Sleeping Dragon forcing

dynasties were like the seasons. some long, some brutally short. the great machine was always turning — and things were always being put into place. 

qiao wondered if makono had learned this life lesson yet. by her scars, she’d learned plenty. it is toula, and a man named rashepses. qiao knew little of the raven pelted man other than that he was sharper than he let on. she suspected this purely by the intelligent gleam in his eyes. 

i plan to return in two weeks time.