Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 Chapter 18

   That next day the teacher came into his office smiling.  "You have those
girls so charged up they sucked every drop of knowledge out of me today.  I
will have to prepare much more work for them in the future.  You do know
everyone of those girls are dying to get into your bed don't you?"

   That caused a red face to show on Hideki.  "I was told as much
yesterday. But I must have failed to get the message across they are not
slaves here and have free will."

   "Oh you got that across well.  Now they feel they need to earn the right
to bed you.  I was asked if I wanted you and then what they had to do to be
allowed in your bed?"

   He shook his head.  "What has these girls so wired on having sex with
me? There are seven year olds I would rip open if I did something like
that."

   "I said that as well and was shown different.  Unless your built like
King Kong every girl in that room could handle you.  It would be a pretty
snug fit in a few, but not painful.  They wish to be your harem and are
willing to share you between each other.  Now if they are rejected they
will have no choice but to commit suicide.  That is deeply programmed into
them.  I will repeat what you told all of us.  We are in a different world
and we must also change to fit it."

   Now he was bitten by his own words.  "OK I will see how I must handle
this?"

   "No you still don't get the picture.  Each girl was given to you by some
well off family.  They were all virgins, pretty as seen by their people and
smart.  The entire honor of that family is riding on their daughter bedding
you and becoming allied with you.  They do not wish to fight you and would
become part of your people by their daughter becoming part of your family.
It fits the old history of most of our world.  You could before this is
over have a few hundred girls as your household."

   Now his was scared and had no idea how to stop this.  "I am not sure I
could handle having more women than I could remember their names."

   "You accepted the job as Emperor here.  As in China the Great Khans had
hundreds of wives.  Here you don't need eunuchs to over see your harem. 
When birth is given a simple DNA test will show it is or is not yours.  If
it is not yours the woman is cast out and publicly acknowledged as a whore.
You will have many sons to fight for you and many daughters to give as
brides to strengthen relationships."

   "OK it is my problem and I'll deal with it.  I wonder if my brother knew
it was going to be like this?  Of course he did and he did warn me.  In the
book he gave me he wrote, be warned that you are moving back several
centuries in time."

   He had just never looked at it this way.

   "Well boss it is your problem, I just wanted you to know what I learned.
It was also important you know what a rejection would cause.  That would
have been unfair to you." The teacher left his office.

   He sat and sent Joji another e-mail and asked him for advice for the
first time in their lives.  Then he headed to lunch.

   The conversation was loud and the girls energized.  It seems they liked
the teacher in the mornings.  He got a lot of good comments on what she
started teaching them.  He finished and went to check his computer before
class.

   Joji had replied to both his e-mails.  The first thanked him for finding
the man.  It asked what he felt the man might need that would not be there?
Then he started on the difference in the culture.  Much of what the teacher
had said he did as well.  But he added one more issue.  Brother life is
full of both good and bad things.  You're where what was given to you was a
good thing and not a bad one.  So embrace it and don't look back.  What
this world thinks means nothing in your world.  This will start to build
your country and it will be much stronger because of the girls.  That is
the old way of life that existed here at one time.  Many a King had very
young wives, which could not have children for many years after they
married.  It was only in the period of the Roman Catholic Church that this
changed in countries where the church existed.  In your world our belief of
Shintoism lives and there are no prohibitions for young girls marrying or
becoming concubines.  I would suggest you marry each one and expect to have
many girls given to you over the years.  Keep your favorites close and
enjoy the new young wives.  Once they are pregnant you have done your part.
But keep those that are good advisors close by.

   It was suggested that it might be wise to consider a moving troop on
horseback to go get the man.  It would allow him to show the girls to every
tribal group.  That would mean a closer tie to many mountain tribes. 
Recovery would be slower, but if he wore his old armor from Tokyo it would
also be to his advantage.  John had said it was nearly 1,000 years old and
had belonged to an Emperor.  Of course it had many things replaced to keep
it up to date and in good shape to be used.

   Joji had been concise and to the point on how to handle this.  Of all
the people he listened to, it was his brother he trusted most.  He had
nothing to gain here from any advice given.  So he looked at what was best
to keep the peace and allow Hideki's world to grow.  That also suited his
world and John had instructed him to trust his brother in all things from
that world.

