The ronin walked back to the cliff where he and Oji had spent the previous night. He looked down at the sea-warders and called to them.

"What do you want, coward?" muttered the warders.

"I'm no coward, only I was tired last night. My name is Daizen Tohachi, and I will fight you now if you wish."

"Not now, Daizen Tohachi. We are busy. There is a storm coming, and we must be watchful… both for the Host of the Air, and for treachery from the Lord of Stones at our back."

"Is there not a truce between the Stone Lord and the Master of the Seas? A truce that runs through all the islands of the North?"

"Yes, human, but we do not trust the Stone Lord to keep it when we are fighting anymore than he trusts our Lord to stay his Tsunamis if the Stone Lord is distracted.

" "Hmm," said the ronin.

"Then you will have a busy night, I think, for the storm looks to be a big one!"

"What do you know of storms, human? We have seen clouds darker than night and bolts of lightning brighter than Amaterasu herself! Before even humans learned to speak we were fighting the storms! What do humans know?"

"Little enough, I suppose. But I know when to come in from the rain!" The ronin dodged the bolts he knew were coming. As the sea-warders below threw javelins of icy water that splashed on the rocks. The ronin smiled and laughed mockingly at the watery samurai below. Long ago, the Barons of Rain had left the Sea-King's banner and joined his enemy the Master of Air. It was not a betrayal to be soon forgotten, or remembered lightly.

"Speak not of the rain-barons, human! You have angered the Sea-Master's chosen warders, and foolishly given us your name! We will remember you, Daizen Tohachi! We will remember you, when the storm is done we will take you away under the sea and drown you!"

Now my preparations are done, thought the clever ronin. He made his way back to the mouth of the Salamander's cave and sat down to pray. He prayed to the kami of luck and strength, and made sacrifices. His father had always mocked him for doing these things, calling them a waste of time and good rice, but the ronin believed in the Kami, and believed they would help him if his sacrifices were sufficient. Lastly he took out a small Buddha and prayed before the plump little statue. When his preparations were done, he lay down to sleep. That night the ronin dreamed of riches, of fine houses and strong sons.

By morning the storm was raging, and the ronin took shelter in the mouth of the Salamander's cave. He left only briefly to watch the fighting off the coast. The arrows of the traitorous Rain-barons knifing down into the waters and darting among the armies of the sea. The waves rose higher and higher, trying to grasp the clouds. The chargers of the sea-warriors rode the waves and clashed with the great hosts of the sky. It was quite a spectacle, and the ronin watched in wonder, as men do, amazed that the tiny race known as man could thrive in the midst of such conflict. The ronin shook his head and went back to the cave to wait for the end of the battle. That night, he dreamed of wars and gods, and his sleep was troubled.

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