Read in landscape!!!

Beside the fire pit she sat unmoving form she bore
And kept a strange and noble grace though clothes like serfs were torn.
A woman bearing finer make like those from halls he left
Except for fact this shed was place the spinster's current kept.

Her eyes unmoving staring forth like person dead inside
Or steely vault that's placid made to many secrets hide.
There frozen child did watch for time to try and see what thing
Or purpose woman current held to in her house yet bring

The boy who present laid on mat and waited long for time
That child could rise and leave the room to foreign place yet find.
But after long no break had come that granted chance to leave
So boy does rise from bed to try and any exit see.

Yet still no movement spinster made though thing she sure did spy
Toward the door of hut he went to try and onward fly.
And just as child did outward reach he sudden heard a word
That briefly caused the boy to stop for thing his conscience stirred.

"It's so rude to leave the house of host who brought you in the night
Into her home from place you slept and sheltered you from spite
To quickly flee from the roof your give as soon as chance arose
Does speak of an ingrates ignoble ways who no honor owns."

The boy did stop and turned his head to see her still yet sit
And staring down the same before at smoke in fire pit
Uneasy feeling came to child but still he manners knows
So over to the spinster's seat the child does slowly go.

A dreadful feeling filled his heart but still he set by side
Of elder deep in mystery shroud and fear he deep did hide.
For long in silence both now sit not one or other shift
Then finally boy does open mouth and thanks her well for gift.

"I thank you crone for gift you gave
When spinster found me downward laid
And brought me back to home you wrought
When little good my safety brought

To spinster boy does fail to know 
Yet still with gratitude bestows."

And crone unmoved her face still fixed with gaze at fire unbroke
Though bearing peasant dress and home with noble voice now spoke.

"Thank me not I thought to slay you when first you're body to me came
And then again at many times my hand was tempt to claim
Your life before you woke but just a moment ago
To smother you in your deepest sleep, I debated well this goal.

For abstained vengeance I long have longed for from the warring man,
When first I saw you laying still as if the fates had planned.
To give you over to the depths at such a tender age
I thought that I for sure could slack my long abiding rage..."

And boy away from spinster drew in sudden startled fear
Now knowing next to gates of death he sure had lingered near
When resting deep in dreamless sleep in wilder places laid
That almost came to little else but low ignoble grave.

Yet still he lingered thinking sure his strength would keep him safe
Though woman bore unworldly air as though some phantom wraith.
He wished to know what cause had moved her heart to stay her hand
That drove the spinster back away from wicked killing plan.

"What reason held to claim my life
Would bid you place such harm and strife
On head of boy you've never known
What purpose gives the wolf to hone

It's fangs and claws on child as prey
Is crone some fell and foulish fey?"

Again unmoved she sat and stared her eyes on smoking flame
And speaking calm denied not fear by turning 'way his claims.

"Even if  I'm flesh and bone the woman before you sat
Yet still by feyish hatred great are my actions not begat?
Aren't people fey when they seek ironic ways to harm,
And bring on the heads of foes a great unceasing harm?

I am a fey when I think of master whom you're bid by clan to serve
Regardless if by birth or unresolved grudge to this realm I'm spurred.
For man who claims you as an heir I long have great reviled
Enough to even push me on to claim the life of child.

For long ago he did me harm I've never since forgot
That strange and horrid fate he dealt that missing hand had wrought."

And hearing words his heart did freeze what thing was spinster's tale
How long ago in days yet past had master's honor failed?
What drove a skillful man of blade from fortress fair and tall
What secret crime that man did own had bid such mighty fall

From palace heights so fair and grand to just a makeshift shack
At edge of humble village laid? What trait did man yet lack?
Perhaps a dirth of subtle grace and blunted warrior's way
Had driven man from station held to house he's current gave?

The question filled the boy to brim in both his heart and mind
With sudden urgent dire need to truth yet hasty find.
So stilling self in former seat a calming voice he sows
To see what further truth he'll reap inside this crone's abode.

"I ask you crone to tell your tale
So boy may know how master failed
His lord and liege who also bid
That child to man's own service give.

This question since we first had met
My mind in secret deep abet.
How man who mastered way of war
And gave himself to feudal chore

That bids him serve his master well
So long as mortal realm he dwells.
Would earn the ire swordsmen's give
And have this fate though fate was bid

By Daimyo king of warring men
Who ever on to battle wends."

For first of times the spinster moved and met his questing gaze
With icy stare she locked his eyes so fear in heart was raised.
And dreadful smirk at edge of mouth began to coyly play
That set his very soul on edge so boy's resolve did fray.

Then lilting mocking voice was spoke that set aside no fear
Yet still was boy as still as stone in hopes her words to hear.

"Ere your time it was my own clan who stood above the rest,
And was thought by all in feudal holds as the first and the best.
Our fearsome ways had won us fame and with it sense of ease
For sake of shogun's vaunted favor who our ways did please.

We held position by his side and turned the wheel of fate
And with our diplomatic arts did steer the acts of state.
Our fortresses were carven tall and made as comely keeps
No fairer halls by worldly men could you in world yet seek.

Their battlements were mounded high across the whole of land
That showed our sovereign state along with power we did command.
For all the other samurai we bid yet come and go
From the comely carven heaps they too had made for their abodes.

For centuries no one in Nihon had ever dared to deign
To seek a martial path or plot with which to test our reign
So ages past our time did grow at the side of throne
And envy grew in our kin that turned their hearts to stone.

