A piece of inexpensive paper has been folded in three, slipped into an envelope, and handed to a courier to deliver to Doji Shinnosuke on his way to Kyuden Ikoma, the post pony catching up to him just past Shiro Matsu.

Doji-san,

As you are aware, some 3 weeks ago we entered into a contract, the details of which I omit as they are known to both of us and I am conscious of the expectation my clients have of privacy. Unfortunately, circumstances have conspired to incentivize me to wind up my business and retire. As a result, my part in our contract has been sold to a third party. This entity will be in touch with you shortly. If you have further questions, you can contact my patron, Daidoji-ke no kashin Sato Soh, at any time in the next two weeks. At the end of two weeks, my arrangement with Lord Sato comes to an end, and I will have departed the region for sunnier climes. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and wish you the favor of Daikoku in your future business.

Cordially,
Satoshi
Munemitsu and Satoshi
Partner

Shinnosuke considered the bit of plain paper, scratching his ear with an elegant fingertip. Was this sort of thing usual? Was he supposed to reply? Replying to correspondence was generally correct, although of course in certain personal circumstances it could be considered gauche, but then again this was hardly like a letter breaking off an affair of the heart…

“Addressed in a good hand to Sato Soh” wrote: Dear sir,

I write with the natural confidence that you are aware, to the proper degree, of the dealings of your trusted client merchants, and so I need only to confirm my receipt of this letter from the merchant Satoshi indicating that he plans to leave your service. Although Mr. Satoshi does not mention the name of his successor, I am sure that person will be equally discreet and trustworthy! After all, it is entirely owing to the fine reputation of House Sato as a merchant patron, and the recommendation of several friends, that I brought my business to Satoshi and Munemitsu to begin with.

I am rather untutored in the forms and language of Satoshi and his colleagues’ particular science, so I trust that you will excuse me if this little note is not precisely as an expert would shape it!

Yours most cordially,
Tanaka Shinnosuke of the Doji

Without even thinking about it, Shinnosuke folded the letter into a courtly knot shape, rather more elegant than the simple trifold note to which he was responding.

That was the last thought he expected to give to this business for some time. It was a trivial matter, and winter might be half over before his letter made it all the way back to the far end of the Daidoji lands—goodness knew the ride from Kyuden Doji already felt like it was taking an eternity, and that was only half as far.