We are all victims of leaders who think they are right.

The nuance of being right lies in understanding how you could be wrong.

— Notes from the journal of Flangel the Wise

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For those holed up within their homes to weather Winter's Sorrow, the pitter-patter of Spring's Blessings came as a welcome sound for all. Even the most protective of parents could do little to stop the joyous children from running out into the streets, dancing gaily in the silver rain as it washed away the last mounds of IceMourne's divine snow.

Gleeful shouts and whooping laughter echoed from the last few people who had shored themselves away from the bitter cold, for the silver rain had always signaled an end to the misery of Winter's Sorrow. It heralded fresh air, a gradual return to warmth, and of course, the unmistakable freedom that was stretching one's limbs in a wider space under the endless skies.

Whether from discerning eyes or overactive imagination, one could even hear murmurs of children pointing into the thickest clouds in the skies as some claimed to see RainBringer's coiling shadow. Adults listened in a mollifying manner, willing to entertain the fantasies of the children as they breathed their own inner sighs of relief.

They had survived another Winter's Sorrow.

The gates of JiangXi were a different matter. The mursashu handlers cursed under their breath as they put on large-brimmed straw hats, doing final inspections of a train of twenty or so wagons. Provisions were tallied repeatedly, and broad wheels designed for the expected muddy roads were scrutinized for any flaws that would cause mishaps for the journey to ZhiXia City.

Molam wondered if he had chosen incorrectly to come down here to hide from the other members of the Dao as he suffered through Mursa Shang and Mursa Khan's dispute.

"Enough." Mursa Shang didn't even glance at Mursa Khan as he personally checked a wagon's tarpaulin for holes. Seemingly satisfied, he then dumped a bucket of water over the wagon, spreading it all over before glancing within to look for any leaks. "It is not up for debate."

"Why?" Mursa Khan cajoled, poking his head in from the other side. "Anything is up for debate, my dear friend."

"Not this." Mursa Shang snorted. "I negotiated it with the Dao. A fair bargain, through the purchase of my caravan's wealth." He retracted his head and nodded to Jyuni, who followed him with a notebook for documentation. "This one is good. Load it."

"I am not asking for your place, simply to come along with you." Mursa Khan followed Mursa Shang to the next wagon, Paradyne walking several steps behind his Mursa. "Are we not all mursashu? It costs you nothing to allow your own people to be there when you ask the Oracle our question."

"I seem to recall an incident two Summers ago," Mursa Shang inspected the next wagon's tarpaulin. "My caravan had left Oasis and we met halfway in the Endless Sands, yes? But an encounter with the sand wurms had upset my wagons carrying water, and I had asked you to sell some of yours to me when we crossed paths." His voice became cold. "As I recall it, you had no less than five wagonfulls of water at the time when you only needed two to reach Oasis. Remind me, Jyuni, what had Mursa Khan charged us at that time?"

Jyuni turned her impassive face to Mursa Khan. "Mursa Khan had charged you for three crates of moon melon, six baskets of furong leaves, one hundred gold coins, and, in his words, 'enough jade to balance the scales with your golden coins.'" she answered coolly.

"Ah yes, my apologies, Mursa Khan, my memory degrades with age," Mursa Shang poured another bucket of water over the wagon, then peered within the wagon. "Perhaps you can remind me — exactly how much greater the market price did you charge me then?"

Mursa Khan did not peer inside this one as he stood there with a hefty sigh. "Your memory seems to be good enough to remember petty grudges," he grumbled.

"The lives of my people cannot be petty grudges." Mursa Shang threw Mursa Khan an icy glare, before nodding at Jyuni. "Load this, but have Teyasu replace the rope before we set out. It is quite frayed." He flicked his eyes back to Mursa Khan. "And you dare call yourself my own people when you take advantage of us?"

"This pettiness seems beneath you, Mursa Shang," Mursa Khan growled. "You act as if you've never charged me more than market price when you knew I was desperate."

