The Emperor of Nihon-Ja

Horace (the knight) is missing. Months have passed since he was sent on a military mission to the court of the Emperor of Nihon-Ja with his friend, former wardmate, and Scribeschool apprentice George, but he has failed to return. Meanwhile, Halt (a legendary Ranger), Will (another legendary Ranger), Selethen (the leader of the Arridi, a nomadic desert tribe) and Alyss (a Diplomatic Service Courier) are in Toscana overseeing a demonstration using tight formations to overcome more skilled opponents. When Evanlyn (also known as the Crown Princess Cassandra) arrives telling of Horace's absence, The Araluens and Selethen embark on a Skandian duty ship to find Horace.

They find that Horace has become embroiled in Nihon-Jan politics. The arrogant Senshi man, known as Ariska, the Nihon-Ja warrior class, has rebelled against the rightful Emperor Shigeru out of fear he will usurp their influence in the country. Shigeru, though a Senshi himself, is also a man of the people and has been trying to reform his nation's strict social system. Horace has chosen to stay and lend support to the deposed ruler. Pursued by the rebel leader and master swordsman Arisaka, Horace and Shigeru flee along with Shigeru's cousin and guard Shukin. Their only hope is to find the fabled fortress of Ran-Koshi, which is mentioned in a legend and said to have impossibly high walls. The three lead their small entourage of 50 Senshi around the native villages recruiting Kikori, lumberjacks native to the area.

After recruiting, the men flee helplessly from Arisaka and his much larger army of Senshi. However, the Emperor's party is moving slowly because they are burdened down by their injured, and are easily caught up to. In an effort to buy them more time, Shukin and nine other Senshi volunteers to stay back at a river and duel the enemy until they are killed. From a cliff, Shigeru watches as Arisaka kills his cousin and continues the pursuit. Shortly after, they come to a precipice crossed only by a rickety footbridge and quickly cross. However, as the last men are crossing Arisaka's army arrives. Horace has a rope tied around his waist and goes back onto the bridge to defend it while the heavy ropes are being cut. When it falls, Horace is bashed against the cliff and drops his sword into the precipice. Shigeru later presents a gift to the knight, a perfect copy of his blade but forged with the strong Nihon-Jan steel. With the enemy army stuck on the other side of the precipice, the party is free to carry on to Ran-Koshi.

When they arrive, they discover that the legendary fortress is a valley between high cliffs, defended by a palisade at its narrow opening. The men set up camp, and the Kikori begin refurbishing the fortress as more numbers join from the surrounding villages. After they arrive, the heavy snows of the Nihon-Jan winter come in, giving the men time to prepare while Arisaka is further hindered. Come Springtime, the Ran-Koshi has been transformed into a full military fortress, but all the Emperor has for an army are 50 Senshi and 200 untrained Kikori. Unbeknownst to them, Evanlyn's party has arrived and goes out in search of Horace. They are found by Kikori scouts and brought out to Ran-Koshi. Horace welcomes his old friends and tells them of his situation.

The problem reminds Will of the Toscan military demonstration, and he and Selethen begin training men to use the tortoise formation. They form four units of 50 men, heavily trained formations of men armed with large wooden shields, short swords, and javelins. Meanwhile, Alyss and Evanlyn embark on a journey across a large mountain lake to find a mythical people called the Hanasu. When they arrive on the other side, they make contact and find that the Hasanu are large mountain people covered in thick, reddish fur and are intensely loyal to their lord. When hearing about Shigeru's plight, their lord says he would help, but their way is blocked by a forest haunted by a demon that has killed 17 Hasanu, and they will not enter it. Alyss and Evanlyn go out to kill it, and discover that it is a giant snow tiger. After killing it, they bring it back and their fears dispersed, the Hasanu march for Ran-Koshi.

When spring comes, Arisaka's men come through the mountains and camp at the bottom of a nearby valley. However, they are now much larger due to reinforcements from the south. Shigeru, Horace, Halt, Will and Selethen know that they are heavily outnumbered, but they prepare for battle to confront Arisaka. They prepare their formations on the plain outside Ran-Koshi, and kill hundreds of Arisaka's infantry. But just as they are about to engage again, another army arrives, carrying hundreds more to Arisaka's aid under the Lord Yamada, who has been deceived into supporting the rebel lord. As the enemy arrives, the Hasanu arrive as well, with three thousand fierce warriors. Arisaka prepares to fight to the end, but Shigeru stops the battle, and says that he will give up his position as emperor if it will save hundreds of his people dying. Arisaka's army, awed by Shigeru's display, desert their lord and lay down their weapons. As Arisaka charges the Emperor, blinded with hate, Will hurls a saxe knife at his neck, killing him.

With the battle won, Shigeru returns to his position as Emperor to restabilize Nihon-Ja. Shigeru gives Horace a painting with which to remember him by, and they head back to Araluen. In the end, Horace and Evanlyn become engaged, and Will mentions to Alyss that they should do the same.

• The Emperor of Nihon-Ja at Random House Australia
• The Emperor of Nihon-Ja at Random House New Zealand