Binja

By Colby Toennis

The only way a fifteen-year-old boy can stand against a devil is to become a devil himself. Binja is forced into a perilous quest when The Shogun of the Night kills his mother and nearly kills him too. Binja must face the protectors of the magics and gargantuan size monsters. A dragon joins him along the way but will that be enough to

• Language: English
• Publisher: Colby J Toennis
• Release date: Mar 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798985823417

Book preview

PROLOGUE

The lanterns flickered in the throne room. The Shogun of the Night sat upon the throne reading a scroll by the light of a torch. The doors to the throne room creaked open and a dark figure walked in and bowed deeply.

What is it Sheedo?

Sheedo rose, but kept his head lowered.

It pains me to bring you bad news master.

Just get to it.

Yes father. The Tokugawa and Toyotomi clans have formed an alliance to defend against the Oda clan.

Sow discord between Ieyasu and Hideyoshi so the alliance is weak and falls apart after the Oda attack. Then make sure the Oda clan doesn’t lose too badly.

Yes father.

Make sure the Oda attack on our timeline.

Nobunaga is blood thirsty, that should be an easy task.

Sheedo turned to leave and then turned back and bowed again.

What else Sheedo?

A few of the girls escaped the dungeon this morning. We will get them back.

The Shogun jumped up and raised his voice.

Was it from a cell I’ve visited?

I’m not sure master, Sheedo said as he dropped to his knees and bowed his head to the floor.

Send Aago after the girls. I want their heads brought back and displayed outside the cells.

Yes father, Sheedo said as he bowed his head to the floor again. Then he jumped up and walked quickly out of the throne room.

CHAPTER 1

Binja took his time walking to school this morning. He enjoyed the peace of the forest and wished he could explore all day. He often thought of what it would be like to leave Japan and go somewhere everyone was different like him. His pale skin, orange hair, and freckles were a curse. It didn’t seem to matter what village they moved to. The kids in every one had tormented him.

This village was the worst one yet. Tay was by far the worst bully of any he’d encountered. He didn’t just make fun of him; he went out of his way to do things like slam his shoulder into him and to knock his inkpot to the floor. It was some new form of abuse almost every day. But sparring with him was the worst. He was bigger and stronger and he always took the extra shot after he’d won. Binja couldn’t understand why he was made to spar with him so much. He was three years older for Buddha’s sake. He did much better when he faced one of the younger boys.

Binja chided himself, he knew it was wrong to think that way. He should relish the challenge. But Tay had left him bruised and bloodied many times over the last few weeks. He never hurt the younger boys, why did Tay have to hurt him.

Binja realized he was almost out of the forest and into the clearing the dojo was in. He stopped walking and took a moment to enjoy the greenery of the forest before his daily torture began.

He slid open the door to the dojo and entered. He was late. Sensei was glaring at him. He moved to his desk as quickly as he could. He had to watch out for a leg extending to trip him. That was a new one yesterday.

Binja removed his pack from his back and hung it on his chair hook. He opened it and pulled out his inkpot, brush, and scrolls. He organized them on the desk and sat down.

Binja, may we finally start, Sensei asked sarcastically?

Binja slunk into his chair at the unwanted attention. When Sensei continued to glared at him, he flushed and nodded. Sensei finally let the matter drop and brought their attention to the scrolls on the wall in front of them.

Copy the third scroll.

Binja dipped his brush in his ink and started. It was quiet in the dojo during shodo writing practice. Binja liked the solitude and the quiet allowed him to focus. He usually finished first so he had time to read the other scrolls. The walls of the dojo were lined with them and he was nearly done reading through them all.

More effort had been put into the construction of the dojo than most of the other buildings in the village. The walls and floor were a polished ebony wood and the floors didn’t squeak like the huts. The back half of the large open room was wide open for training in the colder times of the year. The rest of the year they only used the area for meditation. Two different types of mats were stacked neatly in the back corners. Between the mats were multiple racks filled with a variety of weapons.

