EYE OF THE FALLEN HEAVEN

pte

ng had never b

, that same air tasted dry and abandoned. The corridors echoed not with the laughter of servants, but with the distant celeb

s or hurried greetings. He passed a young servant girl who once fetched his t

ed her ba

his chest did. He entered his quarters, pushed o

his mother once sat in while telling him bedtim

sil

de. Dust clung to his fingertips. The air felt heavier th

ame a

sitant. The door creaked open

rn from long service. His name was Uncle Ming, one of the oldest attendants

r..." Uncle Min

prised. "Uncle Ming.

e others... they have been reassigned. Lord Fenglong took most

to the window, watching petals fal

tated, then too

ld me I was wasting my years. That loyal

nt with weariness. Lin

de the storm within. He thought back to the child who once trained with wooden

an sighed

n is

ds change," Uncle Ming continued. "

so slightly. A flicker of wa

"Even if only dust gathers in these

pirit incense. Deep within the Council Hall, Elder Jian sat in stillness,

the open balcony, h

hen," the Cla

d

thi

unreadable. "The stone show

oment. A gust of wind passed betwee

e," Tianhai murmured. "Now even

waver. "Then perhaps it

smiled b

ays been fond

who awaken with dragons fall like leaves. And I have seen men

him. "Are you saying

the heavens are

g. Then, in a voice alm

ut talent i

n raised

without wi

ped the old scroll his father gave h

s were old-older than the current dynasty, older even than the Li

ough soul, he realized. It

e flesh through pain, of shaping the bones into steel. Every

looked at

spiritual light. But they t

ountain's edge. Shadows lengthened across hi

sto

be