The September sea wind already carried a hint of chill, heralding the approach of bitter winter. The five Longships continued onward until dusk, and only then, after rowing thirty li, did they moor along a coast thick with redwood trees.
"Praise the merciful Main God! Leave one guide on each ship and bring the rest over!"
Scholar Miki wore a gentle expression as he stood on the beach, looking at the dozen or so captured Leaf Grass Tribe hunters. With a kindly smile on his face, he picked up a wood-carved amulet of the Main God and patiently coaxed the hunter at the front.
"Come! Recite with me! Praise the Main God! Huitzilopochtli!..."
"."
The Tolowa hunter clenched his teeth hard, glaring viciously at Miki. He seemed to be enduring with all his might just to keep from spitting in his face.
"Haaha!"
At the sound of laughter, Scholar Miki's smile froze. He turned back and saw Zuwaro, who had laughed out loud.
"Cough! Miki, I was thinking, why don't we just... carve a tattoo symbol of the Main God on each of them and call it done! Why guide them one by one like this? Even if they recite the god's name once, they're still a long way from conversion..."
"Zuwaro, shut your mouth!"
Scholar Miki gritted his teeth and shot Zuwaro a fierce glare. Then he calmed himself, lifted that kindly smile again, and looked toward the next captive hunter.
"Come! Recite the god's name once, and after you've said it, wear the Main God's amulet, and you can return to your tribe..."
"."
The second hunter looked both wary and bewildered, unable to understand the Longship chief's words at all. He cautiously eyed the amulet in Miki's hand, staring at the Sun Hummingbird carved on it as