My eyes locked onto the deer that grazed nonchalantly on a patch of grass as my fingers comfortably ached at the pull of the bow string.

One. Two. Three.

With an exhale, the arrow whistled through the air, striking true. The creature crumpled to the ground without a sound, lifeless.

I approached the carcass and knelt at its side, clasping my hands together in prayer. A familiar tinge of sorrow grew in my heart as the eyes of the deer stared into my own. I closed my eyes.

“I pray to goddess that you have given us life today, and when it my time, oh goddess, ensure that my life is taken as quickly as this.”

The prayer worked two-fold. One, it ensured my thankfulness for a few nights of good meals for the rice farmers at the hamlet,and two, the sorrow floated away as quickly as it came.

I tied my hair into a tight bun before grasping the creature by its legs. With a deep breath, I shifted the creature’s corpse over my shoulders, feeling the weight transfer to my legs.

Girls have stronger legs than us men, Goto.

Father’s words echoed in her mind as I began the trek home. Iremembered father taking me on my first hunt.

“Why don’t we use the guns like the other hamlets?” I had asked him, “Wouldn’t it be easier?”

My father placed a hand on my shoulder, “Easier is not always the right path,” he said.

He placed the bow in her small, uncalloused hands, “A bow allows us to end their lives quickly. It practices our hands and connects us to the natural world.”

He let go, allowing my young self carry the weight of the bow. It was heavy at the time, “You see, a bow was made to hunt. That is its primary purpose. A gun…” he frowned. It was the face that father used when he wanted to explain things that were too complicated for me to understand.

“A gun was made for something else. The same with swords. I would prefer you never know the purpose of gun or a sword.”

His hand pressed over mine as squeezed, “But a bow can be used to help others. Feed others. There is purity in that. Rightfulness. Be sure to remember that, little petal.”

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I shook myself from the memory as my breath grew ragged from the deer over my shoulders. Full adult deer were still a struggle for me to carry but I pushed through. My parents would be happy for the venison, and I could also take some of the legs for the farmers to smoke. Spirits had been down as of late. Fatherhad told me that the farm was attacked by roaming raiders a few nights ago. Some of the farmers had been injured in fending them off so I figured they would appreciate the wild game. It was the least I could do for the land that would eventually become mine.

“The attacks have not ceased,” Father urged. Father wore a stern face with narrowed eyes. It was uncommon for him. His gaze was usually soft.

The royal guard was hefty gentlemen with thin hairs growing underneath his nose. His eyes wer all together disinterested in my father. His gaze fell upon me to which his eyebrows twitched, “Your daughter is growing into a young woman,” the guard mused.

Father’s countenance darkened, “You would so well to know your place,” my father retorted, “We have given tribute to Lord Honda every month and still these attacks have not ceased. Have you no honor in upholding that obligation?”

“Lord Honda appreciates your support as always, Lord Tenzen,” the guard said. It sounded automatic. It was fake. The guard’s name was Umonji, and I did not like him. He served Lord Honda, a man who father said was supposed to protect us. I had never met this lord but I did know what our farmers had gone through. The night of the attack, my mother ushered me into the study while the sound of steel and screams echoed from outside. I wanted to see what was happening, but mother told me that I wasn’t ready for it.

In the aftermath, when I emerged from my home after the shouting had died down, there were stretchers with tarps over them that weeped red. I didn’t realize that I was crying when I saw the farmers covered in wounds. I didn’t remember the tears.

Father was uninjured but his eyes were grave. Lord Honda’s forces that were supposed to come but they did not.

Hence, we were here now in the Royal Embassy out on the countryside.

Umonji didn’t respond to my father. His eyes were settled onto mine. I shot him a glare. A bubbling anger borne of the memory of the dead farmers made words spill from my mouth, “Father says that the those who do not do their duty are more shamefulthan those that fail at their duties,” I sneered, “Are the Lord’s forces that shameful?”

Umonji’s eyes hardened with anger but Father laughed, “Even my daughter knows better than you lot. We had given you reports concerning these marauders for weeks on end, and nothing was done about it.”

“Lord Honda’s campaign against the Mech Cavaliers to the east is a campaign that benefits all that live in the countryside,” Umonji said, “You would do well to remember that.”

“What use is fighting forces in foreign lands when there are already gangs in the mainland?” Father retorted, “I am not asking for an army, Umonji. I am asking for help. Even a few samurai would do well here if they were posted.”

Umonji switched his frustrated gaze between the two of us. If I inherited anything from my father, it was his soul piercing stare.

Umonji, flustered, sighed, “I…I will mention this to Lord Honda.”

I smiled. It had felt like we had won but while I already had a grin on my face, father’s face was still hard, “You had better