Chapter 7
. After around two days of travel, they finally arrived at the last known area of the outsiders. Getting out of the armored carriage, Kaida stretched slightly as she yawned big. Taking advantage to sleep most of the time, she was rested enough to undertake another power transfer. Walking up to Tsubasa, she placed her hand upon his chest and absorbed his clairvoyance. Within mere moments, Kaida had a piece of parchment and quill pen in hand as she began to draw out a rough map of the area. Same as she did when she mapped out the cave's years ago. An hour had now passed, and she finally put the quill pen down as she had drawn a detailed map of the surrounding area. Placing the map on the ground, she leaned back against the carriage as she took in several deep breaths to calm herself. As she did, Tsubasa picked up the map and walked over to Botan and the others to show them the detailed information she had drawn.
Tsubasa Endo: (Placing the map on a crudely put together table...) "Here is the map my sister has drawn out. Quite detailed indeed. As you can see, we have our set search area."
Botan Date: "I cannot get over how detailed our queen can make a map, if only I had drawing skills like that. Anyway, we will split ourselves into specific search groups and check the area in a grid style pattern. It will be the fastest and most efficient way to check the entire area she has drawn."
Dai Haku: "Very well. I will start getting everyone into smaller regiments to scour the area thoroughly. That would be the most efficient way to get things searched."
Haruko Ikeda: "I agree. It would be the most effective method."
Kano Nishio: "Alright. Sounds like a solid plan. I will make sure all my spare people can be of use."
Kaida Endo: "Alright. Sounds like you all have agreed upon a solid plan of attack concerning how to locate them. Now let us get ready to head out. I will be trying my hand at using several abilities once again. I will try to help transfer the clairvoyance to help everyone find them easier."
Having the four lord's line up, Kaida proceeded to start transferring the clairvoyance ability to each of them. That way, they would have a slight advantage in finding the outsiders. The look on their faces was priceless as she poured the power into each of them. Only absorbing powers from Botan and Dai. The combination worked great the first time she ever combined them. There is no reason why it would not again. She gave a slight sneer to them as she took the powers from them.
Kaida Endo: "I already know you guys are doing a bet again. So, there is no need to act all surprised and stuff. I transferred Tsubasa' s ability to all of you so you can help coordinate your troops better."
The look of surprise on all their faces was priceless as she thought. Busting them in their own little game again. She already knew what kind of bet they had been trying to plan. Only problem was, they were too damn obvious, and it gave them away.
Botan Date: "You already knew before we left the house obviously. I tried telling them they would not be able to get away with it in secret."
Kaida Endo: "I already told you guys; you cannot hide it when you all start acting suspiciously. You guys get too damn giddy and you expose yourselves. Have you not figured that out already?"
Tsubasa Endo: "I told you all she would call us out on it. You cannot hide anything from her you know."
Botan Date: "You are right. Nothing we may have tried would have kept it from her. Might as well tell her to her face next time, that way we will not look as pitiful as we do now. It tends to get embarrassing if she busts us for trying to be sneaky."
Kaida Endo: "Enough!! Quit focusing on the bet you got busted on and get your troops out there scouring for those outsiders who disrespect our lands. Someone better get a makeshift campsite set up in case the search takes a few days."
Botan Date: "Yes, that would be a good idea. I will make sure it is taken care of."
All five of them stiffened slightly as she made her thoughts known. Looking at Kaida, they resigned themselves to deep sighs and turned to their men as they began to bark out orders of their own to get everyone coordinated. Once everyone was set into place, and they were all sorted into their groupings, they sent the troops out to start their search of the area. The forward scouts had already gotten a little bit of information back using their falcons. It helped to let everyone know the areas they were not in, so that made the grid search even smaller yet. Hopefully, they would not take too much longer. But then again, being unfamiliar with certain areas is what makes it a challenge. With that in mind, Kaida did her best to stay focused that way she may have had a better chance of narrowing the search field.
Finally, after several days of searching, word came in from one of the forward scout's falcons. They had been spotted heading toward the northern side of Oshu. That was something none of them could even let happen. Rounding up all the troops took half a day at best. Marching onward, they headed to the northern side of the city. Their only hope, it remained untouched. They rode hard for half a day, reaching the outskirts of Oshu. The scouts that had been sent ahead, coming up with a look of concern on his face. Their only solace, they had not tried to enter just yet, as though they were waiting for night to fall. Kaida's rage built up once again, as she neared Tsubasa once more, reabsorbing the clairvoyance, she kicked it into high gear to find where they were hiding. Taking out a quill and parchment once again, she drew a map of a small set of inset caverns on the north side mountain range. Drawing it out in great detail, she made sure no one would mistake the area they were hiding in. Once she was finished, she set the quill pen down and turned the map for all to see. Looking at it closely, Botan declared he knew exactly where they were at. Prepping, she walked up to Botan and once again, absorbed his elemental abilities, as well as Dai's. Turning on her heel, clear rage flashed in her eyes as she walked to Kano. Absorbing his weather ability, she got on the horse with her brother as they followed Botan to the area.
Reaching the caverns, Kaida got off her brother's horse and went toward the front slopes, sending out a large rolling fog bank, she made it sound as though a sudden storm hit, complete with thunder and lightning. That was Kano's power, and he was absolutely flabbergasted as to how she could wield his ability better than him. But he pushed that thought to the side as he assisted in making the storm seem more localized. The troops were gathered around as they braced themselves for anyone that might come out from the caverns.
Kaida Endo: "Like last time, kill any that come out. This time try to keep at least one of the lords hiding in there alive. I want him interrogated. I do not care how painful it gets upon them. They will know my anger."
Everyone: "Yes my queen."
Smiling in satisfaction. She turned back to the front of the caverns. As predicted, the lords lower end subjects came out to investigate the weather conditions. Staring intently at the sky, they were too preoccupied with the weather to notice that there was a whole garrison of troops. Backing up, while staring at the sky, one of the subjects did not even realize he had bumped into one of the lords. Beginning to turn around, he had started to scream as though he were cussing out one of his fellow people.
Underling: "Gods be damned!! Why on earth…"
Botan Date: (Staring down upon him, a fleet of horseman that stood behind him, he spoke fiercely to the underling…) "I am one of the lords of this land. Who are you to come to my territory and scout out my city in which I govern?"
Staring in utter disbelief, he trembled at the sight of Botan. He then scanned his eyes from side to side as he noticed the other four. Spotting Kaida, he began stuttering uncontrollably. It was as though he had never seen a female vampire that was not a mindless lessor. Tsubasa neared his sister with a devilish smirk, as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder in a protective manor. The underling put a contorted look to his face as though he were confused by it all. Once again, Botan demanded an answer to his questions.
Botan Date: "If I have to keep repeating myself, I will turn you to ash now. Why have you and your masters trespassed onto my lands without even finding out if it is occupied or not?"