This war has lasted for many centuries, but sooner or later the Itoshins will win it!
EDo gestured DoAyve to come to the gate, while he himself turned to the illa.
Thank you, our good guide! Once again, I propose you share dinner with us at Lauhan, and to go on the return journey in the morning.
Thank you, valiant udoğan EDo, the illa answered sedately, but I already said that my duty is to return to Shohan as soon as possible. In seven days time, I must conduct a new detachment. The night and demons do not frighten me, for the light that I carry in myself will be stronger than them.
An illa was what the Itoshinian people called the guides in the fog. The illas were endowed with a special power. They did not become warriors, but at the same time, they possessed the great power of light. They could pass through the most impenetrable veil and not stumble once. Demons did not touch them, for they felt the light. Illas could not take up a sword thus had their fate been determined!
When an illa was born in an Itoshinian family, there was a feast in the house. Yellow lanterns were hung out on the street, and happy parents gave out sweets to neighbors. The life of the Itoshins was severe, but sometimes there a place for joy to be found. And the birth of an illa was a great joy, for together with the illa, the light was born.
All the illas were white-haired, with thin light skin. All wore white clothes.
An illa named Kanu was one of the most skillful. The Emperor had personally instructed him to lead the detachments to the south, to Laukhan.
The weaker illas journeyed with caravans. But caravans moved along trade routes, where the fog was not as dense, and demons attacked much less often. The strongest illas went into the thickness of the fog under special orders of the glorious Tosho.
Now was just such a case.
The Valley had become deserted. Caravans had stopped coming to Shohan. The Emperor had commissioned the best udoğans to collect the troops and reach the Great Cities as soon as possible. Only the most skillful illas were to lead these detachments, those who found the most difficult and dangerous, but fastest routes.
DoAyve had already approached the gate of the fortress and knocked loudly.
Whos there? came a hoarse voice.
Let the immortal Emperor Tosho be glorious! My name is DoAyve. I am the assistant to the valiant udoğan EDo. Our detachment heads off to the Valley and asks for permission to spend the night in the fortress.
May the Emperor be glorious! the reply sounded from the gate. The heavy shutters creaked, the stretches shook.
My name is Mitsu, said a gray-haired guard as he emerged from the gateway toward DoAyve. He looked about fifty-five, but it was always considered a sign of cowardice to live until gray hairs. However, DoAyve paid attention to the fact that the duty man did not have a right hand. This immediately changed his opinion about the man. For a warrior, nothing was worse than losing the opportunity to fight! And a man who lost his right hand in battle was no longer a warrior. Therefore, only respect could be shown to the gray-haired Mitsu. He had not given up, he helped the soldiers cause as best he could, standing at the gate, to warn of danger, to let good people into the fortress and put up fortifications.
Forgive me that it took so long, Mitsu continued. The demons are getting more cunning and sly. Now they sometimes come in the haze. You were lucky. Its already time to lift the bridge!
There is nothing to ask forgiveness for, honored Mitsu. You are fulfilling your duty. We really were in a hurry! We left Shohan a week ago.
A week? Mitsu was surprised. You were led by a truly great illa!
Its hard to argue with that!
EDo approached the gate, and the guard bowed low to him.
The detachment walked into the fortress. First the tall, experienced fighters entered, then the yauls, and, lastly, several young apprentices. Apprentices were forbidden from going into the mist before giving oath to the Dotsu Code and being initiated as soldiers of the Empire, but this was a special occasion. These young men and several girls were fluent in the Common Language, and the udoğan reasoned that in the Valley, such a weapon could sometimes be more useful than a loyal sword.
Close the gate and lift the bridge! EDo ordered the guard. No good guests will be coming today! He then turned to his detachment, Go straight to the keep of the udoğan Goro!
The streets of Lauhan presented a gloomy scene. There werent many happy sights in the lives of the Itoshins. But still, nighttime Shohan was magnificent.
The torches are reflected on the black surface of Moon Lake. Houses are flooded with a magical light. If you go out to the battlefield and draw your sword, the reflections of the moon and the stars will begin to walk along its sharpened edge. Could anything in the world be above this beauty?
For a young and skillful warrior such as DoAyve, nothing could! Almost nothing.
Complete darkness fell over Lauhan. Only signaling fires burned on special sites of extension attachments to the roofs of houses. If you didnt light a fire, wait for the night guest went the old Itoshinian wisdom.
The kindling was being lit in the houses. The windows glowed with faint radiances. It seemed the people of Lauhan had already gone to bed, but then awoke, disturbed by the roar of heavy steps and the clanking of metal. A few gawkers poked their heads out from behind the window shutters.
May the Emperor Tosho be glorious! one shouted out, apparently distinguishing in the fog the armor of udoğan EDo.
May the Emperor be glorious, he replied calmly.
The houses in the city were simple: the foundations made of stone, the walls made of thick logs smeared with clay, the roofs covered with poisonous thorn. The roads were covered with polished stone not for beauty, but for practicality. The fogs in Lauhan were particularly damp, and the roads quickly turned into mud. If the pavement was not laid with stones, soon a real mud marsh would start inside the fortress.
The keep of udoğan Goro towered among the low houses like a black cliff. The tower was built in the shape of a pyramid: a heavy monolith at the base, the next level a less massive block, the next even less, the uppermost a stone cone. Signal bonfires burned in every top corner of each tier, with the largest on the dais. The keep, like the whole city, was built of stones, wood, and clay.
The towers wards called out to the detachment. DoAyve had already stepped forward to answer, but EDo answered instead. Silence reigned on the tower for a while and then the answer followed, The venerable udoğan Goro is expecting the valiant udoğan EDo in his chambers!
The inner gates swung open.
Todo, you are in charge! ordered EDo. DoAyve, you come with me!
The detachment contained itself near the stone foundation of the keep. The yauls were driven into a group and guarded.
DoAyve followed the udoğan. The stairs leading up were incredibly uncomfortable, high, and slippery. DoAyve thought that an Itoshin should not complain about such inconvenience, but then he heard his commander swear about the layout of the tower.
Mustnt a warrior get used to everything? DoAyve asked with surprise.
Yes, EDo replied. A warrior must know how to climb steep rocks, walk on mountain paths, move in a fog. But if we build a citadel, we must build it so that it helps the soldier and doesnt get in his way! These steps could have been made in a more convenient manner. Then a warrior would spend less effort on climbing them, investing more forces in his stroke in a fight with the demon instead!