Black Arrow Lord Ch. 03

***Teaching the Samurai how to set up their weapons, Valdemar is surprised to meet the leader of one group, though they don't get along all that well.

0_o

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When Valdemar and Kōichi accompanied the daimyo outside a little later, lord Maeda had many questions regarding Valdemar's bow. He answered truthfully most of the time. When he was asked if bows such as his were what was in common use where the Dane was from, Valdemar found it a little tempting to answer yes. But he didn't.

"The bows there are very similar to the ones that I have seen here," he said, "though the ones I see around me are all longer than what is and was used by most of the people all over Europe. Mine comes from another land."

He held it up and pointed out the recurved portions. "These are to allow more draw weight while keeping the depth of the bow more shallow."

Then there were questions about the arrows .

He wanted to say that his arrows were the longest ones there and would allow for his size and the length of his arm in a full draw, but he thought that must be obvious.

The true reason that they were black -- which he knew was a question which would come soon -- was simply because they were. He didn't select them based on their color. It just happened that the black ones were the longest ones available in the warehouse. He'd wondered over it himself, but there was no answer that Cor could make.

"They were made for me," he lied with a shrug, "They are black because it was a tradition in my family."

They walked to an open area which looked like a field, though Valdemar couldn't really tell for the snow. But there was some form of an archery target there and Valdemar assumed that this was where the rifle was to be adjusted and tested. He asked where the man was who would be shooting and was told that the lord himself wished to be taught of this, since most of the results from his men's efforts with the guns which had been purchased had been abysmal.

Valdemar nodded and hoped that he looked pleased to hear it.

He asked the daimyo to shoot at the target at least three times and no more than five, but to make no attempt to change anything. "Tell him it is important that he make all of the shots the same way and aiming at the same place as exactly as possible. We do not care where the bullets go, only that they hit that target somewhere and are in as tight a group as is possible. That will tell us how to adjust so that the group and the aiming point come together."

He had to explain it twice and then lord Maeda understood it.

Ten minutes later, Valdemar produced a looking glass and after a look, he offered it to the daimyo.

"You shoot very well," he said, "The group is tightly clustered, a little low and to the right of the center."

He asked for the rifle then and made some small adjustments to the rear sight before handing it back. "Please ask him to try again, only three shots."

Each time, the group of holes slid a little closer to the center of the target until the daimyo could hit the mark rather easily. The results spoke for themselves, judging by the almost delighted expression on the man's face. Valdemar cautioned that the sights, front and rear, must be protected a little from jostling or being struck with anything.

"Or he will need to do this over again. All that is left now is the slightly frustrating task of getting the group a little tighter together each time. It relates to stillness in the body and calm breathing -- just as it does in using a bow."

Valdemar was asked if the rifles which had been bought before could have this done to them and he nodded, though he held up a finger, "But tell him that for the very best results, each man should use the weapon that he was given. What this is - is a matching of the rifle to the man. If I were to shoot that weapon now, I would probably have trouble hitting the mountain there."

Maeda chucked and nodded, understanding it all perfectly. Valdemar knew that he'd be asked to prepare all of the rifles and when it came up, he nodded, adding that if he could have Kōichi's help to translate, he would do it for nothing.

"He wishes to know how long you can stay with us for this."

Valdemar shrugged, "I am in no hurry to be on my way if I am welcome here. I must only go before the warmth of the spring takes hold."

Maeda led them to a different field then, talking as they went. He produced a cigar of the type that Jans often smoked and asked Valdemar if he knew how it was used. The Dane nodded, "I can show the lord this as well, but I must caution him a little. If he finds that he likes the practice, there is a danger that when he runs out of them, he will miss it very much."

The daimyo chuckled a little and said that he would like to learn of it later.

When they reached the second area, Valdemar stared.

Jans was tied very securely to a post, which was one of several which had been driven into the ground in the warmer weather. The man's back was to the piling and his hands were tied at the wrists and then to the post above his head. As soon as Jans saw Valdemar, he began to make accusations and shouted all sorts of unsavory curses.