   He sent off a note thanking him and making several suggestions of things
they did not have here.  It was now time to plan this grand parade into the
mountains and see what came of it?

   He spent the first part of the afternoon explaining the computer.  All
functions were demonstrated and many questions answered.

   "Now class I have been studying this problem of your being given to me.
This was not something that was done during my life in my world.  So it was
very new to me and I was not sure how to handle it?  But I have discussed
it with my brother.  His advice was here this is common so I must accept
it. I will accept each of you into my household.  But I need for your
parents to see I have done this.  So when we go after Snow's brother we
will do so by horse and with a troop of my men.  There will be carts for
many of you to ride in and several horses, so you can take turns riding."

   Snow looked worried.  "My brother cannot ride yet and I know he could
never walk back here."

   "I will have one medical cart to carry him.  We will have medical people
with us to treat sickness along the way.  They will check out your brother
and assure his comfort during travel.  If you wish to you can ride with him
and see he is well taken care of.  So we need roads or at least nice grassy
areas to pull the carts over."

   "That will be no problem, as with us riding where people can see us the
roads will be open to you.  We can assure your not bothered or attacked by
our people.  But there are bandits out there and we don't control them. 
They attack our villages when the men are away often.  Often they are
hunted down, but some are so good they just can't be caught.  They are the
assassins and are hired by many different groups."

   "I will understand if some attack comes.  As for the assassins I am not
worried as we are far better that they are due to technology.  This trip
will give you each a chance to see just how good my people are.  We will
leave in the morning and each of you have warm winter suits to wear.  You
will be six to a wagon and there will be five wagons.  So six will also be
riding at any time.  You will be sleeping inside tents and in sleeping
bags. So you will be warm with little or no clothing on while sleeping.  If
the area we are going through is your family's area then please make sure
your riding a horse.  That way you're easily seen, as you will be up front
with me.  Now go pack for this trip and we will have a celebration dinner
tonight."

   He had a quick meeting in his office with the commander of his troops.
They would have the ten wagons with horses and a troop of 250 men.  A
command post would be set up in one wagon for security for the group.  One
of the provision wagons at the rear would be electronically sending signals
from the back while the command wagon saw in front.  Tents would be
provided for the girls and for Hideki.  They would have two cooks and one
servant from the castle traveling with them.

   It was decided to take crossbows for people sweeping their flanks.  That
way no noise would be picked up from shots.  It was expected most kills
would be at night.

   A lot of discussion went into the basic plan.  A group of added troops
would be moved by chopper into any point of severe attack.  But Hideki did
not expect it to be needed.

   "Look this is a spur of the moment trip.  Not one tribal group knows we
are coming or passing through their land until it happens.  The girls will
show us the way and I want a wagon for gifts to be given to our new allies.
We will use swords, bows and arrows, knifes and cooking pots for the women.
I will need one gift master who speaks the old language to handle my orders
on those items.  If we were attacked by five thousand we would not lose
that fight.  We would get hurt I am sure, but they are way over matched to
their current technology."

   "Boss we can't afford to have you or our troops hurt in an early battle.
We must build a feeling of invincibility.  If we fail to do that then we
will fight more battles than we need to.  My main worry right now is our
lack of fighting troops.  I would prefer if you were taking more with you
than just 250."

   "I will take no more and if I get any more comment, I will find another
job for you to handle.  I am not your subject, but you are mine and will
follow instructions.  Is that understood?"

   "Yes sir, I am most sorry to have upset you."

   "People this is not a democracy and I rule this land.  So understand my
word is law and it is back to the old ways.  Now if you can't handle that
then it is time to go back to Japan.  Where the Emperor's word is law once
more.  So you live that way here or live it there.  The difference I am
told is here you're a citizen and there you're a foreigner.  The people my
brother took into ITI are doing well and have a home one day in the
Islands. You would never be hired by ITI as someone who quit here."

   Every person there saw the anger.  They knew he meant exactly what he
had said.  So the opening was there for people to start bailing out.  But
they would be leaving for a very bad situation in Japan.  "You know none of
us would leave here.  I understand and accept that you have the final
decision on anything we do." The mans eyes were looking down now.