Sensei used the weapons for demonstration, but the students were never allowed to touch them. They only used their bokken. Their wooden training sword was the only weapon he would teach them for now. Sensei said they would learn more weapons eventually, but must be very efficient with the bokken first.

After shodo, they pulled out the mats and knelt down for meditation. Sensei didn’t say a word, he just started the breathing exercise. He only explained meditation to new students on their first day. It was a pretty simple concept; focus on the sensation of breathing and clear your mind.

Binja had the hardest time clearing his mind in this village. He spent almost the entire meditation and demonstration time worrying about having to face Tay in sparring. It wasn’t a big deal during meditation, but he missed more of the forms demonstration than he would have liked. Before he knew it Sensei was done and they were headed outside to spar.

Again!

Binja was still rubbing his left side and breathing heavily. He looked at Sensei with disbelief. Sensei had a serious look on his face so he didn’t bother to question him. He lifted his training sword to low left defensive ready position.

Tay charged at him and attacked from overhead attack position. Binja lifted his training katana and blocked, but the power of Tay’s blow sent his own bokken into his cheek. Binja stepped to his right and tried to shake off the pain, but his left eye was filling up with tears.

Tay wasted no time. His bokken came at Binja from high attack again, but this time Binja was ready. Binja looked at Tay and everything seemed to slow down. His heart filled with anger. He hated Tay. He blocked the attack and counter swung at Tay’s left leg. Going for the legs was something his mother had taught him.

After his attack hit Tay in the leg, he froze. He’d never landed a successful attack on the older boy. Tay made a small noise and Binja knew he’d hurt him, even if just a little bit. Tay’s eyes narrowed in anger and he came at Binja with a vengeance.

Binja managed to block the first attack at his left body but the attack was stronger than he was ready for. The wooden katana shifted in his hands and started to slip free of his grip. Tay’s next attack came in the same place and hit Binja hard on the forearm. His bokken clattered on the stone ground as he grabbed his arm in pain.

Tay was almost on top of him again and he fell to the ground lifting his arms up to defend against the imminent blow. Binja closed his eyes in anticipation and then heard a clack of wooden katana’s coming together. He opened his eyes and saw Sensei had stepped over and blocked Tay’s attack.

Enough Tay. That killer instinct is good in battle, but we are training here, and you are fighting a smaller, less experienced opponent.

Yes Sensei, Tay said as he lowered his eyes.

Get up Binja, and grab your weapon. Take a deep breath and prepare to go again.

But Sensei my arm hurts. I can’t hold the katana.

Hold it out, let’s see.

He took his time standing and walking over to his bokken. He picked it up and fixed his hands to the right positions. Binja held out the sword and was surprised to find his grip felt strong. Sensei quickly swung his sword and tapped Binja’s bokken firmly on both sides.

Looks like your grip is fine. Ready position.

But Sensei, he’s too big and I’m getting beat up, he whined. I’m not ready for this.

Tay chuckled and then most of the other boys joined in. Binja hated that the whole class watched him spar with Tay. They always seemed to get a laugh at his expense.

Come here Binja.

Sensei motioned to him to follow and started walking away from the other boys. Binja grunted and sighed, but jogged a little to catch up. He didn’t want to hear the pep talk he was about to get. Sensei stopped by a tree far enough from the others so they wouldn’t hear. Binja walked up and stopped next to him, then slumped up against the tree.

Stand up straight, Sensei snapped at him.

Binja slowly and reluctantly obeyed. Sensei stared at him until he looked him in the eyes.

I know you can do this Binja. I see the spark of potential in you.

But Tay’s too big and strong. I can’t beat him.

You can’t if you think you can’t. But I think you can. I’ve seen your forms in training and they’re very good. Better than they should be for the little amount of training you’ve had. Skill and speed beat size and strength every time. Use your quickness to move away from his stronger attacks. Keep moving as you go through the forms. A moving target is harder to hit and his attacks will become more uncertain and get weaker. Then you will have him right where you want him. A sword fight is like and dance and solving a puzzle at the same time. Every opponent is different.