Maeda had a word with Oda and the village headman walked over through the snow with a thick piece of bamboo. He held his hand in front of his mouth toward Jans to indicate that the man should be silent. Jans shouted even louder until Oda hit him across the chest once. Jans hung his head as he gasped in pain and the headman walked away.

Maeda looked at Valdemar as he spoke to Kōichi in Japanese.

"Maeda-san wishes to see your skill with your strange bow. He says that you are to listen to his wishes and shoot only where you are told to shoot. He says that he likes you very much now for what you have shown to him. It is clear that you know of these things where your companion tells only stories which are easily seen through.

Dane-san," Kōichi said very cautiously, "this is what I told of to you. Lord Maeda would have Jans killed for his cheating and his lies, but he thought that he was a servant to you at first and had no wish to insult you until he learned more. Now he knows that you are a true man. What he wishes to see now is if you are also a true daimyo. You should remember what I said.

Your first arrow should go to the right thigh."

Valdemar had no love for Jans at all after the previous evening, and he found even less in himself today to hear of what the man had tried to do - but to do this, ...

He considered for a moment as he strung his bow. To do as he'd been asked would likely go a long way toward helping things -- if he looked at it coldly. But he also knew the other side of it rather clearly.

To do anything else would likely end with him tied to the same post.

He considered the wind, thankful that there was little at all beyond a gentle and even breeze.

It went on one arrow after another as Jans screamed more and more piteously while his limbs exhibited the long and thick arrows. Valdemar held his face as impassively as he could the entire time. What he was weighing in his mind was the notion to try to hit the major artery in each of the limbs that he was told to aim for, but he knew that Maeda also likely also knew of them, so that was out.

Koichi watched it all in a bit of shock. Whenever he looked at the Dane's face, he saw only the grim expression there and it pleased him that Dane-san had listened to his advice. He didn't know anything of the Dane's private thoughts. He only knew that the large man had to do what had been instructed or ...

Valdemar was glad that the servant who had been sent for the bow had only brought five arrows. He had only one left and prayed silently that he wouldn't be asked to retrieve the ones that he'd used to shoot again. He held up the last arrow with a questioning look.

He looked at the moaning man tied to the piling a little more than what looked to be thirty yards away from him as he listened to the lord speak.

"Maeda-san says that he is highly impressed with your ability. He says that you are to finish it now."

Jans slowly raised his head and looked at Valdemar.

"I can give a moment if you wish to pray, "the Dane said, his face unreadable as he drew his bow back so that the bowstring kissed his lips.

Jans chuckled a little for a moment, "Fuck you. I would only use it to damn you even more than I ha-"

Valdemar released then and Jans' head snapped back against the pole. His body sagged a moment after that and he hung from his bonds.

Oda walked over and remarked that the arrow had gone in where the nose entered the skull and had pinned the man's head to the piling.

When he'd heard the translation of Maeda's praise over the skill of the shot, Valdemar shook his head.

"Tell him that I aimed at the inner corner of his left eye."

He noticed the way that the daimyo was looking at him, so he walked to where Jans' body hung and pulled out all of his arrows but the last. Gathering them up, he walked back to where Maeda stood and unstrung his bow.

"The lord says that he believes that you are a true daimyo now. He understands that fate and luck can play a part and fail at the worst of times. He has seen that most Gaijin would have shown some reluctance to do what was asked, but you did not. It marks you as a true daimyo in his eyes to have done what was not wanted, but had to be done regardless.

He says that you will have what you asked for, and he will pay more for you to stay for a time and teach so that his men can become better with the weapons.

He asks how much for the guns that Jans brought."

Valdemar looked over and shrugged. "They are not mine to sell. Since Jans does not need them any longer, I would suggest that he think of others that he has who could use them. I will prepare them to the best of my ability, but I wish to make it clear that if I say that a weapon is not safe to use, then it should be destroyed. I think that I saw two at least like that, but I will look closely and report to Oda-san."

