Stas Ordyntsev considered himself to be quite stress-resistant. Throughout his life, he had found himself in numerous nightmarish situations that could send someone of a weaker spirit into depression or even madness.
Take, for instance, being right under the explosion of the local equivalent of a nuclear bomb or fending off spawns of ever-changing chaos attacking from all sides. Or having to stone a person to death or walking a thin line, plotting against those capable of killing you with a mere flick of their hand.
And the images of the rotting Great Serpent would forever remain in his "collection" of the most disgusting and nauseating memories of all times and peoples.
The gods bear witness, should they be real, Ordyntsev wouldn't mind cutting out the memories of the Serpent from his head!
However, when an emissary from Io arrived and urgently requested a meeting with his master, the earthling's heart skipped a beat.
When he finally met face-to-face with the head of the Shadow Stone, the vague premonition transformed into absolute certainty.
Io was in blatant fury. And although there was not even a hint of emotion on his stony face, and his bloodthirst was skillfully hidden, a single glance from those grey eyes was enough for Stas to hurry and inquire what the trouble was.
What he learned made Ordyntsev mentally curse profusely because he was certainly not to blame for what had happened!
He hadn't even treated the Goro's head since there were no significant injuries there.
But, apparently, the numerous blows from the Mizuno clan head hadn't been in vain, and the leader of Sumada had managed to lose his memory.
The worst part of the whole situation was that Io suspected Ordyntsev of doing it on purpose!
This time, the reputation he had been carefully cultivating was definitely not working in favor of the cunning earthling.
After all, if you think about it, how convenient it would be if the former clan head never remembered who he was and did not hold anyone accountable for past deeds and the murder of one of his sons.
Needless to say, Ordyntsev had to drop all his business and rush to Io's secret estate to find out what the problem actually was.
"I'm obliged to inform you for the umpteenth time that Goro-sama is absolutely healthy," Ordyntsev gritted through his teeth, turning off the Healing Palm technique and removing his hand from the patient's head. "Not a single injury. Everything has healed and regrown perfectly."
"Are you sure?" Io asked, without even looking at his lying brother. The latter was shifting wary glances from Stas to Io and back. New people made him nervous. "Maybe check again?"
"Io-san," Stas calmly stood up. "May we discuss something in private?"
After receiving a sharp nod, the men left the room and headed to a separate study.
"Io-san," Ordyntsev sighed heavily. "I understand you are very angry with me right now and believe I deceived you. Not only did I fail to heal your brother, but I also stole his memory. But, trust me, that's not the case. I sincerely wished for your brother to recover and would never do anything to harm him." Stas paused for a moment, wincing. He was annoyed by how pitiful his excuses sounded.
He wanted to shout, "It's not in my interest!" but the irony was that such an outcome was incredibly beneficial to him.
"Don't bother, Shiro-san," Io's words made Stas freeze in bewilderment. "For the most part, I'm convinced that you really had nothing to do with it," the head of the shadows adjusted the sleeves of his kimono.
"My brother was good at judging people. And he trusted you, Shiro-san. And considering that you saved his life, it paid off. I doubt you would risk ruining our relationship so much as to dare do something like that. And that means the incident was as unexpected for you as it was for us. Do you think he will be able to remember?"
"It's hard to say," Stas mused, squinting. "This direction is quite removed from what I've extensively studied. Head problems come with many complications and consequences. Take me, for example - I never fully regained my memory."
Io frowned even more at that.
"All I can say now is that time is the best medicine. However," the Serpent quickly added, seeing Io's dissatisfaction.
"I might have some advice to help ease and expedite the recovery process."
"I'm listening," the head of the shadows said seriously.
"Let's say, our thought process is entirely built on associations. Various things throughout life connect to each other and form a dense network. When we cross-reference different matters or issues, new connections appear that make it easier for us to solve similar tasks."
Stas paused, giving his interlocutor time to ponder what he had said.
"And since everything is built on associations, the best solution would be to remind Goro-sama of the things he has forgotten. Consequently, the associations evoked in him may bring up those that follow, triggering an avalanche-like process of memory recall and restoration."
