Ninja

By

Jon F. Merz

Copyright © 2010 by Jon F. Merz

Smashwords Edition

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One

From the lush green of the valley floor, the fortress soared skyward. Towering walls of granite mined from a quarry many leagues away formed a foundation set onto the hill overlooking the river hewing its way between the mountains on either side. High above, towers and ramparts afforded the guards a perfect vantage point on every approach. It had been designed to thwart attack from any angle. To a traditional warrior, the fortress appeared insurmountable.

But Ran, hidden in the shadows of the thick fragrant pine boughs, saw opportunity where others did not.

Two weeks previously, he had sat motionless in this same spot, watching the full moon cast its glow upon the eastern side. And in the moonlight the stony walls had revealed perhaps the castle’s one weakness.