[Post here first!] Kasen no Tochi Fort

Ishida would be allowed through with no issue.

Yoshitori would also pass without any incident.

Five horses traveled toward the fort; two of the riders were Quy, coming from the Quying Province as translators and guides for the three very foreign riders. They were Sakandi, and gold seemed to glint subtly on all that they were wearing. Even so, it did not seem as if any of the riders were intending to come off as wealthy, but more so as comfortable. The gold seemed to be a matter of their culture, and not an intent to show domination or power -- a simple fact of life for them. Two men and a woman, the man in front seemed to have a face that was sophisticated and always set into an expression of quiet amusement -- not as if he were constantly laughing at the foolishness of man, but instead taking subtle joy in the beauties of life.

As they parted through the lands to see the winged tops of the fortress, Jamil -- for that was the name of the leader -- quietly marveled. "What a feat of architecture," he said in Sakandi to his compatriots, the Quy guides (who were also warriors, gifted by Daimyo Akagi Zuikaku). "This land seems almost as if from fairy tales. A land shrouded in mists and wing," Jamil further spoke, giving in to a bit of flowery whim.

A small group of seven riders would come up to meet them. They didn't seem to show any sight of wanting to show aggression and the Hizashi banner was waving in the wind. Word of the small group of foreign travelers had reached the Hizashi mansion and the decision had been made to meet them along the way.

Sayuri would be in the front, sitting elegantly on her horse. Her long hair would wave gently in the wind and she was dressed in a red kimono with yellow accents in the embroidery and a yellow obi. She would smile gently as the horses came to a stop. "Genji-sama, the Daimyo of Kiyonai would like to welcome you as honored guests to our beautiful province of Kiyonai. Because of his busy schedule, he sends me, Saryui Hirayama, his soon-to-be wife, to meet you and escort you to the Hizashi Mansion. " she would speak to them in the common tongue, only a slight accent in her words. She was practiced in the language. "We hope your journey was smooth and without trouble. If you would follow us." She bowed deeply, keeping the conversation political. If the Sakandi would show sign that they were willing to follow, she and the other six would turn their horses and make way for the Hizashi Mansion.

Zakiyah fell quiet, the reserved woman with all those carnal secrets in her eyes vaguely amused where she sat upon her Sakandi horse. She looked upon the faces of those who appreciates, nodding her head when Jamil introduced her. She said not a a word, however, and followed after the others as they were led into the fort, content to let Jamil be the mouth piece.

Jamil was a man given to a quick study of people, a man with an accurate judge of character but a slow hand to judge. His intelligent but warm brown eyes seemed to be smiling at Sayuri, even if no such smile was present on the handsome line of his mouth.

He was content to guide his Sakandi steed alongside Lord Genji's betrothed, keeping at a pace alongside the moon-faced woman. The standards of Tawakoshi beauty were different than those of Sakand, but he could still appreciate and notice when the Tawakese thought something especially beautiful. He had a feeling Sayuri was just such an example.

"The Emira of Sakand has sent her niece, Lady Asherah, to marry the Daimyo of Quying," Jamil spoke in Sakandi-accented Tawakoshi, surprisingly well adjusted considering how different the languages were. Then again, it seemed predictable that a man of Jamil's bearing and airs would be so educated. "Sakand and Quying are entering a beautiful relationship, and while they prepare for the wedding, the Emira wanted me to travel and make contact with the rest of Tawakoshi. I am fascinated with what I have found, and whom I have met so far," Jamil lightly flirted, a harmless attempt more so made to further break the ice than it was to test the waters.

"We have heard good things of Lord Genji," Jamil continued, keeping the conversation positive.

The Sakandi sure were interesting to Sayuri. Even though she had learned the common language, she had not often been able to put it into practice. Outsiders had been rare in Katashima and seemed to be just as rare in Tawakoshi. She had heard of the wedding between a Sakandi woman and the Daimyo of Quying, which had surprised her due to the normal Tawakoshian customs. The relationship between the different provinces had yet been established as Genji hadn't been in Kiyonai for a long time. She wondered about the sudden search for contact through the hands of the Sakandi.

She would watch them with her bright blue eyes, many men had told her how they reminded them of a calm blue river or even of a bed of freshly fallen snow in the morning light. The way their bodies looked sure were very different. The dark skin and the dark thick hair on the Sakandi was beautiful in its own way. They looked like they had bathed in the sun all their lives and their faces were a lot more slender and long then was the standard of beauty in Tawakoshi.

"I have heard of their betrothal. I hope you won't take offense when I tell you I was quite surprised the Daimyo was marrying to a Sakandi woman. Many people in these lands are still wary of foreigners. It was a risky step on his side, but I am sure it will be rewarding to all of us. Nothing bad can come from forging relationship between us and other lands and it might even persuade our people to start being more open minded. I hope she had found happiness in her relationship with the Daimyo." she spoke gently with soft and gentle voice, still speaking slowly to honor their guests. She was quite impressed with their Tawakoshian. The betrothing hadn't happened that long past so they must have learned the language fast.

"Lord Genji is an honest man with many ambitions. He has a heart for his people and tries to act on their well-being. I am sure he will be pleased to hear of your arrival and the relationships you wish to forge."

She and the other Sakandi native continued to follow after Jamil and Sayuri's horses, their Quy guides behind them, and Sayuri's men flanking them from every angle. The Sabina Majeh was quiet, but there was a reservation about her that did not imply shyness at all.

Who takes notice hawk? A simple bird of prey? Soaring from the start of the horizon into the blue without a single care. In a world with so many incredible and fantastic things who counts the aviary?

Wings flapped with a heavy push as the brown and white-feathered fiend sailed through the forgiving winds. His direction seemed to be that of a nearby tree. A simple overhang of green and life.

It was of little consequence to the farmers and travelers as they went about the normal routine of the day. Unremarkable things hide in basic uninteresting packages. Something fell from the branches.

A small girl tended to a fence might have glanced over and she may or may not have sworn she spotted something peering back at her from behind the trunk. Glowing eyes and a mischievous grin. A second glance and it would have been nothing more then a day dream.

From that tree produced a slow walk. The walk of the weary a thick brown torn and sewn together cloth covered a slow moving figure. A person with great injury or wound that had caused a eerie step? The elderly sometimes walked with such a hunched sway. If someone was just passing eyes over in partial interest it might have seemed like nothing.

A determined stare? Inspection might have revealed more. That ordinary staff he was carrying was fine gold and red. It looked ornate! A heirloom of some sort? What a fine thing for a beggar!

Toward the fort the figure swayed and was that a tail that whipped out under the cloak before vanishing like a snake waiting for prey? Back and forth the figure bobbed heading inside unless interrupted.