"So," Io drew out slowly. "I should tell Goro about what... he forgot?"
"Exactly. But stories alone are not enough. Here, we must take a comprehensive approach," Stas began to count on his fingers. "Conversations, physical activity, reading, and preferably, walks. The purpose of physical activity extends beyond fitness; it aids in memory restoration. In this case, the exercises are indeed beneficial."
"Thank you," Io stated succinctly.
"Don't mention it, Io-san," Stas looked attentively at the head of the Shadow Stone. "Lastly, I want to say that I'm glad that your brother is alive and that everything has turned out well for all of us."
"Except for Izuna-kun," Io looked with irony at the Serpent.
"In that situation, I had to care only for close people, not to save everyone," Stas shrugged.
The interlocutors fell silent, contemplating the unambiguous hint.
"Perhaps, in that situation, your actions were justified... Shiro-kun. However, I would like to warn you to avoid such decisions in the future. Otherwise, it will be difficult for me to accept them."
"I'll do my best, Io-san," Stas smiled.
Of course, there was still mistrust between the Serpent and the Head of the Shadow Stone, but it was clear that the situation was gradually improving as both wished to reach a compromise.
*****
Is it difficult to arrange an official meeting between the heads of two great warmaster clans?
Quite challenging, if only because warmasters are naturally very distrustful people.
Is it just as difficult to orchestrate the same thing but secretly?
Surprisingly, though complex, but not impossible.
If the organizer is burdened with observing numerous traditions and formalities in the first case, then some of these complexities lose their edge in the second case.
Nevertheless, it should be understood that even so, such a task can not be called easy.
Especially with the ceremony of appointing a new clan head looming.
The only thing that somewhat pleased Ordyntsev was the sour mugs of Uramasa and Shin.
The latter's perpetual smile even slipped off from time to time.
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Stas didn't hesitate to send them for hours on end to solve issues, dumping the most unpleasant and responsible tasks on them.
Moreover, he did it publicly, not caring about the feelings of the "subordinates."
They, though grinding their teeth, were forced to obediently follow orders. Jishin had made it crystal clear: "Either you obey the Serpent, or you dig latrines."
Meanwhile, others watched this spectacle and took note of what could be done and what couldn't.
Although Ordyntsev had no intention of commanding anyone in the future, he was compelled to instill respect or reverential fear.
Of course, there would always be fools, but he could weed out most of them from the start.
On the third day after Izuna's death, the funeral took place. As was customary, the coffins with the bodies of "Goro" and the elder prince were buried very deep in the stone.
Two supremes tasked with this part had softened the rock so effectively at the necessary locations that the stone coffins submerged almost with a gurgle.
Near the Citadel, there turned out to be a stone plateau suitable for the ceremony, with many low-set tombstones. No names were written on them, just a couple of lines of wishes for the afterlife.
There weren't many people at the funeral, and nobody spoke much.
Only the soft chanting of monks and the ringing of their ritual tools could be heard.
In contrast, the ceremony of the new clan head's ascension was literally bursting with people.
It was held five days after the duel.
And the celebration turned out quite well. Numerous snacks and alcohol were brought out, causing the warmasters to carouse for yet another day. Considering that there was, in fact, a war going on, such luxury looked very strange.
In the ceremony itself, in Stas's opinion, there was nothing special. It all was quite utilitarian.
A special master of ceremonies summoned Jishin from the room next to the hall, after which the prince knelt before the assembled elders and a representative of the Council of the Supremes. Behind them, all the rest who were invited crowded in.
Surprisingly, the Council representative was Jun. Apparently, the speech delivered by a certain reckless sensei and its consequences impressed the supremes so much that they unanimously voted for his candidacy. Or maybe his closeness to the new clan head played a role. After all, an uncle is still family.
Then, each of the elders rose and swore allegiance to Jishin, kneeling and bowing deep before him.
Jishin politely thanked the elder, and the ceremony was repeated ten more times, including Jun.
When it was his turn, the tension in the hall thickened, but the problematic supreme did not cause trouble, and to everyone's relief, he did exactly as required of him.