   "No I don't have the final decision on everything.  I have been given
thirty young girls I am expected to marry and to impregnate.  In that I had
no choice as it is custom here.  We are going to have events we can't
control because they are part of the history in this world.  We are going
to have to bend to some long held customs here."

   That fact hit the group and he saw they were now shocked he was going to
allow this to happen.  "But some of those girls are not more than seven
years old."

   A doctor spoke up.  "Yes and every girl is capable of the sexual act
without damager to her body.  I have checked them out and they were started
on a training program to be sure they could complete their responsibility.
Each is a virgin, smart as hell and beautiful in the ways this world judges
beauty.  We are here where this custom has existed for thousands of years.
I have looked at our religion and at our laws.  Our religion says nothing
at all about this.  Our laws say where any conflict exists the customs here
should rule."

   Now they all were surprised.  "Are you saying all men should have
multiple wives?"

   "Not at all as mine would cut my dick off some night while I was
sleeping.  But this is normal at the higher levels of government.  Every
girl Hideki was given was the daughter of a tribal chief and if she is
accepted they bind their people and strength to Hideki.  The girls he has
gives him people and land over ten times our current size.  They will pay
him a tax of grains, vegetables and meat each year.  His idea to provide
nice gifts to those chiefs, will help us build that bond even closer.  It
recognizes them and as you know face is important."

   That shut them all up, as they had never considered much of what was
said.  This world would they were sure become more understandable to them.
But stepping back in time was harder than moving forward they thought? 
Here Hideki had to give up his chance at a normal life to build a nation.
He had to live in the pasts ways and never have what they felt was a normal
life.

   When the people left his office he saw Snow coming with a piece of paper
in her hands.  She bowed to him and held out the paper.  He looked at it
and was pleased beyond belief.  The child had done a beautiful job of
making her first map.

   "First Snow this is beautifully done.  Please come here." She did and he
kissed her and she was now beaming with a gorgeous smile.

   "Thank you master I did so much enjoy that kiss.  It is so much better
coming from someone you love with all your heart."

   "How good a rider are you?"

   "I have ridden since I was old enough to walk.  My father's horses are
not nearly as large as yours.  But they are sure footed animals and can go
for days on little food and water.  Many come to trade with him for horses.
He will be your furthest outpost and will stop any who try to gain entry to
the mountain passes to come this way."

   "How many men does he have?"

   This she had to think about for some time.  "Many more than we have
here. My brother said for every one of you we needed twenty of us.  That
worried my father and he sent me to gain an ally.  I am sure the force you
take will be tested by bandits in the mountains.  They must know how well
you fight?  If you're truly as good as my brother says the troops are you
should not be hurt badly at all.  But I have place three marks on my map
and there is where I think they will try to attack you."

   "Why those three places?"

   "It gives them high ground and is a place where many can hide.  There
are valleys for their horses to be grazing and not be heard."

   He walked over and looked at the overhead shots of these three places.
She was right in her advice for each of these.  She looked down and saw the
trail she had drawn.

   "How can you see from over the mountains?  It is like a bird might see
the land."

   "We have metal birds that fly overhead and take pictures for us.  Matter
of fact wait and we will go look at these places."

   He got the commander of his chopper force and they took Snow and left to
fly over all three places.  It was easy to see how people could hide here
and not be seen from the ground.  "I want a force of fifty men at each
location well armed and with gunship support.  We are going to hurt some
mountain bandits badly."

   In looking around to see Snow he saw her with her face plastered to the
plexiglas windows.  "Well dear what do you think of my metal bird?"

   "This is the most magical thing I have ever seen.  I love looking down
on the land like a bird would."

   When they got back to the castle she hugged him.  "Thank you so much for
letting me come along.  I will never forget that ride and no one would ever
believe me if I told them."

   "Here everyone would believe you as they have all ridden in one.  Five
of these will carry men to each of your three spots and put them on the
ground.  We will watch for the bandits to come and set up.  When they think
they are ready we will attack them from behind and kill as many as
possible. Of course we will keep the bandits horses and give them to people
who needs them."

   "Do you know how much a horse is worth to a mountain tribesmen?"

   "I would say it is of high value?"

   "My father would give you much gold for them."

   "I am taking him a stallion and five mares of our stock.  So he will not
come out poor on this.  All the tribes need to be able to get to each other
and to us when times are troubled.  So all must have horses to have that
ability."

