeah right! More like please die here. Oh well... Here goes nothing'

Taking a quick look beyond the wall corner, she saw three patrol guards.

'Gre--at. Just perfect.'

Taking out her blowpipe, she peeked out again, aimed, and in one lightning move, shot the pipe. Before the dart could even reach the furthest guard, Ayame had shot out, slashed twice at the neck of the first guard, and took one look at the last one, who was obviously the master of the guard.

'Well hello. What are you doing out on a night like this? Stargazing?'

'You! Gohda's ninja! I was waiting for you. You die here and now!'

'As if! You know, you must be like a bat - totally blind. I was standing here watching you for the past ten minutes. Anyway, I thank you, I need not voice my thoughts about you dying here, tonight.'

The guard was holding a large spear, and he charged at Ayame, who laughed, and ducked nimbly. The guard ran by her, and without even turning around to face him, she twirled one of her two kodachi's, around and stabbed the guard through his back.

'Youu kiilleed mmeeeeee!'

Still facing the guard tower in front of her, Ayame replied.

'Been there, done that.'

She took a look around. There was a thick wall with a gate, which was locked. It had a tiled, flat roof cover. Simple enough. Sheathing her daggers and withdrawing her grappling hook, Ayame aimed it at the roof. It caught on quite easily and pulled her up.

Once on the roof, she crouched low and took a good look around her. It was a single storey flat roofed housing area, not unlike many others she had seen.

'The dining area, eh? Simple enough. That should be in the centre, right in the centre.'

Jumping off, she padded silently, her blue-black attire melding in with the midnight-blue sky. Stealthy pressing her body against the wall, she peered around. The coast was clear. Moving with supple grace and nimble speed, she marched boldly into the dining area, where Eraiyu sat on the bamboo sheeting at a low table. Eraiyu was a messenger, and a highly skilled one at that. Both of them hardly looking up, they greeted each other as Ayame sat down and helped herself to a cup of green tea.

'Eraiyu. What's up?'

'Lord Gohda wants to see you. The message said something about new kodachis'

'What's wrong with mine?'

'Nothing. Just that there are new and better ones.'

'Great. But I really don't need four kodachis.'

'Maybe. But it's Lord Gohda. He said to meet him.'

'Find him you mean. In this time of peril, barely anybody knows where he is.'

'Oh, he told me where to look.'

'Where?'

'Gohda Castle'

'Phasplat!'

Ayame was halfway through a mouthful of green tea when she heard the name. In shock, she had spitted it all out. Onto Eraiyu.

'What did you that for?'

'I thought you needed a bath.' Ayame put in sarcastically.

'I do not!'

'Eraiyu, do you know how to take a joke? But really, Gohda castle? What is there? His skeleton? The place is swarming with Moyotoda's scum!'

'True. But there are a secret chain of rooms and corridors, hidden, that few know of. And certainly not Moyotoda.'

'Fine. But I have to go alone?'

'That's what he said.'

'Perfect. Just perfect. Should I write my will?'

'No.'

'Eraiyu,'

'Yes?'

'Get a life.'

******************

Ayame returned to the inn she was staying at. Ever since Rikimaru's death, she had stayed at the castle, but since she was away at the time of the coming of Moyotoda, she did not try to re-enter the castle, though she greatly feared what happened to Lord Gohda. Soon she had gotten news of his survival, and had laid low and awaited his word.

She was already wearing her ninja outfit, and was selecting items to bring with her. Her trusty blowpipe and some shurikens, a couple of caltrops and bottle of healing potion.

She checked her two kodachis, tied back her hair, and set off to Gohda castle, a hour away.