Takeda no Katsumi
Konji Inson
TEMPLE OF THE IMMORTALS


Just surrender to the cycle of things,
Give yourself to the waves of the Great Change,
Neither happy nor yet afraid,
And when it is time to go, then simply go
Without any unnecessary fuss.

	-- T'ao Ch'ien

Whoever in this world overcomes his selfish cravings, his sorrows fall away from him, like drops of water from a lotus flower.

	-- Dhammapada, 336

.....

China

The Shao-Shih Mountains

1221 AD

.....

For over a month, Takeda no Katsumi, the ronin Samurai from Nihon, and Konji Inson, the Korean Shaolin monk, accompanied the eccentric immortal Changu Loo. His caravan wended its way through the dangerous mountains of North Korea, where Khitan bandits roamed, and Mongols ruled.

It was not a trip without adventure -- there were several confrontations with armed horsemen who thought to capture a weak merchant caravan, but Changu Loo's mercenary archers and swordsmen proved able to repel them....with help from the two immortals, Konji and Katsumi.

Mongols posed a far greater threat, but the only time they presented themselves, at outposts on the roads and at river crossings, Changu Loo was able to negotiate passage without violence. It was Konji and Katsumi's first look at these mounted warriors from the north with such a ferocious reputation, though. They seemed very fierce indeed, but much smaller in stature than their reputation suggested. They wore lacquered or leather armor, carried short, curved swords, and all of them had a well-used bow, with gnarled, calloused fingers proving that those bows were used often. Bowlegged strides made it obvious that their reputation as horsemen was well-earned. Their horses were mere ponies, though -- Samurai with their warhorses would laugh at such diminutive steeds.

They wore conical helmets, and all sported mustaches and beards. Their language sounded somewhat similar to Chinese, but had a grunting quality that made in less aesthetically pleasing.

Konji aroused no special curiosity in them, but after the first encounter, Changu Loo told Katsumi to stay out of sight the next time they met Mongols, or she might become the price of passage. "Mongols are fond of collecting wives, and many of them have a taste for exotic, foreign wives," he said.


Konji and Katsumi learned little about Changu Loo. He was very busy as caravan master, and did not often socialize with the other two immortals. Any schemes Katsumi might have devised to get closer to him were foiled, by chance or by design -- he always seemed busy or else accompanied by his other faithful hirelings when she thought she might engage him in more private conversation.

The temptation of a (presumably) elder immortal had to go unsated. But if Nyuyen was right about what's waiting at the Shaolin temple.....


As the caravan turned south, heading into Sung China, it found larger towns and a more civilized nation. Indeed, it was surprising how prosperous China seems to be, while under attack from the north.

Eventually, the Shao-Shih mountains appeared on the horizon.


Changu Loo calls Konji and Katsumi to him after his caravan comes to a rest at the village of Weng-su. The mountains loom to the south, and even from here, one can see small settlements nestled in the foothills.

In his private tent, alone for the first time in weeks, he looks at the other immortals with pleasant good humor.

"The Shaolin-ssu is within two days of here. This is as close as I come, this trip. Are you sure you want to leave?" He gazes inscrutably at Katsumi and says "You may not find exactly what you are looking for."

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

For the length of the trip, Katsumi keeps herself under tight rein, seeming to all outward appearances to have regained much of the peace she had lost after Kazumaru's death in Koryō. There are still times when she is silent, lost in her own thoughts, and her wariness of Changu Loo does not vanish entirely, but she proves an attentive mentor to Konji, diligently carries out her guard duties, and seems to very much enjoy the beauty of the areas the caravan passes through. Even when she is forced to fend off the advances of other caravan members, she does so with admirable restraint.

It is merely a facade, of course, and one that is sometimes difficult to maintain, but she does not allow it to slip. In the end, it does not allow her to get as close as she wishes to Changu Loo, but it is primarily meant for the young Shaolin immortal. Katsumi has never dared ascertain the full extent of what the Hwarang may have told him about Dark Quickenings, but she overheard enough to know that the concept had been raised, and that he knows the Shaolin Ssu is supposedly a place where such occurrences might be "cured." The very last thing she needs is for Konji to emphasize to the elders of the temple that she has suffered such a fate, and thus needs to be considered dangerous.

