Teisatsusha

By Lawrence Caldwell

Tesatsusha—an elite mercenary group tasked with infiltrating the capital of Urukawa and assassinating General Yoshinaka—begins failing when internal loyalties clash, forcing its leader, Ardamius into a difficult decision that may alter the future course of the company, as well as his own path in life.

Edited with a new title, Tesatsusha was a Silver Honorable Mention award in the L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future in 2020, the original title being The Reconnoiters.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lawrence Caldwell
• Release date: Jan 18, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005448349

Lawrence Caldwell

Lawrence Caldwell is believed by some to be a wandering samurai, or a vagrant, or possibly a ninja—though perhaps in his infinite mystery, he’s none of these things. Whichever the case, he wanders home as Odysseus did after the great Trojan War in some realm unbeknownst to our world. And—by direct theft of a quote from a certain dwarf named Varric Tethras—he "occasionally writes books."

Book preview

39 / Tesatsusha

Teisatsusha

By

Lawrence Caldwell

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © Lawrence Caldwell, 2021

Look for These Other Titles by Lawrence Caldwell

AEVALIN AND THE AGE OF READVENTURE

Aevalin: Klause Schuar, the Grand Bastard

Aevalin: Trials on the Isle of Morr

Aevalin: Knight of Aevalin

Aevalin: Errant Adventurer

Aevalin: Kingdom of the Blue Dragon

THE JINNI AND THE ISEKAI

The Jinni and the Isekai

The Black Cobra of Mar’a Thul

Coil and Strike

The Sultan of Darshuun

Sultan’s Legacy

ANARCHO

Fracture Rating

Hussy

Landfill Lich

Rescue Operation

Dreams of Forever

THE PRINCESS AND THE MAGICIAN

The Wind Steppe Princess and the Amalfi Magician

OTHER TITLES

Wakiagau

Haven

Teisatsusha

Blackwood Company

Littlehand Hakuria

Attack on the Spire Keep

The Reconnoiters

Skydrift

Acheron

"Read a book."—Captain Nathan Algren

"I would rather have a good conversation."—General Katsumoto

Salts

The machiyas—traditional dwellings in the east—were not the same here as he had seen in many other places. Here in Urukawa, they were towering with many levels, though the tiled rooves with curved eves were quite similar.

Ignoring the light and the shadows moving from behind paper doors, the King jumped, took hold of the support held up by the wooden brackets that allowed the roof to extend beyond the veranda. With his back facing outward, he swung his body with great magical force, curving his form in an acrobatic backflip. His feet came into contact with the roof above as he reached out for balance in the chilled air.

The Dancer clasped his arm and pulled him forward.

The King and the Dancer scurried through the light of the moons across the tiled roof to get a better view of Momori Jinja. Together, they crouched, peering across the city through the frigid night. The castle, with its multiple levels and washi paper doors was well placed atop a hill. The sloping stone base of Momori Jinja would be easy to scale if necessary.

Despite the cold night, the city was alight and kindled with evening activities. Orange and red lanterns had been strewn through-out across the streets and through the alleys. Musicians pounded taiko drums or played their stringed shamisens. An explosion in the sky erupted with a flash of light above the dancers and the crowds while flocking about the festivities and food stalls.

Neither of the two members from the Reconnoiters commented on the beauty of the festival or the fireworks.

Do you have the salts? the Dancer asked him, holding out the small vial, her breath a frosty plume in the air.

The King, Ardamius, glanced toward Sakura and smiled. He took the vial of magical salts from her, his fingers almost caressing across her warm wrist and over her open hand. She returned the tentative gesture, her own fingers curving slightly as their hands parted to reveal the glowing salts.

I do now, he said.

She smirked at him, then regarded Urukawa City.

Do you believe love can triumph over anything, Ardamius?

Slightly taken aback at her sudden question, he thought about it for a moment. It seemed an odd thing to ask at such a time.

I don’t know.

She smiled, but said nothing else on the topic.

If only we didn’t have a mission, he thought, watching her, then I would ask you to walk along the river with me.

The mere idea sent his heart racing, a sensation he rarely felt while in combat. Ask me again when we’re done here.

Mm, she noised with a nod. I will.

The King set his feelings aside and focused on Momori Jinja, the smaller of the two castles in the city. The cork made a gentle sucking sound as he unstopped the magic salts from the glass vial.

The smell was not wholly unpleasant, but the magic within the powdered crystals would allow Ardamius to track their target, should he be marked with their special blades—and assuming he was actually able to escaped the Reconnoiters.

The others seemed bored, Sakura said, her hand resting lazily over the hilt of her short wakizashi blade that was tucked into her black kimono sash.

They shouldn’t be. General Yoshinaka isn’t a fool. The Six might be here. Let’s see how bored they feel when our strength is matched with theirs.

Where else would they be? she asked. "The army is only