Ok, Binja said uncertainly.

Ok, let’s try again, Sensei said encouragingly.

As they walked back to the rest of the class Binja’s thoughts raced. He was still terrified of Tay but also eager to use this new information. He had to admit, it was a damn good pep talk to get him to want to fight Tay again.

Binja and Tay walked to the center of the training area at Sensei’s motioning.

Ready positions.

They both lifted their training katanas. Tay lifted his overhead into high right attack position again. It hit him; he knew what Tay would do. He was predictable. He always attacked from high right to the neck or mid right to the body. Binja moved the tip of his weapon to low right from his usual low center. This would give him a little more power when he blocked Tay’s attack.

Tay charged, but Binja didn’t back up like he’d done every time before. He waited until Tay started his attack swing and stepped right, bringing his katana up to meet Tay’s in an arc. The change in tactic caught Tay off guard and his bokken was knocked too low to start his mid body attack. As he lifted it back into position, Binja took advantage of the delay and smoothly went from his blocking arc to an attack across Tay’s right thigh. The thump of wood into muscle was loud. The other boys all gasped in unison.

Tay pulled back in shock. Binja stood watching as Tay tried to put his weight on that leg. He leaned back and forth testing it. Tay looked up at Binja and his eyes narrowed in anger again. But Binja was ready this time. He knew Tay would try to attack so hard it would knock Binja’s sword to the ground. Binja positioned the tip of his bokken strait down in front of him as usual, hoping to fool Tay into not realizing he was going to use the same block.

Tay started forward, but slowed when he stepped down with his right leg. The pain seemed to anger him more and he moved faster but with a slight limp. When Tay got close enough to attack, his sword wasn’t in a ready position and he swung it up behind himself to try to put more power into the attack. This gave Binja lots of time to counter. He quickly reached out with a short swift attack and tapped Tay’s thigh in the same spot he’d just hurt him.

This caused Tay to wince and pull back with the leg instinctually. He was still coming forward, so the slight retreat with that leg caused an off-balance stagger. When he tried to put his weight back on the hurt leg to power the attack, his knee bent back slightly in an odd-looking angle. Tay’s attack swing was altered and slow, and Binja knocked it away easily. Tay lost his balance and went down onto his hands and knees. His bokken coming free from his grip and bouncing away as he fell.

Binja took the opportunity to exact some revenge. He circled Tay and smacked him hard on the butt with the flat part of the blade. The other boys started laughing hard. Even Tay’s cronies were laughing at him. Tay flushed and shot a menacing look at his friends. The three boys stopped laughing immediately.

The rest of the boys toned down their laughs more slowly but stopped out of fear of Tay’s wrath. Once they’d stopped laughing, Tay turned to look at Binja. He’d never seen such a hateful glare. He knew Tay would be out to get him now.

Ok class, that’s enough for today, Sensei said in an authoritative voice. Back inside. Put your bokken up and get out your brushes and inkwells again.

Binja knew he should be worried about what Tay would do, but right now he could barely hold back the jubilation he felt inside. He realized he had a frozen grin on his face and he couldn’t make it go away. He’d actually done it. He’d won a fight against the boy all the rest were afraid of. Confidence washed over him. He knew he could do it again. He opened a door inside that gave him a whole new outlook. He was a good swordsman. Someday, he’d be great.

The rest of the day went by in a blur. He barely paid any attention to arithmetic. He was on top of the clouds. After school he took his time walking home. He admired the beauty of the forest and enjoyed the spring smells in the air. He watched the bees and bugs as they flew past with a buzz. He appreciated everything much more this afternoon.

He looked over his shoulder from time to time to make sure Tay wasn’t coming for him. But despite trying to hide it, Tay’d had a slight limp the rest of the afternoon. Binja didn’t think he’d be in any condition to fight again today, but he wasn’t dreading that confrontation. He knew now he was better than Tay and he could win every time.

He slid open the door to his house and walked in. His mother was in the kitchen preparing dinner.

How was your day sweetheart?

It was the best day ever.