"Desperate to seize an opportunity to gouge someone else, maybe! When I raise prices on you, I am only getting some cut of your opportunity! But when you raise prices on me, I am desperate for my people!"

"My two Mursa," Molam began, feeling the stares of the mursashu around them. But Mursa Khan held a finger up in his direction as he stared back at Mursa Shang.

"I would not have charged you more than I think you could pay. You could pay, and your people were saved by your ability to pay." Mursa Khan's voice, forcibly low, caused Molam to tense up. He saw Paradyne and Jyuni take an instinctive step backwards before Mursa Khan continued. "Not a life was lost, yes?"

Mursa Shang's eyebrows came dangerously close. "Is that how you measure it, Mursa Khan? Money was lost. Value was lost! I only raise prices on you when I know you will gain more from it! When we both will benefit! How can you not see and understand that sometimes, when you take in excess from me, you are only taking from your own people? Even Mursa Allyce understands this basic concept! And I noticed you never even mentioned the thought of inviting her."

"I will ask the Oracle our ancestral question myself," he turned away, then rotated his head to the side and spoke out of the corner of his mouth. "But. In respect to our shared Titles, I will also give you and Mursa Allyce a faithful recounting of the Oracle's answer this Summer's Warmth in Oasis. When our paths cross, of course. As I said at the beginning, this is not up for debate."

Mursa Khan clenched his fist, then his eyes flickered towards Molam. Molam gave a helpless gesture, but even if he could convince a particularly irate Mursa Shang, he had little desire to add more to the mix when he returned to the Oracle. He was already gambling that the Oracle had no actual reason to refuse the Mursa, and would agree to a meeting if not to receive the elderwood, but at least keep him alive. An ironic thought flickered across his mind. If he died as a result of the contract, would it only be half as painful since God Yven already had half his soul?

Seeing it hopeless, Mursa Khan grunted at Mursa Khan, "My caravan will be making a visit to Oasis for Summer's Warmth after JiangXi, and perhaps HaiFeng after that come Autumn's Colors. I wish you safe travels, Mursa Shang." He gestured at Paradyne to follow him and left the gate.

Paradyne gave Molam an apologetic incline of his head. "Thank you for your patience," then followed his Mursa out.

Molam breathed a sigh of relief. Inherited or not, a fight between the two Mursa would still be a clash of Titled Ones. For the sake of the wagons, he was glad that both Mursa seemed to have a cool head on their shoulders.

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"I apologize. You had to see an ugly exchange," Mursa Shang's forcibly cool voice echoed out from within the next caravan. "It wasn't what I called you here for."

"It happens," Molam replied mildly. "I didn't know you had such… a philosophy, when it came to competition between the Mursa. Do all the Mursa have different methods?"

"A mere disagreement of values. I am sure Mursa Khan and Mursa Allyce have their own thoughts on the matter when it comes to the fundamental goal of keeping our people alive so we can return to Mur one day." Mursa Shang pulled his head out and marked several spots on the tarpaulin with a finger, leaving faintly golden imprints. "Have Teyasu look at these areas and decide if this should be replaced. I trust his judgment," he told Jyuni, then turned back to Molam. "I wanted to reconfirm the amount of members you will be bringing on our trip. So far, I have you, the Whale, the one you call GloomSire, Shurra, and you said four children that need to be brought to Sanctuary. Is that still final?"

"And me."

Molam almost jolted at Primrose's voice. She had materialized out of nowhere to his right, her features almost hidden by a wet hood. Her purple eyes winked at Molam under the hood. "I presume that won't be an issue?"

Molam masked his face with an impassive glance. "I thought you were working on the more…" he glanced at Mursa Shang, then murmured, "adamant residents."

"At some point, every flower learns to lean with the wind instead of against it." Primrose pulled off her hood, red-orange curls bouncing out. Her hair had grown longer during Winter's Sorrow. "Don't worry," she added, seeing Molam's expression. "I used no methods that would breed resentment. I will give you a recount during our trip to JiangXi."

