"That sounds like quite the celebration," Soji says, encouragingly. "And if I do say so on our behalf, I'm certain that a supply of fine Friendly Traveller Sake would contribute to a truly memorable event.... That you have an eye to next year's celebration speaks well of your patron's planning. I'm certain that some arrangement can be made."

He gestures the attendant back, rifles through the scrolls and picks out one that appears half-filled-out; it appears to be an inventory list of some kind.

"Next year's Ginzyoo-syu is already laid down, of course. Anything not already maturing by this point would not be something Ujikira-sama would want! The question, of course," the merchant adds, "is what proportion is already spoken for."

He makes an apologetic gesture.

"I must confess, my main purpose here is to peddle individual bottles and casks of this season's Friendly Traveller Nama-Zake to the lords who have come south to celebrate Yasuki Onodera-sama's wedding. It will be in many cases their only chance to taste the brewery's most unique variety, because it spoils so quickly that shipping it to Otosan Uchi is a chore. As such I must beg forgiveness for an incomplete knowledge of our commitments made by others. I am confident arrangements could be made so a supply can be available."

"There is a second issue - that of transport. Nanashi Mura may be a ronin town but you are still a samurai and clearly a man of culture. I cannot picture you - would find it demeaning to imagine you - struggling to drag an over-laden cart full of sake through Beiden Pass by yourself. Rather I am sure you plan to secure someone's services to transport it. Not to mention the value of the goods - I have no doubt of your skill with the blade and you have clearly, " he says, indicating Hekasu's shoulder with a nod, "the indifference to personal injury that is the mark of a true samurai. But a sizable shipment of fine sake is the sort of prize which draws criminals like bees to flowers. We know. Yasuki Taka-dono himself has sometimes remarked on the difficulty of obtaining truly reliable security for a merchant cargo outside Yasuki lands."

Hekasu glances towards his injury and gives a slight nod. "The injury was as the Fortunes willed."

He nods, "Yes, transport is my second hurdle. But until I know how much I am to transport, it would be that much more difficult to arrange. Though," he glances to the other merchants inspecting the stalls, "is there somewhere else I should inquire? In Friendly Traveler Village, perhaps, would they be more able to project the available supply?"

" How much are you seeking to secure, Samurai-sama ?" Soji asks.

As Aruzhan makes her way back from the shrine, there is a slight hubbub as a clearly distraught heimin is trying to attract some sort of help or assistance from one of the priests, who is attempting to dismiss him with an incredulous look on her face.

Seeing the Unicorn, the heimin looks across with a pleading look.

Aruzhan briefly considers ignoring the heimin as well.. She looks at the priest, at first just hoping that the priest will eventually decide to stop doing what's acceptable, and finally do what's right. However Aruzhan is not well disposed to waiting a long time for others to act, so she tries to over-hear what the heimin is saying without appearing as if she's listening. (not wanting to risk shaming the priest for not listening, nor showing that the situation might be upsetting her.)

The Unicorn-born ronin catches the tail end of the priest's response.

From the context, it seems the heimin is apparently a servant at a house nearby, and was trying to report a robbery of some kind - though it makes little sense he would be reporting it to a samurai-born priest from outside Uimi Mura rather than to the village leader or a local doshin.

Aruzhan approaches the priest politely. "Please pardon my intrusion, I understand you have many duties here at the shrine that demand your attention. I wonder if perhaps there is something I could do to help resolve this situation?"

The priest bows in a perfunctory manner and gives the ronin a long-suffering look.

" Apparently the Kami of the rivers themselves are manifesting and walking the land in the form of gigantic gostly samurai astride a beast resembling a horse made of smoke and flame...and having undertaken such a miracle, apparently their divine purpose is to indulge in some minor acts of burglary. "

She shrugs.

" Truly mysterious are the ways of the Kami. I, for example, find it an unusual coincidence that spirits are so often seen abroad by heimin labourers and servants in the afternoon and evening following a household broaching a barrel of sake for 'First Cloud '...."

The heimin's eyes are downcast through the exchange, but he shifts anxiously from foot to foot, and whilst he can hardly contradict the priest, Aruzhan can see him bridle slightly at the implication. In fairness, he doesn't appear drunk.

