Honor
7 November 1998
by Jason Postma

Honor.

This is what comes from those who act without honor.

Ino was a daimyo who had no concept of what bushido really meant. He was power-hungry, willing to betray a brother to his enemies. The man was without honor.

Not that Jinjiro would say that to his face. The fact that this part of the border was at peace between Lion and Crane served his clan. Ino was not his daimyo, and not his problem. Katsu was the man who best understood what was happening in the fief and would know what best to do about his knowledge, or he would carry that knowledge to his grave.

Jinjiro had nothing but pride for Hachi. Caught in an impossible position, he had done what bushido required, overriding all thoughts of personal pleasure in the service of his daimyo. That the service had been unpleasant only gave Hachi more credit.

No, his one mistake had been to love a Scorpion.

Once again, the problem was people without honor. Scorpions–always finding

your secrets to gain power for themselves.

Jinjiro almost had an admiration for Yojiro's skills–if they had not been honorless. A certain degree of courage was required to tell a lie that you knew others would recognize as a lie, especially when outnumbered in the middle of the night. Courage perhaps, but not honor. And where is the glory to be had in a deed you can never speak of? What if Jinjiro had called him a liar to his face and killed him? He would never understand the mind of a Scorpion.

Thank the Fortunes.

Perhaps now they could finally get on to some peace and relaxation. Jinjiro was looking forward to his first undisturbed sleep in years.