"You are very devoted, but this is inappropriate. You must leave."

"You are very devoted, but this is inappropriate," Machiko began. "You must leave."

Nanoko looked crushed. Each word seemed to strike like a dagger in her heart. But she only bowed and turned away quickly, before the Silver Princess could see the tears in her eyes.

When the strange visitor had gone, Machiko sat back in her room, flustered. She rang a little bronze gong, and her handmaiden Ayane came in. "Sake," said Machiko, and the maid quickly returned with a tray of the warm liquor. The little gray pitcher was shaped like a swan, and the two little glasses like eggs. Machiko sipped, then fell asleep, as her maid played a soothing tune on the chimes.

When morning came, there was a great stir in the garden. "What is it Ayane?" she asked, pushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. "What is going on?"

"It's very strange miss. One of your father's assassins was found dead in the garden. A woman ninja named Nanoko. It seems she committed seppuku. No one knows why."

Machiko felt a chill on her heart. The morning was bleak and cold. She doubted she would ever find solace in her garden again.