The Mongol ships had passed by many lands, bringing more suffering and conquering even more empires.

For as long as you could remember, these ships had been your home and the fallen empires only stopovers on the endless journey of conquest.

But Japan felt different.

How many countries had it been before, with living nature and hardly any people who could destroy this peace?

But it was also the feeling that spread through your chest that made it special. You couldn't tell exactly, but it was peaceful. You felt calm and safe. As if the threat was miles away.

Shrouded in silence, you led the horse with the samurai along the path while the man ran ahead. He kept glancing over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed and full of scepticism.

Every time you tried to give him a smile so that he had less fruit. You were fully aware that you only looked like the enemy to him. It was impressive that he was willing to help at all. But maybe that was also because you had a samurai with you.

Khotun Kahn had sometimes laughed with the captain about how loyal and faithful the Japanese were to their own people.

"Like dogs.", he had put it.

For him, people were interchangeable and loyalty was just a concept. He knew that there were men who had betrayed him and wanted to. His solution was to kill them all.

He ruled through fear. And also a little bit of admiration. Enough young soldiers longed for a place like his, for power like his.

Your chest tightened at the thought that there were Mongols in droves. In the end, it was best to run away. However, you weren't quite sure where exactly.

"Excuse me, dear sir.", still confused that his language came out of your mouth, he looked at you. "Is there a strange place to be found on this island?"

He frowned. Next to you, the horse shook its head. It must be thirsty, dirt and blood littering its dark coat. If you had been an animal, you would have begged to get rid of the saddle and bridle at this point.

"A strange place?", the man asked, scratching his back. "What's that supposed to be?"

Your gaze followed his movement. Although he didn't look old, his back was already bent, probably from the weight of hard labour.

"A place, maybe a village. I don't know exactly. But I think there are more people there who are like me."

"Mongols?", he jerked his head round.

You sighed.

"I'm not Mongolian.", you pointed at yourself. "Or do I look like them?"

With narrowed eyes, he slowly came closer, looked at you insistently and then growled.

"Who knows where the Mongols have been and what they've done to women.", he growled.

Something in your stomach tightened. You felt sick.

"That's right.", you whispered and picked up your pace as he walked on.

Stone steps appeared, leading up a small slope between the earth and the trees. The man pointed upwards. High up on a plain stood a small hut made of dark wood. Leaves had fallen from the trees and covered the roof like a natural blanket.

"Perfect for going unnoticed.", you said.

He nodded in agreement and climbed up the steps.

"I have a wife, she may be able to help you with the samurai.", he pulled the straps of his frame loose to let it slide over his shoulder. "But she's not a doctor."

You smiled mildly.

"Me neither.", your eyes wandered to the samurai.

He had groaned softly the whole way, moving slightly. It didn't seem as if he would wake up in the near future, but rather as if he was trapped in a sleep from which he couldn't wake up. At least he was alive.

Until now.

Relief spread through her chest when she finally reached the house. The door immediately swung open and a woman appeared. She was short, with long black hair that she had tied into a knot.

Her clothes were a simple kimono, the sleeves of which she had tied to her back with a rope to work.

"Yuriko.", a smile could be heard in the man's voice as he embraced his wife.

Relieved, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"I thought the Mongols had taken you!", she gasped. "Tanaka, we have to go!"

Tanaka grasped his wife's hands reassuringly and smiled. Don't worry my dear, we still have time. Her eyes fell on you. Fear and terror shone in the brown.

Brown. That seemed to be the colour of the Japanese eyes. The Mongols also had brown eyes, but you had seen one or two with green or blue. Presumably this was also a result of their many raids on other realms.

Smiling, you bowed as low as you could.

"Hello, madam.", you greeted her in Japanese. "Please don't be afraid. I am not Mongolian."

Her fingers clutched her husband's sleeves.

"Yuriko.", Tanaka gently pushed his wife back into the house. "Calm down."

"The enemy! She's not Mongolian. We've already had that conversation."

Furious, she tore herself away from him, came towards you and pointed at you.

"You! Why are you here?! What do you want from us?"

You breathed in calmly.

"A samurai needs help.", you stepped aside to give her a look at the horse and the injured man.

She looked at the man sceptically before looking at you again.

"Who says he's not Mongolian?", she asked, putting her hands on her hips. "Maybe you picked him up somewhere and dressed him in our samurai's armour to deceive innocent people!"

Frowning, you exchanged a glance with Tanaka.

"Now you're being delusional, woman...", he muttered. "Come on, help us carry the man into the house."

"He'll bleed all over the floor!"

"He's dying.", with Tanaka's help you heaved the samurai off the back of the horse. "I'll clean everything up but please, we have to hurry now."

She puffed out her cheeks.

"Put him next to the hob.", she pointed into the house. "It's warm there."