   It was a wise decision and one where money was not what was driving
Hideki's decisions.  "Money does not seem very important to you?"

   "Money dear is a tool.  For it to have value it must be well used. 
Right now for me is a time to invest in my new people.  Later it will come
back to me often."

   She saw great wisdom in her master's comments.  He was as young as her
brother but as wise as her father.  To be given to someone of such great
knowledge and abilities was a dream come true.C "Master when are you going
to allow me in your bed?"

   "I was considering tonight if that fits your feelings?"

   "There will never be a day that would not suit me.  If it is my time of
month I will still make sure your pleased.  I belong to you completely and
in every way." That was said with a completely honest face.  He could tell
she meant it in every possible way.

   They headed in to dinner and she sat with him at his table.  It was the
first time this had happened.  So the rest of the children wondered what
was going on?  It was a mystery to most and to others a little older it
said things were changing.

   After dinner she went to her room and brought her clothing for the next
day and her bag.  She was not leaving this man until she had to.  It was
her desire to have his first child.  So she prayed to her Guardian Kami and
lit incense to her.  This followed what her mother had taught her.

   Hideki walked in the room and saw the incense being burned and knew she
was praying.  He guessed what it was for and was pleased it meant so much
to her.  He walked into the bathroom and turned the hot tub on.

   The sound brought Snow back to this world and she headed to the sounds.
The large sunken tub was big and the water was moving around it.  "What is
that?"

   "It is a hot tub and the water is very warm and it moves over your skin
and relaxes you.  Come we need to take a shower before we get into it.  It
is for relaxing and not for bathing."

   They showered off and Hideki enjoyed seeing her beautiful small body. 
Snow was just close to 4 feet tall and may be 70 pounds.  She had very
small perfectly shaped breasts.  There could not be more than a mouth full
at the most.  There was no hair on her body except on her head and
eyebrows. Her nipples were hard and her clit extended.  So he knew she was
having sexual feelings that said advanced female.  There was no question in
his mind she would rape him, if she did not get what she wanted so badly.
There was a female tiger in her tank just screaming to get out.

   But he did not want to do anything that would hurt her.  So he would
talk things slow and easy to start with.  She sat beside him in the tub and
he placed his arm around her and played with her nipples.  It was driving
her nuts and he enjoyed seeing her like this.

   "When are you going to just take me master?"

   "Never dear I don't just take a woman, I make love to her.  For me to
enjoy it the woman must enjoy it as well.  I love seeing her explode with
orgasms and feeling her body boiling with pleasure." He reached down and
started stroking her clit until she just went off like he had never seen
before.  She shook and moaned and then just passed out.  He ended up having
to pick her limp body up and sit her in a chair to dry her.

   He carried her into the bedroom and laced her on the bed.  Then started
to eat her beautiful pussy.  She woke with a start and then went off once
more.  He slid up and slowly inserted his cock into her.  Every inch he got
in just sent her off the deep end more.  By the time he was buried in her
she was bucking like a wild animal.  Then she had a massive explosion and
it brought him off as well.  She milked him in ways he had never considered
possible.

   He slowly withdrew from the girl, pulled her into his arms and covered
them for a nights sleep.  She had passed out three times that night from
massive orgasms.  Her pussy had grabbed his dick and held on for dear life.
Yet he still had a hand on her breast and loved the feeling of it.

   The next morning he woke to a smiling face just staring at him.  "That
was a night I will never forget.  I never dreamed it would be so wonderful.
Mother told me of the pain and the suffering I would just have to bear. 
But I felt none of what she told me?"

   "It is the difference between fucking and making love.  You do know you
passed out three times last night.  Each happened at the end of a massive
set of orgasms.  I have never seen anyone cum so hard before."

   "What does the word come mean?"

   "The word is cum and it is when your body reaches orgasm and you start
pumping out fluids from your vaginal area or me from my cock.  In my case
it is what makes babies in a girl."

   She had this dreamy smile on her face.  "I sure hope you made one
because I did feel loved.  The way I feel I could do that forever and never
be tired of it."

   They got up and showered together and then dress for breakfast.  All the
girls knew at once she had been fucked by the master.  She just glowed now
with a dreamy look on her face.  There was jealousy with some and curiosity
in others.  But with the fears their mothers had created they had decided
Snow had to be first.  She had proven to be the bravest of them and the
least afraid of sex.

