Noriko left Fumie's house right after breakfast, walking briskly down the road until she was sure she was well away from watchers, traps or sentries.

"Noriko-sama?" A girl's voice hailed her. She turned to see Renko standing in a group of shrubs at the edge of the road, invisible to any watchers behind. Her fair hair was concealed by one of Azuki's scarves, and though her skin tone was pinker than normal, Noriko thought she could pass for Japanese to anyone who was not right ...