Silver Princess

The sun was dwindling over the purple mountains of Katara, and somewhere a couple servants were shouting and pointing at a distant silver speck chasing rapidly across the sky, probably a migrating dragon.

Princess Machiko pulled shut the doors to her balcony with a sigh, retreating to the warmth of her private chamber. She faced a dilemma. Her father the Emperor had sent her a polite note written on rice paper, ordering her to appear at tonight's formal state dinner. She knew the dinner would be dull since the note had said that several prospective suitors, including the barbarian Prince Han, would be there.

The dinner, as usual, would begin precisely at sunset, with a ceremonial procession. Normally she would obey her father's orders without question, but earlier she had been sent another, more secret message, delivered in a beautifully jeweled box. Left where only she would find it, the box had been wrapped in pink silk and hidden next to her head, on her pillow, when she awoke this morning.

The note, written in flowing religious script, read: "Perfect blossom, admired from afar. Tonight this lover would admire your petals, count your thorns, in the secret places of your garden. At sunset, by the silver pagoda near the dragonfish pond, your humble gardener awaits."

It was possible she could go to the dinner, then claim a headache, and return to her room early. She had done it before, and she might still find her secret lover in her garden. On the other hand, the Palace grounds were dangerous and her mysterious visitor might not wait for long. Or maybe that person might wait until the banquet was over?