Missing The Mark
Severus sat at the small table, not much bigger than a foot in height as he looked over pages of strange characters. The writing was nothing like he had seen before and he had seen Greek and some Arabic. Not only that but the structure was very different. Instead of reading left to right or right to left, it seemed to read from top to bottom. And what was harder still, there seemed to be numerous symbols that shared characteristics, some only being a line difference between the two.
This was going to take a lot of time.
He turned to his right as he heard the door to his room slid open, revealing a female servant, who bowed to him before shuffling inside and sliding the door closed. She then presented him with a small box and opening the lid, she sat the opened box on her upturned palms. "[From Lord Toranaga.]"
Inside was a long, thin, black, braided cord with tasseled ends. Lifting it out of the box, he stared at it with a raised brow. Was it some kind of thin belt? He was unsure.
Seeing his confusion, the servant held out her hands, into which Severus placed the cord. And moving behind him, her hands gently brushed his hair back over his shoulders and began to wrap the cord around it. She did several wraps and secured it with a bow. Severus reached back and touched his newly ponytailed hair, sweeping it over his right shoulder. "Thank you." he nodded to the women, who once again bowed before leaving the same way she had entered. "Well, that was strange."
-
"[Lady Mariko, what did you think of the meeting with the barbarian?]" Lord Toranaga prompted as they sat across from one another.
"[If I may speak frankly, my Lord.]" Mariko began, "[His presence worries me. While he speaks and acts as expected of any when in your presence, sire, the things he says, they cause me to hesitate.]"
"[Would you objects if I asked you to act as his translator?]" Toranaga requested.
Mariko bowed to him and answered, "[I have no objections and will do as his Lordship requires of me.]"
"[Good, your duties begin tomorrow, for now you are dismissed.]" Toranaga told her and watched as she left before returning his attention to his paperwork, readying them for the next day.
-
Severus had been in a light state of sleep, having only just managing to drift off when his eyes suddenly snapped open. The hair on his arms stood on end. Something was wrong.
-
Her footfalls were almost silent and easily drowned out by the panicked and hysterical cries that filled the air. She threw open the door to another room and grabbing the hair of the startled maid, she slashed her knife across her neck before discarding her to the side.
Moving quickly, she entered the next room and slit the throats of another two maids before finally finding the room as described to her. And there in the middle of the room laid her mark. Facing away from her, his covers up to his shoulders and his long black hair obscuring his face from view. Without time to lose and the guards on alert, she knelt besides him.
Her fingers tight around the handle, she plunged the blade into his neck and yanked it towards her. She then gasped in disbelief as before her eyes, what had once been the body of her target changed and turned into pillows. Blood smeared filling spilling out of the newly made gash. "I think you missed." sneered a voice in a language she didn't understand.
Looking over her shoulder, she watched in anger as her mark stepped out of the shadows, what looked to be a single black chopstick in his hand. She pulled free her knife and bared her teeth at him.
He flicked his hand towards her and suddenly an electric shock pulsed in her hand, causing her to scream, the knife flying from her hand and into the corner of the room. She nursed her hand, her eyes flicking between the barbarian and the knife.
-
Severus narrowed his eyes at the women and slowly shook his head. But suddenly desperation flashed across her thoughts and she turned back and flung herself towards her knife.
A sword slashed across the back of the women's neck, her body collapsing to the floor.
There in the adjoining doorway was Lord Toranaga as he flicked the blood free from his sword before sheathing it.
Discreetly putting away his wand, he bowed to Toranaga, who nodded in acknowledgment.
Hurried footsteps broke the silence as they were joined by guards and an older women with her maid. "[Are you hurt, Lord Toranaga.]" the women inquired, her voice shaken.
"[No, the barbarian and I are both unharmed.]" Toranaga replied.
Severus looked over at the lifeless body in the corner of his room and shaking his head, he sighed "What a waste."
No one would be able to sleep that night.
-
Servants hurried as they prepared for that days departure from Osaka as Mariko made her way to the Barbarian's quarters. After the events of the previous night, he had been moved for his safety.
She waited outside as the doors were slid open for her, allowing her to enter. Inside the barbarian stood near the veranda leading into the garden, he seemed to be studying a book.
Cautiously, she approached him and introduced herself, "My name is Toda Mariko, Lord Toranaga has assigned me as your translator while you are here."
"I see." The barbarian answered. "I'd prefer someone who spoke English but Portuguese is fine, I suppose." He then tilted his book towards her and pointed to a word. "This kanji and this one have the exact same brush work with the exception of this short line here. I believe that means they are related to each other, what do they mean?"
"The kanji without the extra stroke means "water" and, the one with means "ice"." she explained with an air of confusion.
"Water and frozen water, essentially." he nodded.
"May I ask: why are you reading standing up?" Mariko questioned studying the man's face carefully.
