Their hands fell to their weapons. The air was still. Silence reigned. Their hearts were calm.
"We've been betrayed," Gengyo declared, a smile on his lips. In a world that was so often grey, it was helpful to have a man painted in black. "Oda Nobunaga has declared himself our enemy."
"Foolish," Jikouji murmured, shaking his head, there was not the slightest hint of fear.
"Indeed. The question still stands though: how did he ship Kenshin's men this far west without us noticing?" Gengyo said, stroking his chin, more interested in that puzzle by the threat that was in front of him.
"They've got our horses," Akiko noted monotonously. The men had made their way to the bottom of the staircase, holding spears, longer than the average yari. They pierced through their horses without mercy, and their screams rang out into the evening air.