Shadows on Water
Hui passes the cup she has brought from hand to hand, as you would something precious to you, and after a great sigh she throws it into the lake. She removes a jade hairpin, and her grey streaked hair falls almost to her waist. Slowly bending, then lying on the floor of the jetty with arms dangling lifelessly over the side, she lets her hair fall so that the end of it is touching the water. The hairpin falls silently into the water, and she weeps.
After a while she stands up, recognizing you she comes over and smiles.
"How long did it take King Wu Ding to conquer the Demon Country?" she asks.
"Three years," you say, taken aback by such an odd question.
"And look at me five years on. I still have my demon. Is it not pitiful. This is for you." She hands you a scroll. "I only just discovered it, inside one of his instruments. He wanted you to have it, I think."
After a while she stands up, recognizing you she comes over and smiles.
"How long did it take King Wu Ding to conquer the Demon Country?" she asks.
"Three years," you say, taken aback by such an odd question.
"And look at me five years on. I still have my demon. Is it not pitiful. This is for you." She hands you a scroll. "I only just discovered it, inside one of his instruments. He wanted you to have it, I think."