"The sea has been very stormy lately. It is getting so bad that few dare to launch their boats. What will we do if we cannot fish? How will we be able to eat?"

“The Dragon King must be very angry to churn up the seas so. I wonder what is making him so cross?”

Such were the rumors and mutterings that scurried up and down the Wakamiya Oji Dori, which was the main street in Kamakura. It was lined with all manner of shops, inns and teahouses. Further up into the mountains ringing the city were numerous shrines; they decorated the slopes like beads of a prayer necklace. And indeed, there were many bent knees in Kamakura these days. The citizens prayed for deliverance from the wrath of the Dragon King, and they prayed for peace to finally come to the land of Japan. For eight long years, the region around the city had been engulfed in the flames of a terrible civil war.

The Shogun was a powerful man, who governed by a bafuku or military dictatorship. One of his most loyal generals, Matsudaira Akechi had rebelled against his lord. Years ago, he had fought loyally with the Shogun against an army raised by the Emperor, Go-Dagi, who resented the warlord’s almost total control of the country. The Imperial family had been reduced to merely a ceremonial role. Akechi led a brilliant campaign against the General of the Imperial Army, Katsushita Noritomo, which culminated in the decisive battle of Odawara Castle, a few leagues distant from the city. To spare unnecessary bloodshed, Noritomo surrendered under honorable terms, and Akechi promised him mercy. The Shogun had other ideas, and had Noritomo executed. In revenge, Noritomo’s allies murdered Akechi’s mother. Consumed with bitterness, Akechi took up arms against his lord. He had held the Shogun’s Army at bay, but eventually his forces were forced to retreat to his last stronghold in the mountains surrounding Kamakura. Besieged and with no hope of escape, Akechi donned his armor for the last time and rode into battle, the fire of bushido burning brightly within him, until it was extinguished in a rain of arrows. When the soldiers entered his castle, they found that his younger brother, his wife and two small daughters were missing, though ninja spies had confirmed their presence before the siege. Enraged, the Shogun ordered them found at once, for he feared the tattered remains of the rebel army would rally around the young man and continue the fight. Before he could launch a decisive strike, news of a very dangerous dragon egg was brought to his attention.

“By Order of the Shogun anyone harboring those allied with the Rebel and Traitor Matsudaira Akechi will be severely punished!” A loud voice rose above the clatter of cart wheels along the Wakamiya and the populace changed their muttering from the state of the sea to the state of the frowns on the brows of the soldiers. Flanked by ten men, a captain strode through the streets, shouting out the names of the fugitives, while soldiers nailed up parchment scrolls decorated with the likeness of the younger Matsudaira. “Anyone who reports information that results in the capture of these individuals will be rewarded. You over there, stop gawking and get back to your work!”

“Ignorant street mongrels!” the captain snorted as he kept an eye on the shifting tide of humanity that ebbed and flowed along the main thouroughfare. “Once this is over, I shall enjoy a nice cup of sake and – kyah…” A noise of surprise erupted from his lips as something collided against him. Martial instincts took over and he spun around, striking out to defend himself.

Another cry rang out; this one was of pain. “Please forgive this one, my lord, for having trangressed against you,” a small voice said and the captain blinked down in surprise at his “attacker”. It was a dark haired girl clutching an armful of washi wrapped udon noodles against her breast. She had landed in a tumble of splayed legs and rumpled kimono. The effect was much like that of a young colt that had tried to run and had discovered that she was not yet old enough to do such.

“Have mercy,” the girl continued as she raised her gaze to stare at his knees. “For I am blind.”

“Ehh?” The captain squinted and looked down into a pair of large eyes that were as milky as the inside of an oyster. Curious, he balled his hand into a fist and struck out, as if he was going to hit her. His hand stopped within a hair’s breadth of her nose, but she didn’t even flinch. I guess she really is blind, the man thought to himself. “No, it was my mistake. I am sorry for striking you. I am going to help you up now, just be still.”

Once he had righted her he continued, “You should know better than to go wandering around the streets without supervision. Now get back to your home with your noodles at once!“

The girl bowed, and went on her way. Despite her disability, she moved through the crowd with relative ease. Her world was one of sounds and smells, and her senses were so sharp that she could walk the streets and run errands without difficulties. As she walked, she could hear the rhythmic pounding of a mallet against metal. She knew she was approaching the blacksmith’s shop, and the acrid smell of the smoke from his forge confirmed what her ears had heard. As she passed, the sounds of metalworking faded and were replaced by the smells of salt and fresh water. That would be the fishmonger’s store. And past that, came the smell of brewing green tea and the chattering of familiar voices. It was the teahouse, populated by the usual morning crowd. A few steps further and she heard the soft peeping calls of finches, and she knew she had reached her destination.