The Empress of Salt and Fortune

“And the new empress, who is even now preparing for her first Dragon Court?”

Rabbit smiled. “Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves. I am not worried for her in the least.”

“And the new empress, who is even now preparing for her first Dragon Court?”

Rabbit smiled. “Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves. I am not worried for her in the least.”

She would defend her claim to the throne of Anh before all comers. Chih thought that even from the crowd, they would see in her face the trace of a migratory bird, a rabbit, and the empress from the north, fierce enough to fight wolves

In Chih’s dream, the moon had set, leaving the star path traversed by the dead bright in the sky

Honor is a light that brings trouble. Shadows are safer by far.”

Painting of the rabbit in the moon. Silk, paint, and wood. Against an indigo background, a rabbit curves inside the silver moon

Save that anger,” Mai said with a sigh. “Angry mothers raise daughters fierce enough to fight wolves.”

I’m not afraid,” I said. “Whatever happens now, fear is behind us, isn’t it?”

Mai laughed at my bravado.

“Such a brave Rabbit! It is a shame about your man, but at least your baby will be courageous as a lion, thanks to the pair of you.”

There was a weight to the tokens that went beyond what they were. Thriving Fortune itself seemed to be a place made of stories and plots, conspiracies and fury

It is strange to see a shadow without the one who casts it.”