The staple in the Twelve Islands, which is actually far more than twelve, is not Sa-Tarna, but rice.
Rice fields, or paddies, are associated with each village. A daimyo or shogun will have suzerainty over various villages, which he protects, and from which he obtains the means to maintain his men.
He who controls the rice, it is said, controls the islands.
Several rice fields were associated with the holding of Lord Temmu, most north and west of the castle. To reach such fields by land would mean to pass the holding of Lord Temmu. To reach them from the sea, from the north or west, one would have to put into shore, on the other side of the island, negotiate a difficult terrain, and thread one’s way through guarded, easily defended passes. By the time one could reach the fields, it was likely the ashigaru of Lord Temmu would be in position.
“It is said,” said Philoctetes, “Tarl Cabot is on the grounds.”
“I have not seen him,” I said.
To be sure, whenever it was thought he was at the castle, rumors hastened about. Certainly he was much in conversation.
This obviously had much to do with the war which, at present, seemed faraway.
As suggested earlier, it was not clear, at least to the lower ranks, when we might march.
It did seem clear that Lord Temmu had in mind carrying the war to the enemy. Certainly the reinforcement by foreign armsmen, and the acquisition of tarns, would suggest as much.
“Last night, on tarnback,” he said.
“What is the meaning of that?” asked a man.
“I do not know,” I said.
“A coordination is being envisaged,” speculated a fellow.
That seemed to me likely.
“I think,” said a man, “we are soon to march.”
“The exploratory force,” said another, “is still abroad.”
“Look,” said a fellow. “There is another.”
“Ah!” said a man.
The fellow was pointing to a high storey of the castle, where there was a beating of wings, dark against the sky, and then the tiny bird disappeared, within. Though I had never been in that room, its window high, unshuttered, open to the sky, it obviously housed a number of the swift-flighted, messenger vulos, by means of which Pani might convey messages. These, it seems, were placed in tiny wrappers, and fastened to one of the bird’s legs. Vulos who would seek this cot were carried about, for example, to the training area of the tarns somewhere back in the mountains, and, there, I had no doubt, in the mountains, were kept, in their tiny wood-barred cages, vulos which, if released, would seek as their cot and roost the very room above, high in the castle. Similarly there must have been vulos in that room which, if released, would seek a different cot and roost, perhaps, for example, one housed in the training area for tarns, back in the mountains.
There had been, of late, much traffic coming and going from that area, that mysterious room, high in the castle. This sort of thing had been given careful attention, obviously, by the men.