As such, whenever the topic of the Ssu has come up, she has subtly attempted to emphasize the knowledge available there, and that Konji will undoubtedly find a proper mentor there to instruct him in the ways of immortality...she herself is too young to do so effectively, although she is willing to teach what she can. She is aware that her tactics are unlikely to be fully successful, but she does not think Konji can fully comprehend the treachery she intends, and if his optimism might lead him to believe that she is conquering her demons on her own, then all the better...


Within Changu Loo's tent, she bows slightly at the waist to her employer, studiously choosing to take his last statement at face value. "Perhaps not," she replies, "but Konji will. And if I learn some, then I will be satisfied. My thanks for your generousness."

<><><><><>

(Konji)

Life was a constant learning experience, or so Konji had always believed. Thus he took the opportunity to speak with and learn about the people of the caravan as they traveled north toward the land of the Chin. There was a simple kindness to his demeanor that tended to put people at ease and his questions were always sincere, not the meaningless platitudes of the disinterested.

Konji took the time to observe Katsumi as they accompanied the caravan. He continued to try to teach her additional words of his language and to learn her own tongue. In all things he continued to weigh her actions and reactions so as to report to his superiors his observations of this troubled woman. She seemed to be coming to some terms with the events of the recent past, but like so many things in life it could be but an illusion. The mask we show others does not necessarily reflect our inner self.  

As the journey neared a parting of the ways he sought out any information he could from the caravan master or the others on what to expect further ahead.  

He sat in silence in Changu Loo's tent. listening and observing the Nipponese woman who had become his traveling companion.

"I wish to add my own gratitude for your hospitality Master Loo.  Your kindness to our humble selves will be remembered.  Perhaps someday the opportunity to repay your kindness will present itself.  May you be prosperous and travel far in your journey on the wheel."

<><><><><>

(GM)

"One never knows when or how generosity might be repaid. I hope we will indeed meet again." Changu Loo puffs on his pipe, then taps the ashes onto the ground.

With a glance at Konji, he says (presumably to you both), "Don't lose your head," and ambles off to speak to his caravan drivers, leaving the two of you to find your own way to the Shaolin temple.... neither of you, it belatedly dawns, speaking the local language.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

Konji gathered together his possessions, meager though they are, and packed them into his satchel.  He positioned his sword at his side and picked up his staff in one hand, slinging the satchel over the other shoulder. Konji turned toward Katsumi to see if she was finished with her preparations.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Katsumi nods, holding the reins of her mount. "Find directions," she says, gesturing towards the rest of the village. They may not speak the local language, but Konji can be little but a monk, and the scars on his forearms are quite distinctive...perhaps they can gain some minimal assistance.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

"Yes.  You take horses?" he asks first and then proceeds to find a villager to speak with.

"Shao-lin?" he asks in Chinese, one of the few words that he would know as it is the name of their order.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Taking the reins of Radish-Slayer as well as those of her own horse, Katsumi waits at an appropriate distance, watching.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The villager looks at you strangely for a moment, then suddenly comes alive and nods. "Shaolin," he agrees, looking at your arms and your bald head, and says some other things in Chinese which you don't understand.

After a little more coaxing and gesturing, he seems to understand you want to know where the Shaolin-Ssu is. (If there was any likelihood at all of his being literate, you could try communicating with him in writing, since Korean is written with Chinese ideographs. But few peasants know more than the symbol for their clan and village, if that.)

He points vaguely in the direction of the mountains, then tries to refine the directions somewhat so you can at least orient yourself to a particular ridge that he points out. He also manages to convey (if you understand him correctly) that you can reach the temple by sundown. Or by sunrise...you're not sure.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

Konji bows low and thanks the villager for his aid, sure that the intent of his words are conveyed even if the exact meaning of them are not.  He returns to where Katsumi is waiting with the horses.

"It would seem that we are between a half day and a day away from the temple.  I think that we may have trouble bringing the horses with us to the mountains.  The way will most likely be steep and treacherous. Do you wish to leave the horses here?"

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

The ronin considers for a moment, then shakes her head. "Not so close to the road," she answers. Katsumi's experiences while traveling have usually involved poverty, a condition she is far less enamored with than her companion. She is reluctant to entrust her horse to others at all, much less alongside a caravan route.

