Lady Samurai

Chapter 38

Lord Takeda had almost lost all hope of ever seeing Anna again.

Despite his own efforts and those of Nabutada, they were unable to find any trace of her in the many villages they had visited. After a month on horseback and with no result to show for it, the Lord was forced to concede defeat and return to his domain.

After spending much longer in the south that he had initially anticipated, he was greeted home with all due honours. He was happy to see his son and finally rest, while his sister took charge of the whole household. For the moment he enjoyed the luxury of being waited upon.

But in the evenings, when his son was safely asleep and his sister retired to her own rooms, Takeda felt loneliness with all its force. For the first time since the death of his wife he felt alone and in need of company. Perhaps this was always the case, but before he met Lottie he had denied that feeling even to himself?

What he had said to the Emperor was true; he longed for a true companion, not a woman who would treat him as a stepping stone on a path to high society.

He missed Anna. Her smile. Her compassion. Her wit. Her dazzling body... He smiled to himself. Jiro was right, he needed a woman. But the problem was that the one he wanted, the only one he wanted, wasn't here.

He often thought about her, looking at the starry skies, wondering what was she doing at that moment. Was she thinking about him?... He hoped so.

Now he certainly couldn't imagine life without her. These past two... almost three months were hard enough. How was he to continue without her for the rest of his life?

He sighed deeply. What if she wouldn't want to stay with me?! The sudden thought pierced him like a knife through his heart. Never in his life had he felt so unsure of himself and lost.

Plagued by similar thoughts, he couldn't sleep and he roamed the rooms of his castle like a damned spirit. When, exhausted in body and soul, he finally managed to close his eyes for a while, he dreamt of Anna...

Several such days and nights had passed and only now did he finally force himself to attend to the correspondence that awaited him.

He scanned the messages, just to make sure there was nothing urgently requiring his attention, when his eye fell on a piece of paper with Kazuki's name on it. He snatched it and read the message:

"My Lord, I am currently visiting my relatives in a village called Katagami, which is a day's ride north from the castle. I hope to be able to see you soon."

'Katagami?' The Lord thought for a moment, before realising that the village was a part of his own domain.

Lottie was so close the whole time! He realised with a start. That's why he couldn't find her. He hadn't looked far enough!

He called his scribe. "When did you receive this message?"

"A few weeks ago, My Lord."

Lord Takeda jumped to his feet. The fatigue and lethargy disappeared instantly. He felt rejuvenated and full of a new energy.

"Have the grooms prepare horses." He ordered. "We are leaving."

Accompanied only by a small troop of his samurai and with Mushiso in tow, he left his castle less than an hour after reading Kazuki's letter.

They headed straight north.