Shike

Shike is a two-volume novel published in 1981 by Robert Shea. It fictionalises and compresses Japanese history in order to incorporate the Genpei War and attempted invasion of Japan by the Mongols within the lifespans of two characters: Jebu — a warrior monk of the Order of Zinja who is a highly fictionalized version of Benkei — and Taniko — the minor noblewoman with whom he falls in love on his first mission — escorting her to an arranged marriage with a far older and extremely influential nobleman. In that regard, the narrative structure of the Shike books bears a close similarity to Shea's later All Things Are Lights, which also focuses on star-crossed lovers.