Day 13 Court- Whirlwind Tour, Part 1

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei approached the Lion delegation and waited to be acknowledged by its leader...

[Akodo Sanae]

Ryusei approached the Lion delegation and waited to be acknowledged by its leader...

"Shiba-san?" Akodo Sanae looked up at Ryusei and inclined her head in a nod of acknowledgement. "I trust all is well?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Shiba-san?" Akodo Sanae looked up at Ryusei and inclined her head in a nod of acknowledgement. "I trust all is well?"

"All is well with me, Akodo-ue."

If you discount that treaty presentation anyway.

"But I am tasked by my Champion with some... information gathering. And I thought it best to begin with one who I believe will answer in a way she can take some comfort in. It, ah... concerns a wider... debate."

That no one was formally debating, of course.

[Akodo Sanae]

"Oh?" She leaned forward slightly to display interest. "A debate on which topic?"

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Why, which way the wind is to blow, Akodo-ue."

He paused.

"Shiba-ue is... concerned that such a matter is being... treated as something to be weighted by opinion."

[Akodo Sanae]

"Ah." Sanae frowned. "Well, let us say that I share her concerns. But there are three prongs to my decision on this matter. The third of these I will not relate; it will bear no weight in Shiba Higashime's understanding of the world. But the first two are important for her to consider: the first is to ask one's self what the alternative is to a settlement arrived at by the court in full session. To me, that means we are waiting for a sign from the heavens. The second question in that prong is to ask what a sign from the heavens looks like. Is it victory in battle? Is it a political consensus among the candidates? Is it a literal sign of some kind?

That brings me to the second prong. If our understanding is that there should be a literal sign from the heavens, then I believe that Doji Noriko's history with regarded to solar phenomena is that sign. These are matters of record. She is clearly touched by the heavens. What more need be looked for? That is the extent of my position that will matter to Lady Shiba. There is more, if you are interested, but I think you may be able to determine its contours from what I have said already."

[Shiba Ryusei]

Ryusei nodded.

"I spent some time in the Ikoma libraries this morning looking into precedents to.... ease my Champion's solicitude. They were few, to say the least. Only two. But I am certain she will be gratified, Akodo-ue, that you have been looking into celestial reasoning."

He paused.

It was... delicate, to say the least.

"Please understand that I intend no slight upon anyone, and that your answer will be shared solely with my Champion. The other daimyo of the Lion... do you think the reasoning they might bring to bear is comparable? Not as to the outcome they favor, but the thinking behind their choices? Because the latter is what matters to Shiba-ue, I believe."

[Akodo Sanae]

"I cannot be sure that Kitsu Shintaro has given much thought to how the situation is to be resolved since his attempt has failed. I think all of his attention is focused on one question at a time. Lady Matsu only respects strength, and she thinks only Otomo Keihime has shown it or is likely to. As for Lord Ikoma...I should like to think that he will follow my lead, but I confess that his mind has been rather difficult to fathom of late. It is anyone's guess what his reasoning is."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Ikoma-ue has had... well."

Ryusei chuckled a bit ruefully.

"One hell of a year. But please convey my thanks for his gracious hospitality if you would be so kind, Akodo-ue."

He bowed low.

"I can say that I regard it as a credit to the entire Lion Clan, and to the birth family of my mother in particular."

[Akodo Sanae]

"I shall do so."

[Shiba Ryusei]

"Thank you again, Akodo-ue."

Ryusei bowed, and once, the song and dance of being dismissed was done with, moved on.

In truth, he wasn't sure how many of the daimyo he needed to consult.

The Crane would say what they liked, but he knew why they backed who they backed.. The Dragon would say something inscrutable and not at all in line with Higashime's concerns. The Scorpion would say nothing useful while no doubt peeling away all of his own information on Higashime's thought processes.

So of the Great Clans, he really only had to check in with the Crab. As for the Minor Clans...

None of them had evinced much of a sense of steering the debate