As they walked back to the village together, Maeda had a thought and spoke of it. Kōichi translated faithfully, "Lord Maeda says that he only just thought of it, but he says that I am the son of an English man and wishes to know if this makes me your enemy in some way."

Valdemar looked over and he laughed, "Tell him that it makes you the son of an Englishman and that's all. I have only felt hate for one of them. Tell him that I only keep a list of my friends. The list is much easier to remember then."

Maeda stared for a moment and then he laughed, nodding.

"Maeda-san says that you may go wherever you wish in the village and the area around it. I mentioned that you like to hunt and he said that he will allow you to take three deer, one per month. He has a hope that his name might be included in your list one day."

Valdemar smiled broadly to hear it and he said that the lord's name was already there.

When they'd returned to the lord's hall, he summoned three men, and began to give somewhat detailed instructions to them. Kōichi saw Valdemar's curious expression and he leaned a little close to whisper to him, "Lord Maeda-san is sending two of them to command that some of the men in his northlands come here in the morning tomorrow. They already have their guns so you may begin teaching them first."

"Will you be there to help me, Kōichi-san?" he asked, "I cannot think that it would go very well or even very far if I do not have your help, though I can try."

"Of course, Dane-san," Kōichi smiled, "Unless I am given other things which I must do, I will be there to help."

"You only mentioned two of the men here."

But the boy only held up two fingers together, indicating that the Dane should wait.

A minute later, he was translating Maeda's statement that the third man would measure their guest so that clothing could be made for him. "He says that because your teachings can easily include positions other than only standing, you will be given a pair of breeches such as what I wear."

Kōichi smiled just a tiny bit and went on, "It is clothing suited for someone such as me. You are seen in a better way now than you were last evening or this morning, but you are still an outsider."

Valdemar bowed low and showed his gratitude for the daimyo's kindness before he was taken to a room so that the man could take a few measurements.

When they returned to where Valdemar was staying, he was surprised to see two women approaching with some bundles of wood.

"For the fire," Kōichi said.

Valdemar looked at what was being carried and he wanted to shake his head, but he didn't and said nothing. He only bowed and asked the boy to thank the women on his behalf. What he saw looked to be little more than bunches of deadfall branches cut to a maximum length for ease of carrying. From his point of view, it looked to him as though it was going to be a cold night.

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He was writing in his journal when Kōichi came with some food for him. The question had come to Valdemar's mind a few times already, but he wondered how anyone here didn't starve on this food. He found nothing wrong with it in any way and he found himself liking the taste of some of it very much. It just didn't seem to be enough to suit him. As he began to eat, he noticed that the boy wasn't eating.

"Have you eaten?" he asked and Kōichi shook his head, "I will be given something to eat later."

Valdemar looked up, "From the last of what is in the pots?"

The boy looked a little uncomfortable for a moment and then he nodded.

Valdemar got up then and he produced his traveling pot. "Please wash this in the stream a little and then fill it with water before you bring it back. Most of the water will be to drink, but I must have, ... say this much" -- he held his finger and thumb a little apart -- "for what you and I will be eating. If anyone asks, tell them that I'm thirsty but that I will let the water warm first and drink it later."

Kōichi jumped up and almost ran out with the pot.

When he returned, he saw that Valdemar had two wooden bowls set aside and he'd placed a steel mesh on the fire and was moving the coals of the fire around a little. He thanked the boy and poured most of the water into an earthenware jug. Then he set the pot on the mesh and he handed Kōichi the bowl which contained the rice that he'd been given.

"Here," he said, "I've eaten my share. The rest of this is for you. It will get something into your stomach while this cooks."

Kōichi began to shake his head, but Valdemar raised a single finger. "You are my servant?"

The boy nodded.

"Then eat. I have no need of a servant who cannot think clearly because he is weak with hunger." He produced a bag and set it down near the fire. "This is nothing other than oats. Do you understand? Oats?"

The boy nodded as he ate.

