is the greatest prize a barbarian can have. Of course this has always been their undoing. The men of Seh cannot live with this dishonor, so we cross the border and burn their villages, driving them back into the barrens—for a time.
“This game of raiding our villages and estates always has the same end, yeh? But recently, Lord Shonto, the behavior of the barbarians has changed.
“It has always been their practice—for hundreds of years—to press their attacks with total commitment and when our reinforcements arrive,to either stand and fight or, if they are vastly outnumbered, to wait until the last possible second before they retreat. This is the kind of bravura I expect from them. They despise cowards more than anything. But in these new raids they don’t risk a single man! They are always gone before our reinforcements arrive and they seldom even break through our stockades. I know them, Sire, I have watched them all my life. This is not proper barbarian behavior!
“This is why I consider it to be a mystery. These attacks make no sense. Even in barbarian terms they are without purpose. They have taken very little plunder and no women though they have had opportunities. Yet I seem to be the only one who thinks the barbarians are acting in an unusual manner. It is said, though not to my face, that my odd ideas are the result of my youth. So you see, you may have wasted your time listening to the babblings of a child.” Komawara laughed nervously.
“And what do those who are not hampered by youth say?”
“They say the barbarians become weaker and more cowardly every year and that soon they will be afraid to even cross our borders. The men of Seh believe that their prowess as warriors has the barbarians cowering in fear.”
“Ah. And from your position of relative inexperience, what do you recommend?”
“So far we have not taken a single captive. The barbarians are too cautious. I recommend a quick sortie into their lands with the express purpose of taking prisoners. I have often found that when two men speak from their hearts, much can be learned. But no doubt this is an immature view that I will soon grow out of.”
“I, for one, value the opinions of the young. They are not informed by long experience, but they are also not the result of mere habit. I shall consider your words with great care, Lord Komawara, I thank you.”
“It is my duty, Lord Governor. I am honored that you have listened.”
“Now tell me, what is it that brings you to the capital when Seh is in such danger?”
“Unlike most of my neighbors, my lands are well guarded and fortified. My father believed in spending more on defense than on trade, yeh? In this way he was a bit old-fashioned. The result of his belief is that, though the Komawara are not poor, we have not the position we once had. To my everlasting shame, my father sold part of the family fief before he died. It is my hope to buy this land back and to restore the good name the Komawara once had.”
“Everyone knows the name of Komawara to be ancient and respected. I’m sure you will have even greater honors under the new dynasty.”
“I hope you are correct, Lord Shonto.”
So, Shonto thought, this is what the young one desires—a return to former power. It was an old story and Shonto had heard it many times before. Most of the secondary Houses in the Empire had the same dream, though in many cases the former power was mythical. But not so with the Komawara. They had once been the true rulers of the north—and long before the Imperial Governors had been created. At times the Komawara had even rivaled the Imperial family in military strength. More than one Komawara daughter had been a bride to an Emperor—but that had been long ago; their power and influence had waned in the early days of the Hanama.
During the two hundred years that sea trade had developed, the House of Komawara had slowly declined as had all the clans that clung to the past. The old
“This game of raiding our villages and estates always has the same end, yeh? But recently, Lord Shonto, the behavior of the barbarians has changed.
“It has always been their practice—for hundreds of years—to press their attacks with total commitment and when our reinforcements arrive,to either stand and fight or, if they are vastly outnumbered, to wait until the last possible second before they retreat. This is the kind of bravura I expect from them. They despise cowards more than anything. But in these new raids they don’t risk a single man! They are always gone before our reinforcements arrive and they seldom even break through our stockades. I know them, Sire, I have watched them all my life. This is not proper barbarian behavior!
“This is why I consider it to be a mystery. These attacks make no sense. Even in barbarian terms they are without purpose. They have taken very little plunder and no women though they have had opportunities. Yet I seem to be the only one who thinks the barbarians are acting in an unusual manner. It is said, though not to my face, that my odd ideas are the result of my youth. So you see, you may have wasted your time listening to the babblings of a child.” Komawara laughed nervously.
“And what do those who are not hampered by youth say?”
“They say the barbarians become weaker and more cowardly every year and that soon they will be afraid to even cross our borders. The men of Seh believe that their prowess as warriors has the barbarians cowering in fear.”
“Ah. And from your position of relative inexperience, what do you recommend?”
“So far we have not taken a single captive. The barbarians are too cautious. I recommend a quick sortie into their lands with the express purpose of taking prisoners. I have often found that when two men speak from their hearts, much can be learned. But no doubt this is an immature view that I will soon grow out of.”
“I, for one, value the opinions of the young. They are not informed by long experience, but they are also not the result of mere habit. I shall consider your words with great care, Lord Komawara, I thank you.”
“It is my duty, Lord Governor. I am honored that you have listened.”
“Now tell me, what is it that brings you to the capital when Seh is in such danger?”
“Unlike most of my neighbors, my lands are well guarded and fortified. My father believed in spending more on defense than on trade, yeh? In this way he was a bit old-fashioned. The result of his belief is that, though the Komawara are not poor, we have not the position we once had. To my everlasting shame, my father sold part of the family fief before he died. It is my hope to buy this land back and to restore the good name the Komawara once had.”
“Everyone knows the name of Komawara to be ancient and respected. I’m sure you will have even greater honors under the new dynasty.”
“I hope you are correct, Lord Shonto.”
So, Shonto thought, this is what the young one desires—a return to former power. It was an old story and Shonto had heard it many times before. Most of the secondary Houses in the Empire had the same dream, though in many cases the former power was mythical. But not so with the Komawara. They had once been the true rulers of the north—and long before the Imperial Governors had been created. At times the Komawara had even rivaled the Imperial family in military strength. More than one Komawara daughter had been a bride to an Emperor—but that had been long ago; their power and influence had waned in the early days of the Hanama.
During the two hundred years that sea trade had developed, the House of Komawara had slowly declined as had all the clans that clung to the past. The old
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