Before the Battle

Reckoning 5/20

--Taira--

I paid little attention to my officers' reports.

My mind wandered far from the camp, the command tent and the table full of maps, charts and supply documents. Unable to concentrate on the reports, I tapped my fingers nervously on the table, watching the movement of the soldiers around the camp through the partially drawn canvas of the tent.

It had been almost a week since Shira had left, and I hadn't heard from him since. Kano had told me this morning that he was probably on his way back, but the words didn't sound very convincing.

"Do you follow?" Kioshi snapped me out of my dark thoughts. "This supply list needs..."

"Of course," I said and signed the document.

"Taira, shall we take a break?" Daichi spoke up, the Imperial officer who had warned me about Marat.

He had worked for me now. He seemed capable, and since many soldiers from the Emperor's army were now serving under my command, I thought it was a good idea to have a former Imperial officer among my closest associates.

Shira and Daichi didn't like each other very much, which I could understand, as the Colonel was one of those who led the attack on the hotel that night.

But they respected each other and were able to work together, which was all I needed. What I didn't mention to Shira was that Daichi sometimes flirted with me.

My other new addition was a former lieutenant in Marat's unit named Sorner. I promoted him to captain and he proved his worth as well.

Sorner, Daichi, Kioshi and two other former rebel commanders formed the basis of my consulting team. And Shira.

Only Shira wasn't here.

With that, my thoughts drifted back to the remote settlement of Ikeda, where my beloved was supposed to be.

Kano and his men burst into the tent uninvited. "General, I must speak with you."

"Can't you see we have a meeting?" Daichi retorted at the unexpected interruption.

My stomach clenched when I saw Kano's tense expression. I could tell he had bad news.

"Speak," I urged him.

"Some of our settlements were attacked. Ikeda took the worst of it, it's..." He swallowed and added, "burnt to the ground."

"Shira? What about him?" I shot at Kano, but then realised that he too had loved ones in that village. "And your son?"

He shook his head, "I have no idea. We have incomplete information. We're trying to find out more."

"Do you know anything about the attackers?"

"Raiders and mercenaries. They come by sea from the west. They raid our villages, loot and kill. But they have not made themselves known for many years."

My dark premonition came true. I didn't want to let Shira go, I felt it would end badly. But I hadn't listened to my heart.

"Sometimes they take prisoners if they think they can get a ransom for them," Kano spoke again. "They could have taken my son, and if Shira was with him, it's possible they have both. If so, I think they will hand them over if we pay."

He sounded like he was grasping at the last thread of hope.

I stood up from the desk so forcefully that it shook and the papers fell to the floor.

"I'm not waiting for anything. I have thousands of soldiers here who will obey my every command. We'll get him."

"You lost your best warrior, I understand your anger. But I had my whole family in that village."