Ryuichi couldn’t even begin to imagine it.
“Kato is one of the best archers we have.” Another boy moved to bow in greeting. He was almost as tall as Ryuichi. With deep-set eyes and a square chin, he had a pleasant smile. “I’m Jiro.”
Ryuichi bowed to them both. “Nice to meet you.”
Jiro motioned him toward the far wall. “There’s an open bed next to Pim. But he doesn’t talk much.”
“Pim?” He frowned at the unusual name.
Jiro leaned forward to whisper. “His father’s also from Europe.”
“I’m Dutch.”
Ryuichi gasped as the boy appeared at his side. But that wasn’t as startling as his curly white hair and vibrant blue eyes that rivaled a summer sky for their color. And his skin...
Never had Ryuichi seen anyone so very pale. “What’sDutch?”
The boy rolled his eyes. “I’m from the West. A place called the Netherlands.”
The two bowed to each other.
Again, it was well known that Nobunaga didn’t follow traditional Japanese customs that required samurai come from the bravest families. He made samurai and warriors out of all manner of people, including peasants.
Another thing Ryuichi had been mocked for at his old school, as many of the boys there had sworn his father was a peasant, hence why no one knew his father’s name.
But Ryuichi knew better. One of his father’s retainers had brought him there as an infant and spoken up on his behalf. Peasants didn’t have servants.
His father had been a noble lord. He knew it with everything he had.
“I’m Ryuichi.”
Pim gestured toward the far wall. “Come, Ryuichi. I’ll show you the open bed.”
As he followed, he noted that the other students seemed just as friendly.
Because they don’t know that you have no family.
True. Everyone was kind until they learned he was nothing special.
Had Hiero been anything other than a man and samurai of honor, Ryuichi would have been cast out, just as Yoshi-sensei had so often threatened to do.
Sighing with regret, he placed his clothes and meager belongings in a small chest at the head of his futon.
As soon as he settled his things, a fierce wind blew through all the windows. The lanterns and candles went out.
Darkness consumed the barracks.
A terrifying laugh rang around them. “Dragon, dragon, shadow’s night. Come to me, my master’s tyke!”
“Tengu,” Pim whispered as he helped Ryuichi find his way through the darkness.
“Here, chicky, chicky, chicky...” The tengu’s words sounded like a slashing blade. The sound of wings echoed around them.
Ryuichi tried to see Pim in the darkness, but he could only make out the faintest outline of his body. “What do we do?”
The others formed a circle.
More sounds came from outside. The scurrying of feet and the sound of steel.
