Lady Samurai

Chapter 75

Following the Lord's departure Harada assumed command and ordered their remaining guard to move out.

Anna rode at the rear of the column, deep in thought. She was still worried. Never before had she experienced such a strong feeling of uneasiness. And nothing she did could shift that feeling to ease her mind. She beckoned one of the samurai and requested Lord Yamamoto's messenger to be brought to her. If she could speak to him, she reasoned, perhaps she would be able to reassure herself.

After a long while Harada himself rode up to her. "I am sorry, Ana-San," His voice was full of consternation. "But the messenger cannot be found. He was instructed to travel with us, but now he has disappeared. Perhaps he misunderstood the order and joined our Lord's entourage to return south?"

Lottie's stomach twisted in knots. Something didn't make sense and it was bothering her. And now the messenger had disappeared as well? She was sure something was very wrong. "That message was a trap to lure Lord Takeda away." She announced with sudden conviction. "I believe that he is in grave danger!"

"But what are we to do?" Harada looked to her for advice. "We were ordered to escort Lady Mariko and the children to safety. We can't disobey a direct order."

Anna considered that for a moment. Lord Takeda took only fifty men with him. If there was an ambush waiting, he would most certainly be outnumbered. She had to think quickly. It had been more than an hour since Hikaru had left and there was no way to know when the trap was to be sprung. She looked at Harada and then back down the line of riders and carts to the front, where Mariko was riding with the children. Anna made up her mind in an instant. "Harada-San, I am certain now that Lord Takeda's life is in danger. I must ride to his aid with all haste. Is there a place nearby where you could seek refuge?"

He considered it for a moment. "There is a fortified household of our Lord's old retainer."

"You must go there and be prepared to defend it!" She ordered, then spurred her horse and rode to the front of the cavalcade. "My Lady," She spoke to Mariko. "I believe that the message our Lord received was a trap and he is now in danger." She didn't waste time with details. "I will take another fifty soldiers and follow Lord Takeda to help him, if necessary. You must take charge now and ensure the safety of the children... Here," She pulled an armband from under her sleeve. "Take that. It will give you the authority of our Lord."

It was the first time that she let anybody see the armband Hikaru had given her so long ago. A thought crossed her mind that he had been right and it would be used as means to protect lives.

Mariko was a little shocked to see that Anna had been in possession of an item of such power, but she quickly composed herself. "What would you have me do?" She asked calmly.

"Harada-San says there is a place nearby where you could seek refuge. Go there immediately, close the gates and prepare to defend it."

"Hai," Mariko bowed. "I will do my duty."

Anna only nodded and rode to the cart where her guns were stored. She climbed aboard and disappeared briefly under the awning. She retrieved her revolvers and was about to jump out when she noticed something else. A few moments later she emerged, just to be greeted with gasps of awe, astonishment and gruff approval from the waiting samurai. She couldn't blame them for that reaction, because she was wearing Lord Takeda's horned helmet and his, as yet unfastened, leather cuirass. Both her swords were secured in the sash and her two revolvers were hanging off the gun belt. In her hand she held a battle face mask.

Overcoming his shock, Harada hastened forward to help her tie up the laces of the cuirass. She then fastened the grotesque face mask and jumped onto the saddle. Without waiting for the order, the soldiers followed her and rode at full speed back down the road to join and protect their Lord.