His mother looked up from her cooking, surprise registering on her face.

Doesn’t look like your face had the best day ever.

He’d forgotten about the hits on his arm and face.

Just scratches, no big deal.

Ok tough guy. Go get cleaned up for dinner.

…

Binja woke the next morning to the sound of his mother yelling at him to get up. He dragged himself up off his mat and started to dress. His forearm was a tiny bit sore, but he was still basking in the glory of yesterday’s victory too much to let it bother him.

He flinched as his mother yelled, hurry up Binja, you don’t want to be late for school!

School might be awful today, thought Binja, I have to be ready for Tay to take a cheap shot when I’m not looking. Even if he does, the other boys know I won and won’t be making fun of how skinny I am, or my orange hair anymore. They’d have to respect me now.

Binja, his mother yelled louder this time. Hurry up!

Binja picked up the pace and hurried to the kitchen. He scarfed down his eggs and bacon, grabbed his pack and bokken, and ran out the door.

He looked back and waved. His mother yelled, have a good day Binja, I love you.

Love you too mom, he yelled back as he sprinted into the forest.

He decided he wasn’t going to worry about Tay’s retaliation and was starting to get excited to get to school. He was eager to prove yesterday wasn’t just luck. Binja ran through the forest, dodging trees and jumping the fallen ones. Something he loved to do, but hadn’t done in while. Plus, he wanted to avoid running into Tay walking with his lackies. He wasn’t sure what would happen if they all attacked him.

Just before he got to the clearing the school was in, he tripped and sprawled to the ground, smashing his face into a thick branch. Binja’s eyes filled with tears and he heard faint laughing as the world went black.

Binja woke to a splitting headache and pain on his cheek. He touched it gingerly and it was sticky with blood. He wiped the blood on his pants and got mud on his fingers. Useless, he thought.

He looked around and didn’t see anyone. How long had he been unconscious? He slowly pushed himself to his hands and knees and noticed he didn’t feel his pack on his back. Ignoring the dizziness, he jumped to his feet and scanned the area for his pack and bokken. He saw some papers on the ground a short distance away and ran over to them. His pack was ripped apart as if by a wild animal. His papers were scattered everywhere. They were crumpled and wet; ruined.

Binja yelled out, Nooooooooooooo, and started to cry.

He sat down on a log and forced the tears from his eyes. Then he caught a glimpse of smooth polished wood on the ground. He rose, walked over to it, and picked it up. It was only the lower half of his bokken, but he didn’t see the top half anywhere. Binja couldn’t fight the tears back anymore and sobbed uncontrollably. Even when I win, I still lose.

Binja sat on the log for a long time after he stopped crying. He could barely feel the knot in the log pushing into his leg. He was in a trance of disbelief. When the knot started to get uncomfortable, his mind came back to reality. Would he ever be free from the tragedy that was his life?

He heard voices yelling in the distance. Binja slowly stood and started gathering his destroyed things. As the voices grew closer, he was stuffing the last of the dirty wet papers into his torn pack. Sensei stepped into the small clearing.

I found him, Sensei yelled back over his shoulder.

Is he ok, a village guard asked?

Yes, looks like he’ll be fine. You can go tell the others and resume duties. Binja, are you ok?

Yes Sensei, but all my things are ruined.

What happened Binja?

Tay and his friends set up a trip wire on my normal path to school and then destroyed my things, he said as tears started welling up in his eyes again.

Well, it looks like you have a pretty good size gash on your cheek. Let’s get your things and get you to the clinic.

They gathered all the papers they could find, picked up the half of his bokken and torn pack, and headed toward the school. They stopped at a trash bin and threw all of his things in.

Don’t worry Binja, I have another pack and bokken for you. Did you find your brushes?

No, Binja said as he realized he hadn’t seen his brushes or inkwell. My inkwell is missing too," he added in a shaky voice.

Don’t fret Binja. I have some brushes for you and you can have my spare inkwell. You can have some extra time on your homework.

Thank you, Sensei.

