Day 5

Sana's strength recovered steadily, though slowly. Day by day she ate more and slept less. On the fourth day she bathed herself and dressed in clothes provided by the physician, Master Hsu. They were strange clothes, light and colorful, fastened with an intricate array of loops and knots. On the fifth day Lee - Master Hsu's assistant - knocked on her door.

"Master Hsu says that you may come out side today, if you feel strong enough."

Sana's smile lit her face, and she followed him eagerly out of her windowless cell.

She found herself in a walled courtyard, paved with stone. A row of doors marched around the base of the walls leading, Sana guessed, to more cells like her own.

A group of men stood motionless in the center of the courtyard, neatly spaced like troops in review. The sun shone off their shaved heads, and the brightness of their orange robes nearly made her look away. They were crouched, backs straight, fists clenched, knees bent almost into corners.

"Who are they?" she asked Lee in a whisper. Somehow, she did not want to disturb the stillness of the birds and wind.

"They are the new disciples," Lee explained. "They are building discipline and a strong root. You are not strong enough yet for such work, although you may join them soon, if you wish. But today, we visit the garden."

Lee led her to a small gate in the far wall of the courtyard. A small path wound through stone and scrub, until they came to a round wood door suspended in a circle of stone. Lee bowed to her and retreated a few paces.

"Only women may pass the moon door," he said. "Go through and ask the warden to take you to Madam Fong.

With some trepidation, Sana pushed on the round door. It slid open silently, and Sana found herself on a pebbled path twisting through a mass of green. The sound of water rushing through bamboo pipes surrounded her. A young woman wearing red clothes similar to Sana's own appeared and bowed.

"How may I serve you?" she asked.

"M. . . Madam Fong?" Sana said uncertainly.

"Of course," replied the woman in red. "Follow the left fork," she said, waving an elegant hand at the path.

"Thank you," said Sana, her courage returning. She made her way down the path, gazing around with wonder. Birds twittered in the branches of twisting trees, thin grass thrived at the borders of the path. Once a golden creature like a moth, but larger, alighted on her shoulder. She froze, awed, watching it sun and stretch its wings, until it flittered away.

The path forked left, and she followed it until the path opened up into a wide clearing. Several girls clad in various colors of the rainbow were seated cross-legged on the earth, observing the swordswoman demonstrating in the center. She had a matronly appearance, as old as Sana's mother, maybe, but she moved with the gliding grace of a young dancer. Madam Fong - of course it must be she - guided her slender sword through intricate loops and cuts, finally drawing the sword down to her side in a ritualistic close.

The girls merely bowed to Madam Fong, but Sana clapped her hands delightedly. Madam Fong looked at her and smiled.

"Very good girls," she said to her class. "I will see you this afternoon for Silk Reeling exercises."

The girls dispersed chattering amongst themselves, and Sana walked timidly up to Madam Fong.

"Are you Madam Fong? Lee told me. . ."

"Ah yes. Our new guest from the north. I am Madam Fong. Master Hsu asked me to oversee your recovery from this point. If you are willing, I will show you some exercises that will strengthen your body and your spirit."

"Will I learn to use a sword like that?" Sana blushed. The words had just slipped out.

Madam Fong speared her with a piercing look. "If there is time. But be warned, the sword is an elegant and difficult weapon to master. For now, let us concentrate on breathing. Your feet, so."

Madam Fong stepped out with her left foot and planted herself in a shoulder-width stance. Casting sidelong glances at her, Sana copied.

"Your arms, so."

Madam Fong lifted her arms, making a circle before her chest.

"And now, we breathe. Tongue behind your teeth. In through the nose, so. Ahhhh. Relax your shoulders. Out through the mouth so. Aaaah."

Sana closed her eyes and breathed.

* * *

Alexander kept a watchful eye on Maria as she led him through twilight deeper and deeper into the underbelly of Qurat. She seemed to have no intention of betraying their bargain.

"Tell me something, Maria," he said thoughtfully. "How is that you are able to keep your secret from your. . . fellow workers?"

"My secret?"

"That you are a woman."

"I told you, they are all masked where we are going."

"Yes," said Alexander, reasonably, "But you can hardly walk around the city constantly wearing a mask. The people would be suspicious at the very least, and likely turn you over to the Watch."

"Oh, I see. When you first go in there are private rooms where you can leave any belongings and put on your mask. It is true that a watcher would see a woman enter, but once inside none would know who she was. Also, the meeting place masquerades as a tavern, so who's to say I should not go there?"

"Your parents, maybe," Alexander muttered into his beard, but she did not hear him. "But," he continued, "you and your - former colleagues - were all masked earlier today when we first met."

"Yes. We arrived at our meeting place already masked. Some of the Masked Brothers are peoples who's faces are known, you see. The butcher who ventures forth at night to snatch a bit of extra gold for his coffer, the mason who lost his pay playing at dice."

"How do you avoid detection as you move about the city?"

"We are careful, and quick. And sometimes we are seen."

Alexander thought on this and said no more.

* * *