Nephew

Shiro Kaotsuki no Higashi, Yasuki Provinces, 1 day after the Topaz Championship, 1198

“Hiroshi? He’s very good. The boy’s Terumasa’s nephew isn’t he?” Yasuki Honto, Chief Merchant Patron of the Golden Hub Market Place was speaking to a dour, scarred Yasuki called Shigo. “I hear he has already built up contacts in the Colonies. With the Spider no less!” Shigo managed to look sandalised despite his normally unexpressive face.

“While it is unorthodox, I do hear they pay their bills on time and don’t often quibble about the price.” Honto took a sip of strong Kuroshu sake and continued “I hear that he is somehow connected to Susumu Yuji, the Secretary to the new governor of the colonies. He’s marrying her daughter at any rate.”

Shigo shrugged “So he’s connected? Is he Crab?”

“Oh undoubtedly. I know his family and they definitely are Crab and he is Crab.” he sipped the sake again “He’ll do well. We sent him up to finish the last months of his training with his uncle in the Imperial City. Hmmmm, he should be done by now.

Shigo drank down the last of his sake and made a sour face “Let’s see what his first posting brings then.”

“I think there will be a large number of people watching to see how young Yasuki Hiroshi does in the coming months.”