They walked the rest of the way to the clinic in silence. When they got to the clinic Sensei pulled the door open for him.

When you’re done here you can go home and rest for the day.

He nodded and walked in. This was going to hurt, he thought. The clinic wasn’t a large building. There were a few mats laid out on the floor in the main room for the sick or injured. Binja turned right and walked into the healing room. The healer motioned for him to have a seat on the large bench. Binja looked around the small room at all the bottles and instruments.

The healer walked over with a damp cloth and started dabbing his cheek. He was thankful she was being gentle.

Lay down please.

Binja did as she asked. He laid there watching as she pulled her black hair back and tied it behind her head. She grabbed a tray of instruments and brought it over to a small stand positioned where she could reach it.

This is going to hurt. Would you like something to bite down on?

Binja shook his head. She scrubbed his cheek clean with one cloth then dabbed with another cloth. Here we go, she said, and then brought the needle to his face.

He gently touched the stitches in his cheek as he was leaving the clinic. Binja had never been cut so bad as to need stitches. Anger filled him. He wasn’t going to let Tay get away with this. After Sensei punishes them, he was sure they’d try to get him again. This time he would be ready. He glanced over his shoulders several times on the way home.

Binja walked up the steps to his house and slid opened the door, startling his mother when he walked in. She flinched and turned quickly, reaching for her tanto.

What are you doing home so…, his mother started and then trailed off.

She gasped as she walked over and saw his stitches.

Binja what happened? Are you ok?

CHAPTER 2

Binja watched his mother’s face grow angrier and angrier as he told her what had happened.

Binja, I want you to rest while I’m gone.

His mother grabbed her tanto from the hook she kept it hung from and tied the silk belt around her waist. She adjusted it so the blade was running across her lower back like she always wore it. She never left the house without it. She grabbed her walking stick and headed for the door. He watched with increasing horror. He knew his mother was going to make a big deal of this.

Mother please don’t go, Binja said desperately. Sensei is going to take care of it.

Sensei has his ways, and I have mine, she said firmly. Now go lie down and rest until I return.

Yes mother, Binja said dejectedly.

She slipped on her shoes and marched out the door. Binja crept over to the window and watched to see if he could figure out where she was going. His stomach sank as he watched her turn towards the center of the village. He was sure she was headed for the council of elders building. This is definitely going to turn into a big deal, he thought.

Binja awoke with a start at the sound of the front door sliding open. He jumped up and ran down the hall as his mother closed the door.

Did you rest, she asked?

Yes, Binja said. Where did you go, he asked, as if he didn’t already know?

Don’t worry about it Binja, his mother said. Those boys won’t be bothering you anymore.

Binja slumped.

Why does that make you sad Binja? I would have thought you would be happy.

Mother, they’re just going to be harder on me now!

His mother softened and said, no Binja, I have arranged for you to have a guard escort you to and from school.

Oh great, Binja yelled! Now all the kids will make fun of me. I’ll never fit in here."

That’s a lot better than those bullies cutting your face up, his mother said curtly. Now that’s the end of it. If you’re feeling better, you can start your homework.

Ugh, Binja sighed. But my ink and brushes are gone, He exclaimed in triumph.

You can use mine Binja, his mother said.

Ugh, fine, he said.

Then he dragged himself to the desk to start writing. His mother looked at him incredulously and he knew he was about to be in big trouble for speaking to her like that. To his surprise, she turned back to cook without saying anything. He pulled a piece of paper from the stack and dipped the brush.

Binja finished his homework just before dinner and they sat down on their mats to eat. They ate mostly in silence. One-word answers were all he was willing to give. He was still fuming from what his mother had done. He had to think of a way to ditch his babysitter guard every day. How would the other kids react if they saw him being escorted to school.

He stewed over the idea for the rest of dinner. He helped his mother clean up and then headed for his room.

Good night Binja.

Good night.

Binja woke in the middle of the night gasping for air. The air was hot and burning his lungs. His eyes burned when he opened them and all he saw was orange flames everywhere. He rolled off his mat and crawled to the corner of his room towards the trap door. He had chided his mother for having trap doors put in, but he couldn’t be more grateful now.