Then, as mentioned above, there were feasts. Although, Stas did not really attend them.
The necessity of listening to yet another report from Shin's spies forced him to leave the celebration.
The reason for the haste was clear – although the Mizuno and Sumada armies had parted ways for the time being, the war could resume at any moment.
In such conditions, one had to hurry.
And in general, Ordyntsev's role was to act as a sort of command center.
Shin's spies reported their thoughts on the meeting to Katashi, and he, in turn, sent his messengers.
The distance between their clan lands was pretty significant, so these messengers had to exert all their strength. And even so, the round trip took a couple of days.
Organizing a "shuttle run" somewhat eased the situation but did not simplify it entirely.
Nevertheless, after two weeks, the main issues had been settled, and the parties agreed on a suitable meeting place.
And now came a new batch of difficulties.
Firstly, Jishin had to set out someplace, as he could not just leave the Citadel. Considering his new status, this involved too much attention.
As a result, Stas had to prepare two diversion groups, which were supposed to confuse potential spies by pretending to be Jishin's procession, heading to conclude profitable deals with several major merchants.
The third group, including the prince himself, was supposed to move between these two and vanish into one of the vast forests.
And here, they smoothly approached the second problem.
Although there were no doubts about the Kindhearted's loyalty, it was prudent to consider that an ambush might await them at the meeting place.
At the same time, they could not expose themselves - even in order to frighten Mizuno with a potential attack.
By the end of the third week, Stas had noticeably lost weight and acquired grayish bags under his eyes. He had to travel back and forth between Rashta and neighboring minor countries too often to feel normal.
Involuntarily, he even thought about creating some kind of palanquin for warmasters, so tired was he of running countless kilometers.
But everything comes to an end.
And so, the preparation was over, too.
Jishin took very few people with him. Specifically, only those he could trust unconditionally.
Among the familiar ones were Kensei, Gash, and Stas, as well as Ryo and Naoki Sumada, two supreme bodyguards who seemed to have been accompanying him all his life.
There were also five other fighters, of which only two were supremes.
Ordyntsev, for his part, took Mari, her father Kenta, and Leviathan.
Kaede excused herself to visit her mentor. The lamia had moved further away from the Sumada Citadel, closer to the coast, so the journey was supposed to take some time.
Stas wasn't particularly happy about this turn of events, but he gave in. After all, Kaede had honestly helped to conceal Jishin and had the right to meet with her sensei.
After saying goodbye, the yokai went in the opposite direction, while the rest went towards the bordering countries. One of them was the planned meeting place.
*****
"I don't like this at all," Uramasa grumbled, scowling and looking gloomy at the surrounding trees. "I smell some treachery afoot. These warmasters of yours can't be trusted. They'll betray you at the drop of a hat."
"Kensei, stop panicking," snapped Jishin, who was also very tense. They had almost reached the agreed point, and according to the tracks found, someone had already been there.
"You always talk about the treachery of warmasters," Gash chuckled, walking nearby. Stas had already figured out the role he played in the retinue of the new clan head, namely one of the trusted field commanders. "As if the samurai don't betray."
"They do, of course," the former samurai readily agreed. "But they do it much less often. We, I mean they, have a code, but what do you have? Techniques?"
"Power," Gash sarcastically threw back, grinning darkly. "Why do you need some code when you have power?"
"Somehow, I don't remember your power helping you much when you faced that blade master," Uramasa leaned over and, reaching out, poked his finger into the shoulder pad of the calmly walking Gash, then quickly withdrew his hand.
An instantly unsheathed tanto flickered at the same spot.
"Someday, you will lose that hand. And about that master, I was already tired by then, and before that, I had already finished off two like him!"
"In your dreams," Kensei laughed, accidentally almost stepping on Stas's foot but pulling back in time. There was an awkward silence, but the ronin chose to pretend that nothing had happened. "And that samurai was clearly not the same as the others. Damn, the sword in the hands of this Ryudaiyo literally sang when he was cutting you down."
