~ Short Japanese Fantasy Adventure story -- part of a continuing saga of stand-alone tales by award winning author Charles T. Whipple ~ In this 4th story of the Masacado Scrolls, Hikarinomiko is guided to continue to record the calling and sacrifices of Ryo, the Seeker. And to record the providing of the Bearer and his Yotsu horse soldiers to protect a princess. In this scroll, I have inscribed accounts of finding the Bearer, the battles that ensue, and the sufferings of the anointed of Amaterasu as they search for the sacred talismans.
Brief Excerpt: Across the compound, the priests kept up their frantic incantations. The stallion snorted and stomped, tossing his head against the lead rope. Whatever bothered the big horse was still out there. Noritsugu was a statue. From ten shaku away, even his breathing would have attracted no notice. A flicker of movement caught the corner of the Yotsu captain's eye. He made no move, but gradually adjusted his line of sight to take in the place where the flicker had occurred. Nothing. Only two tall stumps topped by clumps of moss. Then one of the stumps moved. Warahagi. Noritsugu snaked his long sword out. Its steel rasped on the rawhide scabbard.