Binja struggled to move the wardrobe off the trap door, he was having a harder and harder time breathing, and started coughing uncontrollably. This is it, he thought, I’m going to die. The flames crawled across the ceiling of his room. He felt his skin getting very hot like he was about to burst into flames.

With the last of his strength, he managed to make a gap between the wall and the wardrobe. He wedged himself into the gap and used the wall for leverage like his mother had taught him. He shoved the wardrobe with his feet and watched as it tipped over and crashed to the floor. Binja fumbled around to find the slot to lift the door. Just as he found it, part of the ceiling fell and exploded on the floor near him, showering him with hot embers. He threw the door off the opening and dove through, dropping to the earth below.

Ow, ow, ow, he cried as he rolled in the dirt and brushed the embers out of his hair.

Binja crawled past the pillars and out from under the house as quickly as he could manage while coughing. When he cleared the edge of the house, he scrambled a few meters away before dropping onto his back, coughing and gasping for air. When he finally calmed down, he laid on the cool dirt until he could control his breathing. A moment later, he heard voices yelling in the distance. He dragged himself up and ran around the house to find his mother.

Moooootherrrrr, he yelled over and over!

Then he heard something buzz right past his ear and saw a shuriken thump into a tree in front of him. He quickly turned back to look where the star came from and saw several figures looming in the trees behind his burning house.

Even over the noise of the fire he heard one of them yell, you’re dead Binja!

Three of the figures separated from the trees and started running toward him. Fear washed over him and he froze for a long moment as they neared. Another star whizzed past him and he snapped out of the shock that was threatening to overcome him and get him killed.

He spun and ran into the forest towards the school. He heard the figures closing in, but he was sure nobody knew that part of the forest better than he did. He jumped and ducked and dodged as he sprinted through the forest. He thanked Buddha the moon was near full. But then he thought they’d be able to see better too and find him easier.

Binja heard a couple thumps in trees behind him. They were still throwing shuriken at him, but it sounded like they were falling farther behind. He thought of the perfect place to hide and headed for the giant tree of the elders. The tree was so massive, if someone yelled from on one far branch you couldn’t hear it on the opposite side. It climbed so high into the sky it was usually shrouded by the clouds. The villagers talked about the tree being born of magic.

He heard a scream and an angry yell that sounded like his pursuers had fallen way behind and now one may be hurt. That didn’t matter, he didn’t stop running. Images flashed in his head as he ran. Him and his mother leaving villages in the night. They left some of the villages in such a hurry they ran half the night. He was terrified at the thought of where his mother was and if she was ok. He could only hope she’d escaped the fire and the assassins.

He finally arrived at the giant tree, nearly out of breath, and started to climb. There were many ways to get up into the giant tree, and branches heading in every direction. Ropes hung low enough to jump to, but he wasn’t fast enough climbing a rope yet to risk that. He headed straight to the nearest ladder of wood blocks attached to the massive trunk.

In the tree, there were many paths to take with bridges and lookout perches. He moved through the huge branches as fast as he could. He could almost run; the branches were so wide. Most were wider than two men. He scrambled through the tree for what felt like a long time. He went over a few bridges, and finally climbed a short rope into a perch where he threw himself down on the wood planks gasping for air. His mind raced as he tried to slow and quiet his breathing. Learning meditation was turning out to be useful after all, he thought.

He listened quietly for what seemed like hours. Who were they? He wondered aloud to himself. Tay! It had to be Tay and his moron friends coming to get revenge for getting them in trouble. But it did seem crazy to think they’d burn his house down and try to kill him. He was worried sick over his mother. I should go back and look for her, he thought. But what if Tay was still looking for him?

He sat quiet again for a while, listening in fear as he remembered there were large shadow cats out in the forest somewhere. He was safe in the perch, wasn’t he? Better to wait until morning to leave his hiding spot. He sat listening for anything for a while before exhaustion set