"Good," Valdemar said, reaching into the bag. He drew out a small handful of the grain, "You probably know it as something which you feed to horses. But among my kind, we roll large wheels over the kernels to crush them, but not too much. Only enough to break them a little.

If you don't do that, you could boil them for hours and still break your teeth."

The small amount of water in the pot was boiling by then and Valdemar looked at what he held and reached into the bag again, drawing out a very slightly larger handful. "This much will be all that we need." He poured it into the pot and handed the boy a wooden spoon.

"Your job is to stir this very slowly. It will take a little time."

"We eat horse food?"

Valdemar turned back and laughed a little before he came back and crouched next to Kōichi. "Think about something. A horse is a large animal, yes? Very strong too."

The boy nodded and the Dane smiled, "You asked me today how it was that I grew so big. Well, among other things, I ate a lot of this.

It will fill you up and we say that it sticks to your ribs," he said with a chuckle as he gently prodded Kōichi in the side with his finger.

The boy flinched with an involuntary smile and Valdemar grinned, "By that, we mean that it helps you. You will not be so hungry and it will make you stronger. I just need to find something," he said as he got to his feet to look through his packs.

"Ha!" he laughed a little as he came up with a small jar of molasses, "And I even have something to add on top later."

"What is that for?" the boy asked as he looked up from where he was looking into the pot.

"This is to give it a little bit of flavor and a touch of sweetness."

Kōichi nodded and returned his gaze to the contents of the pot.

"I've eaten that all of my life, so I'm used to it. You have not. I don't want you turning up your nose at this just because it tastes like shit."

Kōichi looked up again, staring this time, but he saw the small smile on the Gaijin's face and he burst out laughing.

As they sat eating the thick gruel a little later, Kōichi nodded that he liked it, "I never thought, ..."

"Something which bothers me a little here," Valdemar said, "is that the food here feels thin to me and it doesn't last long before I feel hungry again. That's no one's fault, I think that it's just the way of things here. You told me that you are half-European. That means that your gut must be a little like mine. I can't think of how you grew at all on the food here.

You're not used to this," he said, "but I've brought plenty. You likely won't have the room for any of the table scraps that you normally get around here tonight.

Tonight, Kōichi-san, you will go to your bed with a stomach which will be happy."

They talked a little and Valdemar handed Kōichi a thin strip of dried beef. "Here. You can chew on this as well. I should have thought of it earlier. I would have cut this into small pieces and thrown it into the pot. With a little less heat and a longer time, it would have made this meal a little better."

Kōichi was not hungry when he left for the night and the thought made Valdemar feel better. As he closed the door after the boy, he looked at the bits of wood that he'd been given and he gathered another two blankets from Jans' things.

Two hours later, he knew that he'd been correct.

It was a very cold night.

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The next day was a long one for Valdemar as he found that he was to teach -- and adjust the weapons of thirty men -- and this was only the first batch. There would be more, he was told.

He stood with Kōichi at the edge of a snow-covered field, waiting. He'd had a sense that there would be some dragging of feet to this, whoever the men might be. Being taught by someone might be one thing to these people, but if they thought that they were a bit of a cut above everyone, it might entail the necessity of a commanding tone to them from somebody, he thought. He smiled a little to think that it might fall to Oda to motivate and inspire them.

Valdemar had brought a little coffee with him for this journey -- precious little to his mind. And he was going through it very sparingly. But he was going through it all the same. Conveniently, Jans wouldn't be needing his supply anymore so that was a bit of a windfall. It had allowed Valdemar to make enough for a cup each for himself and Kōichi, who now really enjoyed the beverage.

He paused to draw out a cigar and then light it using a match. Kōichi looked over and Valdemar shook his head with a grin. "None for you, Kōichi-san. Smoking these will stunt your growth."

Kōichi smiled and said that it obviously was an old wive's tale, since Valdemar had turned out alright. He wasn't really more than a little curious and he just wanted to see what the curious habit was all about.

Valdemar grinned as he looked over, "I am a bit thankful that I began to smoke, Kōichi-san. Imagine how large I might have grown if I had not had these to keep me small."