Knowing Primrose was giving him little reason to leave her behind, Molam could only nod his head. "As you just heard," he looked at Mursa Shang, "Primrose will be joining."

Mursa Shang's eyes seemed full of mirth before he glanced at Jyuni, who made a note. "You may fill one of those sacks with whatever you wish to bring along," the Mursa pointed at a neat pile of folded burlap sacks on the far wall to Primrose. "Bring it here by nightfall if you don't wish to be carrying it on your lap the entire trip."

"I will. Thank you for making accommodations for me, Mursa Shang," Primrose smiled at the Mursa. "I appreciate it very much."

The Mursa smiled back for a brief moment before he glanced at Molam again. "We leave at dawn. Anyone who is late will be left behind."

***

"So. You're leaving."

Molam sat down opposite Kalle in his study. No, not his study. It belonged to Kalle now.

"At dawn, yes." Molam confirmed. "I understand you have matters to attend to; no need to send us off."

"You, Shurra, and Primrose. Leaving me all alone to deal with your city." Kalle rearranged himself on Molam's old seat. Molam noticed something off about the chair, and suspected that Kalle had already modified the chair's armrests to be wider, befitting the Northerner's larger build. At least, Molam suspected it was a modified chair. Only Kalle would have opted to do that rather than bring in his own.

"Not my city," Molam smiled back. "The Dao's city. Run it well — it should serve as a strong location for the Dao to build a foundation."

"Yes yes, the very important city you and the other leadership members are leaving, I can see that very well." Kalle raised an eyebrow at Molam, then asked quietly. "You're absolutely sure the Whale can't be convinced to stay?"

Molam chuckled, hoping to put Kalle at ease. "It will be fine. The Empire has much bigger worries right now than JiangXi, given the Prince has fallen into slumber. You will not be disturbed for some time; they believe JiangXi can be taken back anytime."

"You are quite relaxed considering the Whale will be protecting you," Kalle grumbled under his breath, but then produced a small black pouch from the various pockets on his coat and placed it on the table. Molam reached forward to pick it up, then glanced inside to see three small dark stones, and Kalle continued. "For your flametool. I only had time to make three, but I hope the Oracle helps you recover your aura soon. I assume you know how to swap them out; the drained ones won't contain any aura and can be discarded without worry."

"Flametool?" Molam raised an eyebrow of his own. "That's what you're going to call it?"

Kalle glowered. "It conveys the function," he muttered. "Though I did consider 'flamemaker.'"

"It lights candles," Molam grinned, "How about 'candle-lighter'?"

"Candle-lighter? How is that any better?" Kalle's face scrunched up in distaste, then his eyes wrinkled into a smile above his bushy beard. "If you like that name then claim it yourself. Shall I refer to you as Candle Lighter from now on? The leader of the Dao: Candle Lighter!"

"Hmm, why not? It makes me sound so useful," Molam smiled back, snapping a finger in the air to conjure a small burst of flame. It winked out of existence, leaving only a trace of heat in the air as evidence of its passing. "I can light candles! Truly a Title-worthy feat, isn't it? Imagine the Tempest's face if people said she lost to the Candle Lighter. She'd come after me in a heartbeat."

For a moment the two of them snickered in silence together, no doubt sharing a similar image of the Tempest's indignant look. Then the laughter died down as Kalle's features became sober again.

"At least with candles, only the truly blind would be able to claim they don't see what you do." The alchemist leaned forward and locked his gaze with Molam's. "I know you've been ignoring your few detractors within the Dao, but I'm really only sitting here because you and Primrose are both gone. Please come back soon."

Guilt stiffened Molam's neck, yet all he could do was nod. "Primrose should be able to come back before Summer's Warmth."

Kalle's head tilted. For a moment, the alchemist seemed to want to say something, then sighed and gave Molam a bushy half-smile. "I would say 'I look forward to seeing you again,' but in the stories around the HeartHomes that sort of statement always seems to be a prelude to one's death." He stood up and held out a hand to Molam. "So let me say it this way instead: May you find warmth whenever you need it."

