Sam Samurai (part 3) (work in progress)

Sam worked as a servant in the Governor's house for the next whole year. Within the first couple months, Sam worked harder than any other five servants in the governor's house which earned him permission from the Governor to have the afternoons to himself. He was a quiet, and observant young man. He watched carefully to learn anything he could from the masters of the house. He learned arithmetic, politics, and swordplay from the same tutor who taught the Governor's children. He even became fast friends with the Governor's eldest son, Yoshi, and the two of them would practice swordfighting for hours into the evening. His kind, and happy personality caused the Governor and his family to accept Sam more as a son than as a servant.

Sometimes Sam would miss his family, and would retreat to his dark and quiet room in the basement of the compound to think about them. He wondered if he would ever see them again. He wondered if they missed him. He wondered if they were doing alright without him, or if they were struggling to survive.
On one such occasion, Sam began to cry softly when he thought about them.

"You miss them, don't you?" said a voice.

Sam's entire body became tense as a chill ran down his spine, and he tried to recall where his practice sword was. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Don't worry, Sam." the voice said again, as a tall figure stepped from the dark shadows in the corner of the room. "I'm not here to hurt you." He paused, thinking. "And besides, if i did want to fight you, your wooden practice sword would hardly be a threat to me."

He was a thin, muscular man with tattered robes and a large, rounded straw hat which hid the top half of his head. The hilts of two swords protruded from his belt. One sword was very long - longer than Sam had ever seen before, and had a weathered, leather-bound handle. The other was short, and was wrapped in black cloth, and had several symbols etched into it's metal. It was hard to tell the man's age, but he seemed very strong, and smart. Sam felt he had seen the man before.

"Who are you?" Sam repeated.
"My name is Ogi." the man said. "I knew your father."
Sam's jaw dropped. "You knew my father?"
"Yes," said Ogi. "Your father and I worked under the Emperor together. I didn't know him for very long, but I can tell you that he was stronger than most men. He was fierce and powerful."

"I can see you've been learning a lot here, Sam. Your father would be pleased at that." Ogi picked up Sam's practice sword and spun it around in his hand. Sam carefully watched as the blade seemed to disappear with Ogi's smooth, cunning movements. His eyes grew wide as this stranger manimpulated his practice sword to do things he didn't know it could do.

"Keep learning." Ogi said after a long pause. "When you are finished learning what you can here, I shall resume your training."
Sam swallowed. "Training for what?"
"Do you need a reason to learn?" Ogi asked. He placed his hand on Sam's shoulder, and started again. "I am here to encourage you, Sam. You are doing good work, and your father would be proud. But your training cannot be revealed. The Governor wouldn't like the idea of slaves learning too much."
Sam nodded in agreement.

"Also, do not mention me. My presence here must be kept secret. If you reveal my presence I will not teach you." He turned to leave the room, then looked over his shoulder back at Sam and smiled broadly. "Keep up the good work, Sam. I'll see you soon."

And Ogi kept his promise. He would return in the evenings, and sneak Sam out of the compound to learn swordfighting, to learn about the stars and their locations, to learn about the history of their land. Ogi only visited once a month, but Sam continued to study and grew in knowelege every day.

In the spring of his second year working at the Governor's house, Sam was informed that Emperor Yamato was to visit the Governor.

Sam was sad that he had to live away from his family, but he also took great joy in his work as a servant. He had become very excited about the events that took place in the Governor's household. When he learned that the Emperor was coming, he wanted to make a good impression. He even borrowed some of Yoshi's formal robes to dress up for the occasion.

The entire household gathered in the courtyard to await the Emperor's arrival. The Governor sat in his chair, and all of his household stood in two large lines leaving a wide path covered in flower petals between them for the Emperor to walk on. As the Emperor arrived, music began playing from somewhere unseen, and the emperor's carriage was carried into the courtyard carried by 4 guards. The carriage was carried on two long wooden poles, and was inlaid with bright red and gold. Atop the carriage was the Emperor himself. He was large, and fierce looking, with a large, black beard, and a shaved head, and he wore a small, funny-looking hat which sat atop the center of his head.
Sam noticed that walking several feet behind the guards and the emperor was Ogi, his tutor! Sam almost didn't recognize him. He was dressed in extravagant decorative robes, and he had a stone-still look in his face. He didn't turn to Sam or even acknowelege him.

Sam's excitement was bubbling over. He had never seen so many big, important, powerful people before. And all were decorated with fancy robes of every color imaginable.

