"Janna," Sunwhisper said after a long moment of silence, his voice calm, ignoring the ache in his hip, "I need you to tell this man the truth."

The door had already been shut, so the cell contained only Janna, Sunwhisper, Hago, and the watchers that she had heard rustling in the corners of the room. Janna opened her mouth, her face highlighted by the beam of the bullseye lantern Hago carried, but all that came out was, "Uh…"

"Isn’t it true," Sunwhisper continued, "that there was a second theft at the First Elder’s warehouse?"

"Yes?" She replied carefully.

"But you were not a part of that theft, correct?"

"Yes?" Janna’s intonation suggested a lack of confidence in her answers, but she was following along as best she could.

"It was after that theft that the First Elder sent me to find you," Sunwhisper spun the story, "Artist Kuei was discovered at the foot of Jigoku, and she shared the particulars of what occurred in the mountain, so we knew that you and Makoto Shishio were the only other survivors. I set out on the road the morning after the second theft, and I have been close behind you ever since. There was evidence of a cultivator duel on the road, and I suspect you know more about that than I do. Can you tell Hago what you know?"

Janna stood and presented Hago with a formal bow, hiding her uncertainty. "What my brother says is correct. Shishio knew that I didn’t want to return to Fringe Village, and he suggested I meet him on the road, but he did not tell me what he had planned, or that the elder Makoto would be waiting there as well."

"The border guardian?" Hago interrupted. "So you have seen him." Sunwhisper watched him out of the corner of his eyes. Hago showed no sign of antagonism toward Janna, and having his suspicions bear fruit so quickly would appear to be another stroke of luck. It was easy to imagine that a young girl would be afraid of telling the truth, having acted under the influence of stronger personalities. Hago seemed inclined to interpret the situation in that light.

"Yes, Master Azai, he was waiting on the road for Shishio, as I waited. But when his young cousin arrived, there was an argument."

"They fought?" Hago leaned forward in interest, no doubt eager to hear how the elder Makoto had put an upstart in his place.

"Yes, Master Azai. They argued about the fruits, and the second theft, and the argument led to other matters between them I was not aware of. Apparently, there had been some wrong done by the border guardian to Shishio in the past, and he wished to claim a blood debt."

"Against the border guardian? He dared?"

"He did. It was a difficult battle, and in the end, Makoto Shishio was victorious, as his elder cousin lay dead."

Hago nearly dropped the lantern. Even in Silk Flower Town, they would know that the border guardian was a formidable opponent.

"That is hard to believe. Why did you say nothing of this when I questioned you before?"

"What I witnessed was so incredible, I thought that you would not accept it." Janna bowed again. "Please forgive my ignorance, but I was also ashamed of my involvement. I have dishonored my family more than once, first with my crime, and then by not returning to the village when I survived Jigoku. Lying to you has only compounded my shame."

"But how did he do it? This Shishio? How could he defeat the border guardian?"

Janna shook her head as if what she had witnessed were too horrible to consider. "Shishio made a pact with the Red Spider."

"What? What is this?" Hago looked to Sunwhisper for clarification, but he was keeping his focus on Janna. The watchers rustled in their corners, perhaps excited by the tale.

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

"The Red Spider was the sacred beast we were sent to hunt in Jigoku. Shishio made a pact with it, allowing us to survive, and allowing him to borrow its power."

"Impossible!" Hago raised his arms, and for a moment Janna was able to make out the outline of one of the watchers in the shadows that the lantern cast, but the shape made no sense to her, and she had no time to spare on what she saw. "Are you telling me the boy I am looking for is nearly at his fourth star?"

"No, Master Azai. I do not believe so. But he worked in tandem with the demon, and together they were able to overcome Makoto with tricks and a sudden strike from behind."

"I still cannot believe it."

"What happened to the body?" Sunwhisper asked. "If the elder Makoto is dead, why was he not discovered?"

Janna looked between the two men, doing her best to ascertain what they both wanted.

"I can tell you where he is buried."

"Tell me then." Hago listened carefully as Janna described the area where the duel had taken place, and he made a decision. Then he addressed Sunwhisper. "If everything she has said is true, then I will release your sister into the service of the First Elder of Fringe Town, he can mete out whatever punishment he sees fit for her actions, but not before we have the body to present to Lady Makoto."

"I understand," Sunwhisper said, "let us take you there."

"No," Hago smiled. "She will take me. You, my friend, can remain here as a guest of the Azai until we return."

Janna gasped. "That is not necessary, please, he has done nothing wrong."

"Did I say it was a punishment?" He gave Janna a glare. "As long as you do not run, and there are no more lies, then all will be well for the both of you. I think you will behave better knowing he is well and cared for."

"I accept," Sunwhisper said, and though the look Janna shot at him was astonished, she deferred.

"I will do as you say, Master Azai, it is more than I deserve."

"Agreed." Hago looked pleased, and Sunwhisper was doing his best to project a sense that nothing was amiss, that the entire situation was going according to plan, sharing that sense with everyone in the room.

"My friend," Hago laid a hand on Sunwhisper’s shoulder, "would you object to waiting for us here? I will instruct my clansmen to provide you with whatever you need for your stay. You are a guest, after all, and this room is quite safe."

"I have no objections," Sunwhisper said, "and I am in need of nothing but my sister’s return."

"Well said," Hago grinned, but there was a fragility to his amiable demeanor. Sunwhisper knew exactly what kind of position he had been put in, effectively a hostage of the Azai. Had their positions been reversed, Hago would have argued, even to the point of instigating a duel. The suggestion that Sunwhisper remain in the holding cell may have been no more than a test of his resolve, the Azai almost certainly had more comfortable appointments that were equally secure for when they chose to host guests who were honored but not trusted. Any debate on the point could have threatened the feelings of general agreement Sunwhisper was projecting with Aura of the Bleeding Heart, so he had taken the first offer to be made.

"Will we leave in the morning?" Janna asked.

"We will leave immediately," Hago replied. The hour was late, but there was no reason to delay. Lady Makoto would eventually be involved, and all the present parties wanted this business to be resolved before she arrived, though for different reasons.

Sunwhisper bid them both farewell, and Hago was in such a rush to leave that he took the lantern with him, returning the cell to total darkness. Starscream had been distracting him with commentary throughout the night, and he was glad to finally have the time to answer him properly.

{This is perfect for us.}

(Turning yourself into a prisoner is perfect? I’d hate to see what you would call a setback.)

{Look, we have a notification.}

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Quest Alert – Challenge – Escape the Azai Compound

You find yourself trapped in a dungeon in the heart of enemy territory, a not uncommon state of affairs in the life of a hero. You could wait for things to work themselves out, meditate upon your choices and trust in the good intentions of your captors. Or, you could show yourself out.

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Sunwhisper cleared his throat. Ever since entering the room, he had been aware of the watchers. While Starscream’s perceptions were not as detailed as actual sight, they were more than adequate for revealing the positions of the cell’s guardians, as well as the fact that they were far from human.