"So may we all hope," Sadako says. "So may we all pray."

"Honestly," Sadako says, "I don't know." She draws her breath again. "I have seen a Fortune appear before me," she continues, "and I do not expect the like again. But I think that even so clear a sign would fail to convince many. Too many." She shakes her head. "I think it will come to violence. I t...

"It will, indeed," Sadako says, her earlier comments having been swallowed by the vagaries of the internet.

"And it will be good to have a clear sign of who should sit the Throne."

"For that," Sadako replies, "I am amply attended. And the Miharu and the Guard generally travel fairly lightly. I expect that they have already made the preparations they need to make."

She sighs.

"Progress will be faster returning than coming, I think."

Sadako shakes her head, smiling.

"That is terrible," she says.

She takes another of her breaths.

"I expect we'll be leaving tomorrow," she says. "Are you ready?"

Sadako laughs.

"I doubt such things await you, Jihen-san," she says. "Unless there's some sordid past behind you?"

She raises an eyebrow, her tone making the jest clear.

Sadako says "I think he got that one wrong, actually. Some who have died still seem to need teaching."

Sadako nods gravely.

Then she smiles, just a little.

"I will continue to want your advice, Jihen-san," she says. "I may not always follow it, but it will be good to hear."

Sadako arches an eyebrow, gives her head a small shake.

"Should I say something like 'I want him to smell like sunflowers,' Jihen-san?" Sadako asks somewhat archly. Then she waves a hand and shakes her head. "That's unfair to you," she adds. "And unworthy of either of us. Like I said, I will be very glad to sleep in my own bed again." She grins. "Besides...

"You're not the first to ask me that this season," Sadako replies. "But I will need someone who is capable of doing well as a follower; I cannot have someone contending with me for control, as I have seen happen too many times even with Family daimyo and Clan Champions. I need someone who can suppor...

"As events have allows," Sadako says. "It has not gotten easier, yet."

Sadako regards Jihen levelly for a long while.

Then she nods.

"You are correct, Jihen-san," she says. "It is good to think of the future."

Sadako gives a puff of laughter. "I will be glad to be back in my own bed," she says. "The accommodations here have been good, of course, and I have no complaints about Ikoma hospitality. But home is always good, and there is a peace about Kyuden Seppun that comforts me." She draws another breath, h...

"It was certainly an uncommon event," Sadako replies, "both the closure of a session and the sudden departure of a delegation. Some might say the Lady Shiba exceeded her authority to decide for the whole Empire that matters would close, but I do not envy the Lady Chancellor her position." She shakes...

"If I had," Sadako says, "it was only in passing. Which is a shame, because he died bravely and well. House Itoh was lucky to have him."

She takes a breath, holds it, releases it.

"I will look forward to sleeping soon," she says. "I have not had much of it these past several days."

"Did you know him, Jihen-san?" Sadako asks. "Yogo Kiuchi?"

Sadako looks off to where she had been present the night before. "There was," she says, "and by the sacrifice of a brave man, a restless spirit that would have been trouble was returned to the Wheel. The Fortunes themselves saw to it; I saw it with my own eyes. "We will have no more trouble from tha...

The approach of the Miharu is not stealthy.

Nor is Sadako's voice when she says "Tumult and unrest, of course," of the signs in the Heavens. "And the comet is still approaching that bodes less than well, despite last night's efforts."

She shakes her head.

"It will be a time of testing, Jihen-san."

"I will see to him," Sadako says.