"There was one more that I approached as I did ... "
The rest of what he was going to say is abandoned as there is a gentle knock at the door which slides open to emit another man. Like you, he carries a sword.
"Ah, Takagi-sama," says your host. "I'm glad you were able to make it. Let me get you some tea and introduce you to these fine gentlemen. Then we shall start."
***
"Four years ago my nephew left Hakata to join the monastery of the Dragon Sons. We recieved a letter to say that he had arrived, and another to say he was well and doing well, then nothing. My nephew is not a thoughtful person, so this was not surprising for the first few years. But a year ago we sent a letter to the monestary but have received nothing satisfactory in return.
"My nephew's family and I are from the provence of Akizuki*. I visit Hakata twice a year. This time, before I left home, I promised my sister that I would take steps to find out where he is. An aquaintance of mine from Hakata was generous enough to help me with this. She suggested that I might want to talk to the three of you.
"What I am looking for is someone to visit the monestary to delicver a letter into the hands of my nephew. The monestary is lies about 3 days west of Hakata. I will of course provide you with funds to cover your expenses. My business take me to Saga next, from where I shall return to Hakata in about 10 days time. That should provide plenty of time to get to the monestary and back. Had the need to got to Saga not come up, I would be going to the monestary myself.
ooc: * to the east of Hakata.