"We will try to bring them with us," she says, starting off at the peaks. "Travel slowly, if necessary...we do not need to rush."

She swings up onto her mount, casting one last glance over at the caravan. "Ready?"

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He nods and mounts Radish Slayer, placing his satchel in front of him and sliding his staff over his shoulder.  He motions for his horse to follow Katsumi's lead and sit back, looking up at the mountains ahead.

Up there he would meet the mysterious masters of his order.  What wonders would they teach him?  Would they greet him with honor or shame for the loss of the temple in his own homeland and their sacred artifacts.  Konji felt a tightening in his stomach as he thought of that and gnawed on his lower lip nervously.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The ride towards the mountains is quite uneventful, even serene. The scenery is beautiful, and the few peasants you pass on the road look at you with curiosity, but no hostility. The villages appear to be peaceful enough, and no one looks starving. This might be a nice place to live, at least for a peasant. Surely the Shaolin monks who established the temple chose their location well.

The climb becomes a bit steeper as you reach the foothills, but there is a well-worn trail showing that people must go this way fairly often. Probably there are villages all through the mountains, and most likely several exist in close proximity to the temple.

As sundown approaches, you see a small gate just off the path ahead. It is mounted on top of a rise, positioned in front of a mountain slope on which you can just see a small footpath threading its way up the mountain, too steep for horses to go. The gate has a bell in front of it. It's hard to say if this is *the* Shaolin-Ssu, or just a lesser shrine on the way up to the main temple.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The ride is welcomed by the monk, regardless of the soreness that the unaccustomed activity will produce.  It enables him to have time to contemplate how best to approach the matter of Katsumi's condition with the elders and with the warrior woman herself. She will no doubt not want to discuss it, feeling that it would be a dishonor to acknowledge that she might not be in full control of herself. 

He was still mulling over the idea when they came upon the gate. Noticing the time of day, Konji decides that this would be a good time to stop and seek shelter. He pulls up Radish-Slayer and slides off, staggering for a moment as his legs are stiff and sore from the day's ride.  Konji motions toward the gate.

"I will seek shelter for us there."

He matches actions to words and walks over toward the gate, ringing the bell when he arrives.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Rather more gracefully than the monk, Katsumi dismounts, taking the reins of Radish-Slayer from Konji. She remains some distance back as her companion moves to the gate, stroking the horses and watching for any responses.

Given that neither of them can speak the local language, she suspects that it is probably best that Konji handle any initial communications.

<><><><><>

(GM)

A bald monk opens the gate after just a minute, and looks at Konji with no surprise. He nods respectfully and greets him in Chinese, pausing as he spots Katsumi standing with the horses.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The Korean monk returned the bow. He shook his head and spoke in his own language, hoping against hope that he might be understood.

"Greetings brother. I am Konji Inson of the Shaolin. This is my traveling companion Lady Katsumi. We seek shelter for the night and directions to the Shaolin-Ssu."

<><><><><>

(GM)

The monk doesn't seem to understand anything except "Shaolin-Ssu." He looks puzzled, looks back at Katsumi again, then looks at you, says something in Chinese which you don't understand. After thinking another moment, he bids for you to enter, hesitating a bit as Katsumi follows you.


Behind the gate, you see there is only a small temple, probably occupied by only two or three monks. However, a path leads away from it and up toward the mountains -- a separate path from the one you were following. Now you cannot be sure which way leads to the Shaolin-Ssu.

The other monk bows slightly to you and speaks in Chinese, again futilely. Finally he makes reluctant gestures simulating eating rice from a bowl. He looks at your horses and points toward a pair of trees growing a few yards from the little temple.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

With a glance at the monk, Katsumi leads the two horses to the trees, listening to whatever might be said as she carefully ties them in place.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The young monk bows and nods, matching the "eating" motion of his host.  He holds up a finger to signal that they will be but a moment and then joins Katsumi in securing the horses.  He speaks softly to her.

"I am not sure if they want us to spend the night here or but to rest and eat for a brief time before continuing toward the temple.  I will try to learn more but I fear the lack of common speech will make this difficult."

