I lost myself to the work, putting the bridle back together as I went, then tried a second pot on the saddle.
Two wet dogs bounding in broke my reverie. They enthusiastically shook water everywhere from their coats, and nuzzled a hello, largely to use me as a towel.
They were closely followed by Lord Shingen and Lord Yukimura. The smell of sake billowed like a cloud ahead of them and they both looked flushed. Yukimura needed the doorframe to stay upright, he was very much worse for wear. Lord Shingen however had a more purposeful look, he strode up and pinned me to the wall in one fluid movement.
He leant his forehead into mine, his wet hair in my face. I had no idea what to do, I had never seen him like this. He closed his eyes for a moment, then looked deeply into mine.
"I want you to stay with us Tamara." His voice was thick, and part of me sensed danger. "Would being my wife keep you here?"
I certainly did not see that one coming.
"Ah..oh...Lord Shingen...I.." My brain had stopped working from shock. This time thankfully, my body had the good sense not to blush. I reached up to his hand which was now on my cheek. "My heart belongs to another." I searched his eyes for a reaction, getting ready to duck away from him.
"That's of no consequence to me." He didn't even pause for thought.
"It is to me." I sounded very small in reply
He stepped back, releasing me and looked to a groggy Yukimura, they stared at each other and then burst out laughing.
"Of course." Lord Shingen said, patting me on the head as the two of them broke into laughter again.
"What's going on?" I demanded, beginning to feel like the butt of some inside joke.
Ignoring me, they both tipped back out of the doorway, still laughing like naughty boys.
"What a ridiculous day." I remarked to the dogs who had no intention of going back out into the weather. I gave up trying to fathom what that was all about, it was probably some drinking game I decided.
I took the re-assembled bridle over to Saizo's horse to make sure I had fitted it properly, noticing the leather felt better for its treatment, then stepped back out from the stall to take a mental snapshot of my handiwork.
YOU ARE READING
Sengoku Visions I
FanfictionA modern day woman finds herself thrown into a surreal reality. Out of place in Kai Province, overwhelmed, but not daunted, she becomes enamoured by the charismatic power of Lord Takeda Shingen, embraced by the boyish charm of Lord Sanada Yukimura...