   After breakfast they all went down and were placed in wagons.  Their
baggage was placed in the wagon with their tents.  Snow and five other
girls mounted a horse and held them until Hideki was mounted.  They rode
with him to the front of the column and started to lead it toward the
mountains.  It was a beautiful day and bright with sunshine.  The cold air
off the water would soon be behind them.  It would still be cold, but
without the biting of the wind.

   The travel that day was just through the lands held by Hideki's people.
They camped at the base of the first mountain, they would start to cross
the next day.  It was not that high at just over 2,000 feet.  But did cut
off the vision of what was behind it to most of the land.

   The tents were placed in the center of the wagons pulled into a circle.
They sat the camp up just as it would be in unknown territory.  It was
practice time doe the troops.  The inside of the wagons had a light metal
that used connectors inside to hold it in place.  So no one could come
under a wagon to get into the tent camp.  It was electrically charged at
night and would give a nasty shock if touched.

   The five tents for the girls and one large one for Hideki were the
living quarters here.  There was one large dinning tent and it had the
needed kitchen for cooking large meals in short periods of time.  The cooks
and palace staff sleep in here at night.  The girl's tents and Hideki's had
inside toilets and Hideki's had a hot tub for him to enjoy.

   He had stated all meetings would be held in the dinning tent.  There was
no reason to allow people to see how he lived personally.  The idea of
projecting a much harder personality was one he would embrace.  That would
start with the next morning.  He had decided to take offense at any error
made by these mountain people.  It would cost some their lives, but created
the respect for him he needed in the future.  They had to fear him to build
that respect.  Hideki knew he would have to push himself in this, as it was
just not his personality.  He saw in Tokyo how well this persona worked and
knew it would work here even better.  Strength was the most valued item of
anyone you bound your future to in this world.

   The next morning he got up and prepared for a hard day.  After breakfast
with the girls he retired to his tent and dressed in his armor.  He had one
of the troopers help him make the fastenings in the back.  With his long
and short sword he looked just like an 8th century CE war lord to anyone
seeing him.  You could see peoples spirits pick up when he walked out of
the tent.  His tent came down quickly and everything was stored.  So they
started to move out.  Before midday they reached the first village and were
greeted with kneeling people on both sides of the road heads touching the
ground.  When the chief saw Hideki he also dropped to his knees and bowed.
Here he knew was a real man of power and one you must show great respect
to.

   The girl whose father was kneeling rode up and nodded her head.  "Are
you the chief who gave me this girl?"

   "Yes master she is my daughter."

   "You have pleased me so rise and look at your new leader."

   The man rose and looked on the most terrifying facemask he had ever
seen. "Lord please do not be angry with my poor gift to you.  But I did not
know you were of such greatness.  I, my lands and my people all belong to
you.  We will fight to the death at your command."

   "That is well said and I hope you live up to it.  For now I accept your
word.  Please present my gift to the chief." A trooper rode up and handed
the man a fine sword and knife.  He saw the mans wife then.

   "Is that women your wife?"

   "Yes my lord she is the girls mother."

   "Give her the gift I choose."

   The man rode to her and handed her a large pot made of a metal like she
had never seen before.  She fell to her knees once more and tears rolled
down her old face.

   "Give the chief the bow and arrows I chose as well."

   The presenter handed the man a bow with a pouch of arrows.  Each tipped
with a metal arrowhead and sharp as a razor.  "Lets see if you can shot an
arrow as well as I have been told?"

   The man stood and looked at the bow and then the arrows.  They were
perfect and had a metal tip with small knife edges on them.  He pointed at
a target a good one hundred yards away and took and arrow and pulled back
the bow.  When he let go the arrow flew like it had wings.  He had never
shot any arrow so far and hit a target, but today he had to attempt it.  It
landed dead center in the target and people sucked in their breath.

   "Give him another 100 arrows and 1,000 replacement heads.  That was
beautiful shooting and I am pleased to have such a man fight for me.  Now
to show you some of my power.  Watch your target and see it just fall
apart." He aimed the rifle at the target and saw a knot in it and knew it
would be a weak spot.  He pulled the trigger three times quickly and the
target was shredded into many pieces.  People had never seen anything like
this before.

