Blood on White Petals

There is a secret to every message, and a hidden truth in every riddle... Traveling along the roads outside the peaceful province of Teshida. A humble ashigaru youth runs toward you, kneeling in the muck and mud at your feet.

"Please," he says, weeping. "Please."

He holds up a scroll, sealed with the chop of the village of Caotang. On the outside, written in poor calligraphy, is the word 'samurai'. Within, there is a message. In sloped kanji, tilted and barely legible, the message reads 'We have killed the Village Magistrate, so sorry. Town of Caotang no longer can work. Awaiting sentence of death.'

Caotang is a wealthy village. Its production of silk worms is renowned throughout all of Kikumura Province, and without the yearly tithe from the town, many master silk-makers will have no goods for sale when the winter comes. The entire province will starve.

"I will take you to Caotang," the ashigaru youth says brokenly. "And there, you must administer the Emperor's justice... and destroy us all."

Language: English

Pages: 16

Product Code: AEG 8530