And unwisely clan did relish in that awful envy great
And cherished others jealous hearts like a trophy in estate.
But still the decades came and went so that none did ever try
From our rough and calloused grasp to our high position pry

For none amongst the rest of clans our wealth or status owned
Though long they practiced with the blade and warring craft did hone.
So engines made for warring ways could none yet gather grand
To match our own so that they against our force could make a stand.

But lo the Hototogisu clan the clan from which your born
Who envied more than rest of kin a fateful vow yet swore
To march their forces out arrayed and either die or win
So no longer beneath our status stood their warring men.

And does it make not sense that the most envious obtain the most
That they much more than other men have wealth of which they boast?
So it was the thing that drove them to the state they current held
Did drive them on again again till even higher they would dwell.

In secret planned they battle and wrote in heart their wills 
To grant them all the vaunted goal so ambitions they could fulfill
Then finally out they came from halls no greater men of war
Had ever cross the country side or with their wrack yet tore.

Yet still my clan did hold and fight them for every single step
So cowardly hearts did not a single plan of our foes abet.
Amidst the warring forces two in rank had then arose
Who more than any other men had stood yet unopposed.

Koyo-te your master led your families forces to their end
And my son who's Sunea his ploys did often try to fend
But still against the beliefs of all, your clan did great prevail
In hardly any battle made our plans did yet avail.

Till finally son I bore and loved did speak and tell his plan
To challenge the opposing sides own chiefest warring man.
For only he amidst our ranks could match his skill with blade
For only he amidst our ranks was similar talent gave.

We waited well till armies met on opposing sides
Of killing field where one would live and the other surely die.
Then Sunea my people's hope arose from ranks he kept
And walked from midst of warring men with skill that was adept.

At Koyo-te he katana pointed bidding him to come and meet
In midst of battle field his foe for a dueling feat.
That one for all a fight would start and with it battle end
The other down to death would go to their own fate be send.

So Koyo-te did rise to meet his foe on the battle fault
What warrior would reject such dare? Not one that's worth his salt.
In midst of field there drew they blades and at the other scowled
And all did watch with bated breath for they themselves were cowed.

Then Sunea our faintest hope did outward strike with blade
His opening bid to save our house with strength was then yet made.
But Koyo-te his equal stood and turned the sword from path
And met his foe with repose and calm that buttressed wrath.

And long they fought more long than any who do study ways
Or know the secret art and craft of the samurai blade
Had ever fought before or since in our rolling lands
A legendary battle held for the fate of all the clans.

And clouds did over shroud the sun as though it dared not see
The men who current fought without but a single plea
Not life or mercy yet alone for the sake of both their clans
Did warriors in that battle waged with fury high yet stand.

Then a sudden terror seized and filled in my clansmen's hearts
As Koyo-te the master blade performed forbidden art.
With back of blade he swat aside what was a killing stroke
And swift his hand right through the guard of Sunea then broke

And grasped the collar of his armor holding man yet fast
With sudden strength his foe my son he reached yet to and clasped.
With rending motion down on his own arm he brought his blade
And the ancient Gisei Kiru, a forbidden cut was made.

And fear inside my peoples heart again did now abode
For man had sacrificed his arm to land a killing blow!

...

And slowly my favorite son on field of that battle fell
His enemies own severed arm his armor still yet held.

Then all amongst our noble rank did as bushido heeds
Their taking from themselves their lives as ancient code decrees.
And after war did swiftly close as the Hototogisu attacked
And all our holds and all our fortress clan did then yet sack.

Till all did die by either their hand or that of vaunted foe.
Yet still I linger on in this world with hobbled shack as my abode
And here alone without the slightest comfort gave by kin
I watch with glee the warring man who now does pay for sins.

For after that war your master learned what's his ignoble state
For daring throw his lot in with such a clan and tying star to fate
Of ones who only owed allegiance to ambitions thrall
And only answers to the words of their own agenda's call.

For one amidst their ranks did raise and against him did protest
So that his own rising fame amidst their ranks his foe might try arrest.

"Dented cymbals broken harp
Neither one can play their part
Warrior crippled fierce by war
Serves not home in battle chore.

Tell this man to end his life
Make him wage for clan this strife. 
Warriors need a fitter lead
Made so forces sure may heed

Man of war and all his ways
On so winning paths be paved"

So my foe was bid by clan he gave so much to serve
To either lay on himself his own hands or from their house be turned
And live as peasant not to far from place I current dwell
Where spinster long can sit and watch observing private hell

He earned by serving such a fickle clan as the one he led
For soon they tossed the man aside as though he's one whose dead."

With feyish grin she ended tale and turned aside from boy
As though the crime against him won some strange and tacit ploy.
Then turning 'round she left her seat and hobbled down to bed
That's shroud in many shadows deep from which the light is bled.

Then frightened child with pounding heart from seat did hasty rise
Not knowing thing to think of words or whether speech was lie.
He turned from place he current sat and went to leave the room
That stifled great his prickling throat and felt like dreadful tomb.

As child did leave he backward turned to look at crone again
To see once more the one who spoke and peace in boy had rend.
But shadows either hid her form or crone had left that place
Though only door he current blocked in child's quickened haste.

And fear refused to let him find which course the spinster took
On whether crone the darkness hid or house like smoke forsook.
So out he went in grassy plain beneath the crescent moon
Now trying hard to run away from pounding sense of doom...

Please vote and comment!!!! Tell me what you think about the chapter?

What do you think about the reveal of Koyo-Te's past : )