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

The Japanese immortal nods, taking a moment to finish seeing to the horses. "As you see fit," she murmurs. It is frustrating to have to rely so much on another, but she has little choice at the moment.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The slim monk finished tying his horse and returned to the small building a few yards away. He bowed respectfully to the priests and spoke to the eldest one there.

"Shaolin-ssu?" he asks, pointing to the trail that leads up the mountain, an inquisitive expression on his face.

<><><><><>

(GM)

There is only one other monk besides the one who greeted you, slightly older than the first one.

At your question, he nods, and says something in Chinese. Seeing that you don't understand, he speaks to the other monk briefly. Then they both show you their arms, scarred with the brands of monks who have been through the legendary final test of a true Shaolin monk.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The Korean monk smiles in relief at the symbols of his order. A wave of relief sweeps over him as he realizes that he has found his own again.  He pushes back his own sleeves and displays his scars as well.  He then pantomimes eating, wiping his mouth and then walking uphill, saying, "Shaolin-Suu."

Hopefully they will understand the meaning of his question if they will be traveling on to the temple after they eat.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The monks nod, and the younger one fetches a bowl of rice, which he hands to you, with chopsticks. The older one points at the Japanese woman who is standing a few yards back, and the first monk blinks, then fetches another bowl, which he hands to Konji also.

They're clear on the fact that you want to eat. You can't tell whether they understood anything else.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He accepts the bowls of rice graciously and bows to both monks before going over to Katsumi and offering her the bowl with the larger share of rice.

"Will you share rice with us Lady Katsumi?  Please sit and make yourself comfortable. Hopefully they will point us toward the temple after we eat."

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

With a slight bow, Katsumi accepts the bowl. She regards Konji for a moment, then the monks, and after a moment, begins to eat.

<><><><><>

(GM)

After Konji and Katsumi finish eating, the monks simply wait patiently. It appears that the two travelers will have to decide on their own whether they're going to stay here for the night or continue on.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Katsumi regards the monks over the rim of her bowl as she slowly eats, her gaze intent but inscrutable. There must be some way to communicate her desires to these dullards...

Finally, finishing the last of her rice, she returns her bowl to the younger monk, but retains the chopsticks. Holding the monk's gaze long enough to make certain that she has his attention, she kneels down in the middle of the path and begins to sketch characters in the dust of the trail with the back of the eating utensils, her movements graceful and economical.

**We wish to go to the main temple.**

After tracing the last kanji, she glances up, looking for any signs of comprehension. The characters that the Japanese had long ago chosen to use for writing had originally come from China, and retained enough of their meaning that she had been able to understand the meaning of many Chinese texts her family had owned. The reverse should be true, assuming that either of the monks can read.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He watches over her shoulder as she writes in the dust. Looking at the monk, he wonders if either of them will be able to read her message.  While a few of the characters looked somewhat familiar to the writings he had seen in temple, he could not make sense of the sentence.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The monks squint at the characters. They appear to understand them, at least their basic meanings. The older monk raises his head and looks at Katsumi with a frown, then nods and points up the mountain.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He smiles in relief.  

"It appears that we are on the correct trail then Lady Katsumi."

Konji bows to the older monks and expresses his gratitude. 

Taking up his bundle and staff, Konji walks over to the horses and takes one set of reins. "We should walk from here, yes?"

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

After bowing to the older monk, Katsumi, too, approaches the horses. "Hai...we walk. We must leave the horses." Although she is reluctant to do so, the slope that the path follows is just too steep. If the horses can be secure anywhere, however, it should be here. "If we find the temple, I shall make the walk to care for them."

After saying farewell to her steed, and taking the swords she had tied to the saddle, she starts up the narrow path, carefully pacing herself.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He nods and leaves his horse next to hers with a fond final pat on the side. Shouldering his bundles, Konji falls in behind Katsumi and begins the long trek up the mountainside.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The path up the mountainside is steep, and stones keep coming loose underfoot. A tumble down could be painful. This is obviously not a well-used trail. At times you are climbing more than you're walking.