"Well as you've no doubt noticed, the servants are busying themselves with readying for today's departure." he began gesturing over his shoulder. "I have nothing to do in the meantime but in order to not inconvenience the staff, there's little I can do while I wait. And I noticed there was no foot traffic out here on the veranda but there's natural light, so I can clearly study. And I am standing because I was told to be ready at a moments notice."
"That's very thoughtful of you, barbarian." Mariko stated in surprise.
"Not really, it's just common sense." the barbarian dismissed and looking over to Mariko, he continued, "Do you call all Europeans barbarian or just me? I do have a name, it's Severus Snape. I understand it might not translate well into Japanese but it should be easier in the Portuguese tongue."
"Se-ve-rus Snape?" Mariko frowned.
"It's a mixture of Roman and I believe Norse." the barbarian explained and at her confused looked he elaborated, "My country has been invaded by many different countries in it's past: the Romans, Vikings, French. And they bring their language and influence with them."
Mariko looked out into the peaceful garden, "You're right. That name doesn't translate easily into Japanese."
The door behind them opened and a soldier announced, "[Ready yourselves, we have our orders to leave immediately.]"
"We must get ready, we need to depart soon." Mariko translated and turning she went to leave. but was closely followed by the barbarian, who reluctantly closed his book and placed it inside his clothes.
-
"I take it then, that there's still no news on who sent the assassin last night?" Severus prompted as they left the main building and joined the others in the courtyard.
"I'm afraid not." Mariko answered simply.
"Wonderful." Severus said. "So, we're left twisting in the wind?
"Twisting in the wind?" Mariko repeated a confused look on her face.
"It means to be left in a state of uncertainty." Severus explained.
"I see." she nodded.
"[Where is Kiri No Kata?]" demanded Lord Hiromatsu impatiently.
"[Forgive me for my lateness, Lord Hiromatsu.]" The older Japanese women from the night before emerged from the building, followed by her attendants. "[I am but an old women and, need longer to prepare.]"
"[Normally that wouldn't be an issue, on any other day.]" Hiromatsu lamented to himself.
"[Lady Kiri, I wish I could come with you.]" a heavily pregnant women said as she rushed out to the older women's side.
"[I know, my dear.]" Kiri answered sympathetically and gently placing her hand on the other women's rounded belly, she added, "[But isn't save for you to travel at the moment. We will be reunited again when your child is here.]"
The older women then turned and was carefully helped into one of the palanquins, the lid and door sliding closed behind her.
"[Lord Ishido!]" came a call from the gates as differently dressed soldiers entered, guarding a powerful looking man. Severus stepped out of the way and bowed with Mariko as they approached.
-
Lord Toranaga crept closer, keeping out of sight. If he was to smuggle his way out of Osaka, he needed to wait for the signal.
He could hear Lord Ishido making polite conversation with Kiri. He then heard the lid close and the door to the palanquin was slid closed. The all clear was given and-
He heard Shizu cry out loud, signalling him to move. Just as they had hoped, everyone's eyes were drawn to Shizu as Kiri slid the door facing him open and crept out. He then quietly slipped inside and slid the door and window shutters closed.
-
Severus heard the subtle sound of wood sliding, pulling his attention away from scene on the stairs and towards the palanquin as he witnessed the shutters close and a female figure wearing a shaded hat disappeared out of sight.
Looking back, his eyes and Mariko's met and he nodded to her.
Then as they were walking out of the first gate, he turned to her and asked in a hushed voice, "Did you know?"
"No, no one here knows." Mariko replied in the same quiet tone.
"And what would happen if he was to be exposed?" Severus prompted, although he could probably guess.
"He would be executed, along with everyone here." Mariko explained matter of factually.
Severus said nothing but nodded his understanding.
"[Inspect the palanquins.]" ordered a soldier at the second gate.
"[The palanquins have already been inspected.]" retorted one of Toranaga's soldiers.
"[Well, we're checking them again.]" insisted one of Ishido's soldiers as he shoved the man out of the way. "[Apologizes.]"
Carefully sliding his wand from his pocket, he waited for the soldier to close up the first palanquin and begin to make his way to the second. When Severus felt he was close enough, he gave the soldier a nasty shock in the form of a leg-locking jinx, causing the man to fall forwards onto his face.
Then man then rolled onto his back and grasped his leg. "[My leg. It's stuck.]"
"[What are you talking about?]" demanded the soldier at the gate.
"[My leg wont move!]" the lower ranked soldier stated as he desperately pulled at his leg. "[I can't get up!]"
The soldier from the gate stormed over. "[Get up! What do you mean your leg's stuck?]"
"A terrible time to get a leg cramp." Severus whispered. "And wearing all that heavy armor, too."
"[What do you two think you're doing?!]" came a shout as who looked to me a senior office road towards them on horseback. "[Hurry and send them on their way.]"
Severus quietly removed the jinx and replace his wand securely back into his robe, and watched with some amusement as the two men scrabbled to the gates. "[Open the gates!]" came a call and the second gate was opened and allowed them to pass through and towards their freedom.