He turned away in sudden thought. He moved only his eyes to look up at me, which I noticed were suddenly glittering like faceted garnets. “What did [the Red Woman] say to you? I know you didn’t write it all publicly.”

The eyes caught my focus. I could feel the heaviness of his request coaxing my tongue. I pulled my sight away and looked over his shoulder. The blue and pink painting of the miniature lotus blooms hung silently in place. “Never you mind.”

3,136 words.