   "That if it hits a man will kill him instantly.  There is no armor to
protect you from this except ours.  See the man standing out in front of
you?  Shoot him with your new arrows."

   The man instantly did as he was told.  The arrow stuck in the mans chest
and was pulled out by him.  He was not hurt at all.  People saw much magic
in their minds here.  Here was real power and a strong protector for them.

   "I have many stops to make and must move forward.  If you need help send
a rider to me with this symbol and I will respond." A gold coin with script
was handed to him.  He knew it was solid gold and had great value. 
Everyone fell to the ground once more and stayed bowed until all is troops
had passed.

   This played out at ten different villages that day.  "OK troops I expect
an attack here tonight.  So be ready and if it moves kill it before they
can get close.  We would like to have one prisoner if possible.  Don't take
risks getting one.  I want to return with every man unhurt and none lost.
Now get started getting this camp ready for a night fight."

   The camp was chosen well and it was below where he had fifty men
planted. Whoever attacked would be between two of his forces.  They of
course did not know that.

   Each of the girls whose fathers and mothers had been rewarded came to
Hideki and kissed him.  They thanked him for his kindness to their families
and pledged their lives as bond for the tribe.

   Snow knew he did not understand what the girls had done.  "If their
tribe ever lets you down those girls will pay for it with their lives.  You
showed their family's great honor and they are now tightly bound to you. 
Any failure of their clan, family or themselves would demand they end their
lives.  Just too much face would have been lost."

   "I was surprised at the greetings in each village.  It was almost the
same in each of them."

   "They were watched by spies from the next village and reports sent back.
You looked very much like one Emperor that ruled most of this world many
years ago."

   The attack came after the moon came up.  It did not take long before the
attacking force of just over two hundred men were killed.  Three had been
taken prisoner by the force behind them.  The ponies were assembled and
tied together to be moved at the back of the procession.

   Hideki added the fifty men to his group.  A group of ten troopers took
55 ponies and headed back to each village.  They would drop off five at
each stop.  The three men were questioned and refused to answer any. 
Hideki stood and walked out and started to cut clothing off the men.  He
then started to make small cuts allowing blood to run.  Finally one man
told all he knew pleading for death.  The rest also talked once they knew
he would kill them in an honorable way.

   "Well we now have had our first encounter with the assassins.  They are
not nearly as good as we are.  But don't under estimate them ever.  Without
our technology we might well have lost this fight."

   They mounted and started to head for the next villages.  The third day
on the move was like the second.  They were hit that night by an even
larger force and lost no troops.  The horse heard was now very large.  So
he sent fifteen men back to add to the horses given to the chiefs.  Now
each village would have ten animals and at least one stallion.

   They finally got to Snow's village and had around fifty horses of the
native type left.  They set up their camp in a field and Then Hideki, Snow
and his troops went into the village.  All people were on their knees and
heads on the ground before him.  He pulled up to the man he knew was Snow's
father.

   "Rise father in law and meet your ruler and son in law."

   Snow's face beamed at this coming from Hideki.  "Please father and
mother stand and meet my master."

   They stood and saw their daughter and she showed so much love for her
master they were just shocked.  With heads bowed they both stood.

   "Please tell me where is Snow's brother?" Hideki asked the couple.

   "He is at our home as he was unfit to meet such a great man."

   "Snow take four troops and bring your brother to me."

   "Yes master as you wish." She pointed to four men and they followed her
to her old home.

   When she walked in she saw he was not doing well.  "Get the doctor and
move fast." That came out as a command and it brought a smile to her
brothers face.

   "Little one you learn very quickly.  But you must not make your master
unhappy."

   "My master brother is the brother of the man who beat you.  He has come
to take you back and assure you heal properly.  That was requested by my
master's brother and he loves his brother as I love mine."

   The doctor came rushing in with his bag and started checking him out at
once.  He asked a few questions and looked at the wounds.  "Who has been
treating these wounds?"

   "We have an old man who treats any wounds here."

   He gave the man two shots and looked worried.  "The man has almost
killed him Snow.  Your brother has a very bad infection from whatever he is
putting on the wound.  I am sending him to the castle hospital and will go
with him and treat him."