She may be slightly put off by the priest's inclination, but Aruzhan slightly smiles. "Ah. I understand. It's a pity that your duties here must keep you from witnessing such a miracle." At this point she's trying to excuse what she believes may be a lack of compassion on the priest's part, by noting that this is probably a very busy time for her even without looking into this Heimin's claims. "Still I have travelled all this way to learn about the Kami in this area and so I would very much like to see this for myself." For the first time the Shugenja looks directly at the Heimin. "show me the way."

The heimin bows very low, gestures roughly to the south, and says " Of course. Follow me, Asahina-sama ."

He leads the ronin off through the market southward through the light evening rain.

"Let's see," Hekasu replied with a nod, idly rubbing his injured shoulder. "I know the Dojo of the Eye would be most interested in helping to secure a rare vintage. I think half a cask could suffice for them. Then of course we would want to ensure that all celebrants at Ujikira-sama's sake house could sample it. A full cask should do well enough, then."

Aruzhan adjusts her attire such that the Asahina mon on her jewelry set isn't immediately apparent. "Tell me, did you see these giant samurai rise from the nearby rivers? You know air spirits can be quite mischievous themselves."

" Himari-san, the housekeeper, got a better look at it, Samurai-sama ." The heimin responds, head bobbing up and down in a half-bow as he leads the ronin through the market. Combined with a slight unsteadiness on the bamboo matting covering the mud, the overall effect is slightly comical, like a distracted seabird waddling along the ground.

" I only saw it from a distance but it was terrifying enough! Made of smoke and Jade light, it was, under the eaves of the willow tree outside the Master's gardens. Please don't think me a coward, Samurai-sama, but I took one look and ran and hid in the woodshed! "

The heimin shivers, raindrops shaking off short-cropped hair.

" Once we realised it had taken Master Aoi-sama's new treasure, we...I...." He swallows. "We - that is, I and Eiji-san, the gardener, followed it's tracks. We were scared, but...well...Master Aoi-sama is a good master but he'd surely be angry if we did nothing. He's due home any time now and finding his collection ransacked whilst we just sat there? So, anyway, we followed as quietly as we could. There's a ruined shrine about half a mile into the woods - the spirit had risen from the river, galloped - forcefully - up the bank, tearing chunks out of the clay, ridden to Master Aoi's house, taken what it came for, ridden to the shrine, and just burst into a flood of water, disappearing back into whatever spirit world it came from !"

" Indeed ?" Says Soji. " I've heard many striking things about both the skill and honour - I hope you will pardon the implication, Samurai-sama, but there are ronin and there are ronin - of the Eyes of Nanashi. I count it fortunate, given what I understand to be an inflexible code, that the Crab, Lion and Dragon maintain friendly relations. Is the Samurai-sama sure half a cask would be sufficient for such a group? ."

The heimin seems to be telling the truth (or at least, Aruzhan corrects herself, the truth as he perceived it).

The peasant - who Aruzhan learns is called Yoshika - is officially the doorman and unofficially the general dogsbody of Hiruma Aoi's half-dozen heimin staff, and as the lowest ranking of them was sent with vague instructions from the housekeeper to " get someone ". Himari apparently has no better idea what to make of it than anyone else at the villa, but fell back on a basic heimin practicality - when something mystical, dangerous or both occurs, find a samurai and try to 'delegate upwards'.

"If by 'cask' you do mean one of these large barrels that when empty can serve as baths for two - three if they like each other very much - then yes, I feel that should be plenty. Certainly Ujikira-sama is well-acquainted with the Eyes, far more than myself. I believe he would recognize the favor of an agreeable rate with a similar recommendation."

Hekasu pauses for a second, then continues. "I will inquire about what type of escort I could arrange for shipping and return tomorrow, if that will do, Soji-sama?"

"wait." Aruzhan demands of the Heimin as she approaches the men outside the inn.

The lavender haired shugenja bows politely as she approaches the men, the jewelry in her hair scintillating as she does so. "Yoshi no-Kaze-san, Kenshin-san. Something has come to my attention which may require some assistance." She motions back toward the Heimin. "This man is taking me to investigate the scene and time may be of the essence."

The other two ronin move to follow, Yoshi asking what has happened. Kenshin dismisses a crane courier who had evidently been waiting with another letter.

Soji smiles and waves a hand expansively. " My intent has never been to pressure a potential customer, Samurai-sama. I will still be here tomorrow - or if I am called away unavoidably, I will ensure you are expected. Please, enjoy your evening, and we can continue any discussions tomorrow ."