"Ryudaiyo?" Stas asked in surprise. "Perhaps, Kano?"
"Do you know him?" Gash turned his head with curiosity. Ordyntsev had already roughly understood the limits of this young man's interests, and at the top, most likely, was indeed war.
"We met during the siege of Gaibatsu," Stas explained reluctantly, already regretting that he had spoken. "A very dangerous samurai."
"Wait a minute," Gash squinted suspiciously. "Exactly how did you part ways? Why didn't you kill him? Or he, you?"
"Let's just say, I tossed him. Very far away," Stas admitted honestly, after which he got to witness the warmaster choking with laughter.
"So that's why he was cursing our clan and dishonorable warmasters! When we fought, he kept recalling someone from our clan, swearing that he would definitely meet that person and repay the debt."
"Pf-f-f," Stas found nothing to say to that. "I take it he's alive?"
"Indeed," Kensei explained. "Gash got reinforcements, and Ryudaiyo had to run."
Stas gratefully nodded to Uramasa. Ordyntsev was amused by how naively Kensei tried to regain lost trust. He did it foolishly and tactlessly, but, on the other hand, sincerely.
Unlike Shin, who, maintaining his crooked smile, simmered in anger, Kensei accepted the necessity of obeying the Serpent much easier, taking everything that happened with a touch of humor.
Over time, Uramasa grew convinced that Shiro was not the kind of person who would vie with someone for friendship.
Apparently, he even welcomed such an outcome, believing that it was his way of paying for his mistake.
Stas didn't bother to convince him it wasn't all over yet.
"Quiet!" Ryo, who specialized in close combat and led the way, raised his hand. All conversations immediately ceased.
The shrubbery ahead shivered, and out stepped a warmaster dressed in gray, devoid of any clan symbols.
Jishin was in a mask and cloak, so it was impossible to recognize him. The rest were also draped in cloaks that hid their identities.
For a few seconds, the stranger looked them over attentively, then asked tensely:
"Unyielding land?"
"All-consuming water," Stas nodded, giving the correct response. "Has Katashi Mizuno already arrived?"
"Recently," the Mizuno agent nodded. "Please, come in."
The newcomers did not keep him waiting.
As it turned out, the Kindhearted had not wasted time and had enjoyed his leisure well.
"Glad to see you, friends," the current head of the great water clan, sitting on a log in front of a fire, greeted them with a broad smile. "Join us; the meat is almost ready. Sora is a true master when it comes to cooking it."
The woman roasting meat on glowing coals turned and gave the approaching Sumada a cursory but attentive glance, allowing the guests to recognize one of the supremes in her.
"And you, I see, haven't changed a bit?" Jishin snorted contemptuously, sizing up the sprawling Katashi with disdain. "You're now the head of a great clan. Why don't you behave accordingly?"
The surrounding Mizuno tensed noticeably, while Ordyntsev had a sudden urge to strangle his clan head.
'Why this groundless swagger?!'
And although the water clan had brought exactly as many people as they had agreed upon, it didn't make things any easier, as their forces were equal.
However, the Kindhearted was not offended by the sharp words of his interlocutor, but just laughed good-naturedly.
"Hey, Jishin, haven't you had enough of all this formality yet? As far as I know, it's been several weeks since you were acknowledged as the head. Still haven't had your fill of etiquette, huh?"
The stony visage of the Sumada clan head remained motionless for a few seconds before collapsing, revealing a small smirk.
"You're right - I can't stand it anymore," the surrounding warmasters from both clans noticeably relaxed, withdrawing their hands from the hilts of their weapons.
"Let your men take a seat at the other fires. We were just about to have lunch," at Jishin's signal, his fighters did just that.
A separate log was set aside for Jishin, Ordyntsev, Kensei, and Gash, positioned sideways to avoid the smoke from the fire.
Katashi also had three advisors. The already familiar Aoi Mizuno, his own uncle, and two other supremes, the earlier-mentioned Sora and the emotionless Shigo.
If Ordyntsev remembered correctly, they, like him, took part in the assault on Gaibatsu, albeit on the opposite side of the barricades.