Molam stood as well, gripping Kalle's larger hand. "Thank you, Kalle." He then gripped a fistful of his black cloak, the same one Priestess Komura had given him, but modified by Kalle to be both flameproof and to entrap warmth. "With what you've made for me — for all of the people — I believe you'll bring warmth anywhere you are."

"Then I hope you find me whenever you need me, my friend."

My friend. Molam's throat tightened. "I hope I'm never in such a need."

Kalle raised an eyebrow. "I see you've been practicing your tact."

Molam laughed at that. "Weren't you the one who told me to stop looking for people only when I needed them? Something like that?"

A grin from Kalle. "Then find me when you have moon wine to share."

"Such expensive tastes for an alchemist." Molam chuckled. Moon wine was only ever produced in Oasis, and Molam doubted he would ever gain possession of even a cask of moon wine. "If I ever have any."

They shook hands and Molam left, trying to push aside the unspoken question in Kalle's shining blue eyes. Kalle had called him a friend, and Molam hadn't denied it. The man knew Molam wasn't being entirely truthful, but had trusted Molam regardless. Kalle's look of questionable doubt, smoothed over by the glassy-eyed look of one who had convinced himself that the answer would come sooner or later, ate away at Molam's conscience.

For a brief moment, he wanted to run back into that study and tell Kalle that this would be the last time. But he shoved it down. He had done what he could for Kalle to ensure that JiangXi's administration could be easily overseen, and no doubt Primrose could be convinced to come back soon. Or at the very least, they were competent enough to resolve it by themselves.

***

The Oracle peered into the waters of her stone bowl, reading a message left for her in Ji's handwriting.

"The child is coming back soon."

Good. It has become tiresome to force conversation onto someone constantly fascinated by water. The phoenix preened itself, perched on the shoulder of God Sholt's statue. It peered down at the Oracle, who did not look back. You will hold to your promise to the boy.

"The child put his life on the line to bargain with what he is not entitled to give."

The boy did what you asked. Surely it is nothing for you to tell the people of Mur about DuskWing's curse.

The Oracle sent ripples across the surface of the water with a finger to dissipate the scrying. "Knowing does nothing for them."

They deserve to know. Let them decide. The phoenix glided down to alight on the stone bowl's edge, vaporizing all of the water within as it commanded the Oracle's attention. As it is with the boy. I will not stop you, but the boy will see through your plan. It is so forced that —

"What would you have me do?" The Oracle interrupted. "Something more elaborate? A maneuver so intricate that the child would have no choice but to accept what he needs to do? Forced or not, that child knows what we want enough to see through any path we place him on — that is why I chose him. I can respect your wishes to let him choose, but you and I both know that the Prince cannot sleep forever." Her voice dropped a tone. "We cannot squander the opportunity Flangel created for us. We cannot count on the Prince being this vulnerable again. If you believe there will be more opportunities in the future, I will hear it. But if you agree, we must do what we can."

This is not what the Hero wished for. The spirit's gaze seemed somber. Humans being used. Unable to decide what they truly want to do in life, ever influenced by the machinations of those beyond their ken.

"Do you think the Hero wished for the Seal on the Stairs to be forcibly opened too?" The Oracle held out an inviting arm for the spirit bird. "The Prince has surely seen the SunFlower, and it may be enough for him to finish what the Red Emperor started. You know what is at stake. We cannot ignore the latent catastrophe in deference to one child's freedom of will."

You will give him the chance to choose. The phoenix glared at her, disregarding her held-out arm. And after he is allowed to return to the Castle in the Sky to see for himself.

"It will happen. Promises must be kept, after all."

After a moment, the phoenix stepped onto her arm and allowed her to bring it to her shoulder.

And if what you and RainBringer have done is not enough to convince him, will you let him live his life freely?

"I hardly think it will be an issue. Several months should have been enough for that child to develop bonds."