A Syllable of Time

A Syllable of Time is a fiction written by Ree Soesbee.

Annotated Story
Doji Osen is a Crane courtier, who uses a golden mask he has come to like following a recent Winter Court in Scorpion lands. He is a traitor to the Crane, a spy for the Lion Clan. His wife knows that he has been sending encoded messages to the Garden Under Shadow City under the guise of sending letters to his sickly mother. His wife has been married to Osen for two years. Osen was an honorable servant of the Doji, and worked hard to help rebuild the Crane. She has grown to love him, and cannot betray him.

It is morning and Osen finds his wife and wishes to share the dawn with her. Doji Sasumiko has been writing and puts aside her writing implements and greets him, her hand brushes a vial in her obi given to her by the Agasha. He compliments something, but it is unsure if he means her or the beautiful morning outside. Sasumiko asks him if her remembers their wedding day, and he laughs as he says has relived it a hundred time. Her parents were very pleased with her match. He tells her how he first saw her, and how she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Sasumiko lowers her head, and a single tear runs down her cheek. Osen says he regrets that they can never have a daughter to carry on her souls life, and he knows it is not her fault they cannot have children. Sasumiko reveals that she is with child, and that she is dying. Osen's eyes widen, and he asks her what she means. Sasumiko reveals that she knows he is a Lion spy, and cannot bear the child of a Lion. Osen asks her how she dares condemn him. Sasumiko tells him he has been talking in his sleep, revealing his true nature. Osen tries to comfort her, but she tells him it is too late. She says she thought she would turn on him, but she couldn't make herself betray him. She says she will not betray her clan either, and her face grows pale as she slumps to the ground. Osen tries to stop her slumping, and a glass vial is knocked loose from her obi. She smiles, and tells him their child would have been born in the winter. Osen cries as the dawn breaks.

Characters

 * Doji Osen
 * Doji Sasumiko

Not Present, But Mentioned

 * Emperor