The Emperoror was officially visiting the Governor on business, but it would be rude to simply discuss politics without first showing hospitality to Emperor Yamato. The Governor did a very good job of showing some of that hospitality: musicians, actors, jugglers... all came to display their talents to Yamato. Sam was delighted. It was like a carnival. Then dinner was served to all: Roast duck and noodles, Shark steaks decorated with fish eyes, Vegetables steam-cooked with rare spices from the west, Sushi wrapped in seaweed, and a spiced hot beverage and a sort of thin cake for desert. It appeared to be working. Yamato was, indeed, very satisfied with the food and entertainment of the Governor.

Sam couldn't hear what was being said between Emperor and Governor, but he often saw Yamato laugh heartily, and smile as the different dishes came out, or as a band started playing a new tune.

Then came the sparring... Yamato pointed to the center of the courtyard, where a circle formed, and several members of the Governor's household in turn, stood in the center, bowed to the Emperor, then bowed to each other, and started fighting. It was the first time Sam had seen a formal demonstration of swordfighting. The emperor clapped politely. Sam laughed at some of the swordfighters. He thought it was almost shameful that some of them would be displaying such lack of talent in front of the Emperor. They were making critical errors. One had a horrible footing as he faced his opponent, another would let his guard down at the wrong moment. Even Yoshi, the emperor's son, was fighting poorly.

Sam held the bridge of his nose and shook his head in disappointment. Yamato caught him doing this, and pointed him out of the crowd. "You, young man."

Sam's eyes grew large, and he was overcome with panic.

"Me?"

Yamato nodded, and pointed for Sam to take the ring with Yoshi.

Sam Samurai pt. 2

Sam trained his ears and looked around.
All he could see and hear was the early bustle of the marketplace in the morning. He glanced this way and that, but there was no trace of his brother. He closed his eyes, concentrated and listened carefully... trying to block out the sound of the crowds in his head.
He heard faintly, the cry of a boy, who sounded like his brother. The more he focused on the sound, the more and more clearly it sounded like Hiro. Sam broke out into a dash in the direction the sound was coming from. He had to stop a few more times to figure out which way to go, and Hiro wasn't yelling the whole time, so occasionally he had to wait a couple of seconds for another yell. At last, he heard a distinct cry of "SAM!" from Hiro. He turned his head to see two soldiers dragging Hiro away. Hiro saw Sam and called out in desparation for his big brother to help him.

"Stop!" Sam demanded the soldiers. They kept dragging Hiro without paying any attention. Sam panicked and thought of how much trouble he would be in now. He was confused, and frustrated and desparate to rescue his brother from these soldiers.

"Stop!" He demanded again. This time he ran in front of them to block their path.
"Out of our way, runt." one of them growled, "This prisoner is no concern of yours." and shoved Sam to the ground with his thick arm.

Sam flipped himself up from the ground... his clothing and his face covered with dust from being tossed into the dirt.

He clenched his teeth with anger, and in a blind fury, he ran up from behind the soldiers, catching them off guard and knocked one of them all the way to the ground. He then turned to the one who still had Hiro by the arm, and leapt up to punch him in the face, and actually hit him in the nose, causing him to grab his face in pain. Sam grabbed Hiro's arm and ran as fast as their legs would take them.

They both made it about 5 seconds before an iron grip grasped both of their arms, and pulled them back.

"Not so fast!" It was one of the soldiers. The one Sam had shoved to the ground. He was very strong, and he would not let Sam attack them again. "Are you alright, Kenji?" He asked the other guard. A trickle of blood ran from his nose. "Yeah." He wiped the blood from his nose, and acted like he didn't even notice it was there. "Let's take both of them in." Said the guard, smacking Sam in the head with the back of his hand. Sam's ear rang from the blow, and his face was red with anger.

Sam and Hiro were thrown into a holding cell in the town prison. "I didn't mean to, Sam! It's not my fault!" Hiro said, crying. "Slow down, Hiro." Sam said calmly. He was jittering and scared, but was trying to calm his brother down. "I'm not mad. Just tell me what happened."

"I was just looking around, and I picked up a jade statue to look at it and some guy yelled at me to give it back and i got scared and i dropped it and it broke and then they wanted me to pay for it and i didn't have any money and, and..." Hiro's voice trembled as he tried to continue.

"Settle down." Sam told Hiro again. "I'll take care of it. Don't worry. Just try to get some rest."
But Hiro didn't sleep. Neither of them did. They just laid on the dirt floor, staring at the ceiling... thinking. Sam spent his time thinking of what to do to get out of this situation. He was short on ideas, but he had to get Hiro out of there. Hiro was also very upset about the situation, and he was sincerely scared, but he soon was distracted by other thoughts which danced around in his head. He took to daydreaming about turning into a bird, and escaping through the bars of his prison to fly away into the mountains. It was good, because it eased his mind and calmed him down.