It takes the better part of two hours to travel half the distance from the foot of the mountains to the small shrine where you left your horses. But finally, there is a saddle in the mountainside, about two-thirds of the way up to the peak, and you see a tall log fence with a heavy gate barred from the inside, stretching from one edge of the saddle to the other. Outside, there are no torches lit, only a cold fireplace several paces from the gate, and a gong hanging next to the gate.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The small monk looked at the gateway and wall across their path with a raised eyebrow. It seemed a rather military edifice for a temple but perhaps the brothers here have been plagued by corrupt military or brigands such as only recently destroyed his own temple in his homeland.

With a shrug, Konji stepped up to the gong and struck the metal with the hammer.

<><><><><>

(GM)

It takes quite awhile before someone answers the gong. They are certainly in no hurry to receive visitors, especially at night.

A monk peeks his head over the gate (there must be a ladder or catwalk or the like behind the wall) and almost barks an interrogative in Chinese.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Controlling her impatience with an effort, Katsumi spends the time between the summons and the response examining the defensive wall. It is telling that such a thing exists up here; there are few Japanese monasteries that can boast such defenses.

Although she knows that it is unlikely she will be understood, she steps forward, staring up at the monk. "We are here to see the elders of the temple," she says in Japanese.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

"I am Konji Inson of the Shaolin. I ask for permission for my companion and myself to enter," he adds in his own native tongue in case this brother knows it.

He exposed his forearms as well, revealing the tiger and dragon symbols branded into the flesh.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The monk looks at Katsumi in amazement, as if she's a strange alien woman speaking some barbarian tongue he's never heard before.

He doesn't seem to understand or be impressed by Konji either, but his expression changes when he sees Konji's tattoos. He says something else in Chinese, looks annoyed that neither of you respond to it, then says something else and drops out of sight.

You have to wait several minutes, and wonder if you're going to be simply ignored, but then someone unbars the gate, and a more senior-looking monk stands at the opening, flanked by subordinates.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The young monk gave a formal bow to the elder priest in the fashion of their faith. 

"Good evening Master. I am Konji Inson of the Shaolin temple in Korea. I seek admittance for myself and my traveling companion," he says in his native tongue, hoping that this elder might be fluent in it.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The head monk, if he is the head monk, shakes his head sadly, and speaks in Chinese.

Once it's established that you *still* have no common tongue between you, the monk indicates that you should enter. Katsumi, as usual, gets a lot of attention. You can see a more normal-looking monastery behind the wooden palisade, but quite a few of the monks are armed, and there are archery platforms up on the wall.

Rising behind the monastery is yet more mountainside, and high above, you see a pair of torches, at the top of yet another trail ascending the steep slope.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Katsumi passes through the gate, looking calmly about at the militaristic monks. It is difficult to believe that they maintain this level of vigilance without an outside threat of some sort, but she has seen little during her travels to indicate what that might be...another temple, perhaps, or a local warlord. It will be interesting to find out what that might be...

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The young monk steps forward and gives a formal bow to the head master. He gives him a formal greeting in his own tongue, hoping that the Master has knowledge of his language.

<><><><><>

(GM)

While none of these monks seem to speak Korean, they do seem more used to dealing with visitors who don't speak Chinese than those at the shrine down the mountainside. They bring Konji and Katsumi into what appears to be an unused hut, and the head monks sits down with a thin piece of wood and some ink. He dips a brush into the ink, and writes in Chinese characters:

"ARE
VISITORS
LITERATE?"

and holds it up for you to see.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The young monk smiles as he realizes that he can indeed read the words written by the elder monk. He nods and holds his hand out for the brush, dipping it in the ink and then writing.

KONJI INSON, SHAOLIN FROM KOREA
SEEK SANCTUARY IN TEMPLE
FRIEND IS LADY KATSUMI

He shows the wood to the other monks and places the brush down.  He holds his breath as he waits to see if their journey has been in vain.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Fading into a corner of the empty hut, Katsumi watches the written exchange. As Konji shows his replies to the Chinese monks, she nods, indicating that she understands, as well.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The monk looks at your printed message, and without nodding or shaking his head, dips his brush into the ink again.

He writes:

INNER TEMPLE
OUTER TEMPLE
IN THE OUTER TEMPLE YOU ARE WELCOME
INNER TEMPLE REQUIRES PATIENCE
WHY DO YOU COME?

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He lets out a breath he had not even known he had been holding as he read the message.  Acceptance.  He had been secretly afraid that he would find no place here. Konji had spent most of his life in a temple, and the thought of being rejected from this one had been secretly eating at him for the whole long trip.