   She walked over and held up the bottle and her brother nodded his head.
"Here is what he has being put on the wound."

   You could clearly see mercury in the mixture.  "See that silver looking
metal in here?  It is killing your brother.  It is very bad for any human
and often causes death.  This so called healer has been killing people here
for years now."

   The chopper could be heard coming in to the clearing.  Her brother was
carried to it and he and the doctor loaded in.  It lifted off and was gone
while people just stared.  No one had ever seen a bird like that and one
that would carry people.  This an was very powerful and one you had best
never cross.

   Snow rode back and was really angry.  She explained what the doctor said
and iit made Hideki angry.  He got down off his horse.  "Who has been
treating him?"

   The old man walked out and the look of hate was on his face.  Hideki had
his sword out and the mans head off before he could open his mouth.  "Why
did you have a member of the assassins treating your son?"

   "He has been here for ten years now.  I was told he had been badly
injured in a battle.  But he had good medical skills."

   "Who told you that?"

   The man was backing up fast.  Hideki was there and had the mans head as
well.  "I assume this piece of crap was the dog who suggested that?"

   The skill he saw said this man was the very best with a sword he had
ever seen.  "Yes he is the one."

   "You do know you had two assassins living in your village?  Snow cut the
cloth on each and show their tattoo of rank."

   The breath being taken by the crowd it could be heard when each mans
rank was shown.  The troops surroun the people and each man was required to
prove he had no makings on his body.  They found three more men and each
lost his head.

   "Now where did these men come from?"

   "Because we trade with many clans we pick up men from all over.  All of
these came from one group that is may be six days ride to our south.  They
are know as fierce fighters and there for taken in by many tribes."

   That is the band of the assassins then or they finished their work and
moved on here to kill your son.  I am sure some stupid leader offered gold
for his death.  When a fool makes a mistake he sacrifices someone else to
absorb the blame.  Your son was that sacrifice.  Come with me to my dinning
tent and let's talk."

   Snow spent time with her mother and the two were enjoying it so much. 
It was a very different girl that had came home to visit.  She was no child
and she was a complete woman.  But Snow's master had her being educated and
that she would have loved to do.  Her daughter took out a piece of paper
and handed it to her mother.  It was her daughters face and she smiled at
this.

   "Keep it mother and that way you will never forget what I looked like."
Tears came to her mother's eyes.

   "My daughter you're a good woman.  Being able to see your smiling face
each day will make me very happy.  Knowing your being educated will also be
a blessing from my Kami.  Your new master is truly a great man, who
understands that a woman can help a man in this world.  I was lucky as your
father does talk with me about business matters.  Not many husbands would
do that.  We discuss each trip to be taken and what happened when he
returns."

   "My master discussed this trip with me and accepted the points where I
told him we might be attacked.  He never laughed at me and took it very
serious.  Our troops were ready and they did not lose one man.  They killed
over three hundred of the enemy, captured their horses and he has given
horses to each ally to assure they can send us information."

   "That might hurt your fathers business."

   "Mother don't lie to me.  We both know father never trades with the
people we gave the horses to.  They are not wealthy enough to afford his
stock."

   All the mother could do was grin.  "He may want to now that he knows
about the assassins.  That had to be very bitter for him."

   "My master has killed all who were in any village we came through since
he found their mark.  His men are handling the ones going towards the
castle.  He has decreed that no assassin is allowed in his territory.  Any
clan chief who fails to keep that will be executed, if one is found in his
village."

   "That is very harsh." The mother wanted to see how this was handled.

   "I was told that if a man is given room to wiggle he would try to do
that.  If he knows wiggling will kill him he will not try it at all."

   "Now I know he is truly smart."

   "He said that no man was smart and if he considered himself smart he
would soon see how dumb he was.  Real intelligence questions everything all
the time.  Never assume anything or it would cause you much grief."

   The woman saw this world had never seen anyone like Snow's master.  He
was going to rule much of this land and people would wonder how he did it?
But she knew where he came from.  She also knew it was not the Islands or
Japan.  He did not have the ego of men from either place and was much
smarter.  She had been to the Islands and to Japan as a child.  It was part
of her education and she absorbed it like a sponge.  But she was not
allowed to talk about that period of time.  She still had a sister on the
Islands or at least she thought she did?