Re: Chapter 5 - Lady Doji's Shrine
Sakura stood silently for a moment longer.
"We are safe from spawn" she finally announced, "the dead are the only ones here.
"It is my duty" she said, almost too casually, to the Phoenix's comment.
"Very well. What I am about to say" she continued to the rest of the group, "I would not without the Governor's orders. I hesitate even now, but I suspect that the revelations will do more good than harm. It is not to go outside of this room."
She then turned to Lord Kasarugi.
"The 'Bandits' that we watched, slaughtered helplessly, were well trained Daidoji Harriers. I do not know who ordered them to attack an Imperial Messenger, and as they are dead I cannot ask. But I do know this: Daidoji Ryu knows more of it than he has told me."
"I do not know on whose side he fights, and there are at least three to consider. Unfortunately it is all but irrelevant at this juncture, for any harm that comes to him or revelation that comes about him will certainly harm our defense of this city."
"Daidoji morale simply could not take it."
"But, back to the attack on the road, to see large numbers of Shadow Spawn in broad daylight was ... disconcerting to say the least. That they chose the side of the Messenger was even more so."
She hesitated for a moment, to allow her words to sink in.
"If the Spawn attack at night in those numbers, then they will easily be able to overwhelm our defenses. Of course, this assumes that they have not already infiltrated the Daidoji; if they have, that is disaster of the highest caliber."
"As our Phoenix has undoubtedly guessed, I cannot simply go around testing to see who has Nothing in them. It is inadmissible in a court of law, and not everyone who has it knows that they have it. Plus it quickly becomes a beacon, allowing those closeby who can sense such things, to know that I am looking ..."
"... and that would be very bad ..."
"There are, in this Empire, only three Clans that have regularly faced the Spawn: The Unicorn, who brought First Knowledge into the Light; the Dragon, specifically the Kitsuki who stumbled upon it during their many investigations; and, of course, the Scorpion ... who never tell all that they know."
Sakura then looked to Kedo and winced before looking back to the governor.
"Forgive me, Kedo-kun."
"Kasarugi-Dono, there is one thing that I must keep from you ... but your Warrior's Honor will not allow me to reveal it in any case. Kedo is on a Musha Shugyo*. More than that I will not say."
She then awaited the reactions -- possibly her own Seppuku.
[* it is not dishonorable to reveal that a quest is being undertaken (though Kedo will undoubtably be "quite put out") or that a Ronin is a questor. Revealing other things, however (e.g. the nature of the quest; the clan of origin; ect.) would be ...]