It was well after noon when a guard, opened up Sam's cell, and ordered him to follow. "He stays behind." said the guard, pointing for Hiro to stay in the cell. Hiro grimaced at his captor.

Sam was led up a long cooridor in which he could see other prisoners, to a small room that was lit by small, unreachable windows and two candles which sat at either side of a wooden table. Behind the table, sat the local magistrate. He was a well-dressed man, who was rough, and round, and coarse, with wiry black hair, a moustache, and a cold, penetrating look. He stared at Sam. "You are the boy's keeper, yes?"

"Yes, my father died years ago in the service of the emperor years ago. I look after him now." Sam answered.

"I don't care what your father did!" he snapped. "Your little brother stole a jade artifact, yes?"

"No!" Sam started, "What I mean is... it was an accident."

"That was a very rare, expensive artifact, yes?" The magistrate barked back. "How will our city's merchants make a living if little boys are breaking their merchandise?"

Sam lowered his head, not knowing exactly what to say. "I have some money." he spoke softly, hesitantly... "It's all we have, but you must accept it."

The magistrate broke into hysterical laughter, "We will be giving the orders, not you!" He stopped laughing abruptly, turning back to his cruel, heartless gaze. "Perhaps the money is just enough to pay for your broken statue." he said, "Then what? We let you go?"

Sam swallowed.

The magistrate slowly continued, "Striking an officer is also against the law, yes?"
Sam didn't answer. He was too busy thinking of how distressed his mother and sister would be when they arrived home from their journey with no money and no food for the long winter months.

"Striking an officer is a serious offense, boy. We fine citizens 1 Ryo for something like that." the magistrate said.

"I have no money. I wish to see the governor."

Several hours later, Sam arrived at Hiro's cell accompanied by 5 men. "Get up, little brother. You're going home."

"Finally." said Hiro with an exaggerated tone as if the whole visit to prison was just a big inconvenience that he was now shrugging off.

"I've arranged to get some supplies. You'll have enough food for the winter for Mom and Aiko for the whole winter long... and here." Sam handed Hiro a small sack of copper coins. "Here's a little extra for savings."

"Wow!" Hiro said. "You got all this?! how are we gonna get all this home?"

"These men will carry it on horseback for you."

"Wait a sec..." Worry filled Hiro's eyes, and a look of panic crossed his face. "What about you, Sam?"

Sam grabbed Hiro and hugged him tight, so he wouldn't have to look him in the eyes. "I'm staying here." he said. "I have to. It's the only way to take care of the family and get you out of jail." Hiro wailed, then tried to speak, but in his wail, he only sputtered incomprehensible mumbling.

"Hey!" Sam grabbed Hiro, and tried to look calm as he spoke to his brother. "You have to be strong. You have to take care of Mother and Aiko. You are the man of the house now."

There were a million things the brothers thought they should say to each other, but neither could think of any of them in that moment. The soldiers were very prompt about filling the order to escort Hiro back to his home, so they stood around waiting for the brothers to say their goodbyes. They hugged each other tightly and tried to withold any crying, because both wanted to prove to the other that he would be fine. After a few minutes, Hiro silently climbed onto the back of a horse with one of the soldiers, and rode off down the road and through the town gate.

And so it was that Sam traded food, money, and rations for his debt to an officer for his unwavering allegiance to serve the Governer of the town of Ido.


There was an old, battle-worn soldier in a large, round straw hat who witnessed this selfless act of Sam from the sidelines of the magistrate's hall, and it peeked his interest. His name was Ogi, and he was a special officer to the Emperor. He was sent as an ambassador to oversee the governor's actions, and he was inspecting the magistrate's bookeeping. Sam interested Ogi a great deal. Ogi told himself to keep an eye out for Sam, and monitor his progress with the Governor.




Characters:
Sam's mother-
Sam's (deceased) father
Sam - (16) strong, smart, responsible boy
Aiko - (13) Sam's younger sister: timid, pretty, smart, thoughtful
Hiro - (10) Sam's youngest brother: outgoing, cocky, bold, skillful
Yamato - young Emperor who rules the land

Ogi - The old soldier

Possible future characters:(the anti-yamato rebels)

money:
Ryo (15 gold)
Bu (1/4 ryo)
Shu (1/4 bu)
Yen (bronze/copper coins)