"Oh hell."

Porcelain masks. A very bad sign.

Kenren drew his sword.

"We're too late." Taken shouted backwards as he rushed his horse forwards, unable to grasp his katana and ride at once. "I say we rush through and catch the Shugenja before they do this to another village... we can come back here afterward."

"It will be difficult." Raiden drew his katana. "We have to search the village. Our query might be hiding in one of the homes, or worse, the scroll is in this village."

"In any case, they'll pull us off our horses unless we amke a big detour, and that might cost us too much time..."

Taken slowed and turned around, facing Raiden. "And if the query has left we will be wasting precious time while the Shugenja get to the scroll and summon more darkness for us to combat. Why don't you, Shiroku, and Yoshi stay here and explore the village, while Kenren, I, Doji Mei, and Izumi continue forward? It would split our forces equally, and, if you do not find it here, you may attempt to catch up."

"If they could summon an Oni no Akuma, we would need a small army or many shugenja to deal with it, so a few more or less would make no difference. I agree with Taken."

"Do what you think is right." Raiden said. He spurred his horse toward the village. Kuni Shiroku rode following Raiden.

"If it all the same with you Taken, I would prefer to stay here and search the village. My offensive capabilities are not as formidable as many of the others in the group and my skills are better suited for searching and interrogating witnesses."

Raiden pulled out his Katana. The village was getting closer. There were only 8 buildings in the entire village. It had the look of being a farming village.

Izumi rode next to Raiden and prepared for the worst. The village did not look big, so it would be easy to search and find people to interrogate.