He dipped the brush and replied.

TEMPLE IN KOREA DESTROYED, LOOTED
I AM ONLY MONK LEFT 
I SEEK ACCEPTANCE AND COUNSEL
SEEK ADVISE FROM LONG LIVED ONES

He waits to see how the last line will be interpreted. If there are any immortals known here then perhaps they will be taken to them.  If the immortals are unknown then the last line will most likely be interpreted as seeking advise from the elder masters.

Konji waits.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The monk seems to consider this message for a while, before he picks up his brush and writes again.

"LIFE AND PATIENCE
EQUAL MEASURES
WAIT HERE LONG TIME
SHOW GREAT PATIENCE
TO ENTER THE TEMPLE OF IMMORTALS"

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

The Japanese immortal takes a moment to puzzle out the monk's scrawl, suppressing a frown. The message is just cryptic enough to be frustrating, but it does not seem likely that either she or Konji will be allowed very far into the temple in the near future. She glances over at the Korean monk, gauging his response.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He nodded and gave a short bow from the waist as the elder finished his writing. He dipped his brush again and wrote on the bark.

TEACH LANGUAGE?

He turned his head for a moment to see if Katsumi had been following the written dialogue. He wasn't sure how she was going to respond. Her mental state was so questionable.

"It appears that we can stay."

<><><><><>

(GM)

The monk nods, then quickly scribes on the board:

"WHEN IN CHINA
SPEAK CHINESE"

He rises, and gestures at the hut around you, and points at Konji. Then he points at Katsumi, and gestures outside. The other monks who were standing by the entrance file out, and the head monk follows, then glances back to see if Katsumi is coming.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

He dips his brush once more and writes a reply before the elder leaves.

NOT SPEAK CHINESE
TEACH?

They will need to learn the language if they are to have any success at communications longterm here. He understand though that this is to be his room for the night and that Katsumi will be taken to another place to sleep. He nods encouragingly to her.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

The Japanese immortal acknowledges Konji's nod, then turns to follow the elder monk. All larger matters aside, she is rather curious as to where they plan to put her for the night.

<><><><><>

(GM)

The elder simply nods to Konji. Obviously, lessons in spoken Chinese will not begin tonight.

The younger monks lead Katsumi to another hut much like the one in which Konji was left. There is dust and wood shavings in the floor, making it look suspiciously like a firewood/storage hut recently cleaned out for the purpose of putting up a strange foreign woman. It is conveniently the furthest structure from any of the other buildings.

The monks watch Katsumi a little nervously as she is permitted to inspect the place where she's to sleep. Though in truth, it seems to be her sword that bothers them more than her female figure.

<><><><><>

(Katsumi)

Studiously ignoring the stares of the monks, Katsumi looks about the interior of the hut. She is not particularly happy with what she sees...the rude arrangements are not anything she cannot handle, although the isolation and the apparent lack of so much as a sleeping mat is something of an insult. Being isolated from Konji, however, may prove troublesome, particularly if he chooses to spread tales about her mental condition when she is not present.

She cannot truly object, but her examination includes an assessment of all the building's potential entrances and exits; she does not intend to be caught off-guard if trouble should come unexpectedly.

After a moment, she turns to the monks and nods her acceptance. Pulling her sheathed sword from her obi, she kneels down and scratches the kanji for 'bath' in the dirt floor, then looks up questioningly.

<><><><><>

(Konji)

The small monk looks about his room for a few moment, then settles down against the far wall. He rests his head against the wall and closes his eyes, grateful for a few moments of quiet and solitude. 

Visions of the past months float across his mind's eye. He sees the stiff features of his dead friends on the fields to the south. He remembers the wise words of Kemal ibn-Hakim and the look of rage on Katsumi's face on the death of her mentor. He takes out the small copy of the Koran that he had been given, running his fingers over the stiff cover.

What should he do about Katsumi?  The darkness resting within her may be dormant for now but he doubted that it could be contained for long. He needed to speak with one of the immortals here as soon as possible.  But to do that he needed to be able to speak their tongue. Tomorrow he would begin his studies. Tomorrow.

He closed his eyes and slept.