Chapter 3:

Coda Song reads and rereads the letter that has been delivered to him with a growing sense of confusion.

‘To the current head of the Song Clan,

May this letter find you in good health. I am writing to inform you that I have settled the mountain that divides your and the Aira clan’s territories. I have built a small temple and marked the changes in territory quite clearly. If the leader of the Song Clan wishes to discuss these changes then I ask that you please visit in person.

-Yours truly, Sae (formerly of the Crest clan)’

The final line especially holds his attention. There had been a number of imposters in the years following Sae’s disappearance, but those had steadily dropped off to nil. After fifteen years of being old news most common folk would not even think to use Sae’s name in a con. For most his disappearance is nothing more than a chilling story to tell and nothing else. But the letter is so abrupt and without any explanations…

Coda rakes his fingers through his hair and recalls the last time he had seen Sae Crest. It had been at a symposium hosted by the Crest clan. Sae was an energetic child constantly jumping around and bugging the other cultivators. He was the type of kid who never stopped talking and was constantly getting into trouble. Showing up out of nowhere with no explanations and taking his family’s mountain truly sounds like something he would do if for nothing else than for a good laugh.

Coda sighs and drums a beat with his finger against his desk as he thinks on this matter. Why would someone want a mountain anyway? They’re so impractical. You can’t grow crops on them, the animals are tenacious beasts, the energy from the mountain attracts all types of spirits and monsters, and the weather is atrocious during all seasons—there’s constant rain coming and going, wicked wind that’s always blowing from the north, and the winters are brutal. And that’s just on the western side of the mountain, the eastern face is totally different and there’s the Aira clan to contend with on that side.

With a heavy heart Coda pulls out a blank sheet of paper and begins writing a letter to the Crest clan. He’s positive though that doing so will stir up all kinds of trouble that will wind up on his doorstep.

✧ ☽ ❀ ☾ ✧

Trae Crest reads and rereads both letters offered to him with a growing sense of anger. The first letter written by his supposed little brother to announce that he is alive and the other written by Coda Song explaining that there is a person claiming to be Sae taking up residence on his mountain.

‘To the current head of the Crest clan,

May this letter find you in good health. I am writing to inform you that I am officially defecting from the Crest clan. And that I am alive.

-Yours truly, Sae

p.s. If you wish to discuss these matters in person I ask that you please wait a few months as I am still getting settled and establishing myself.’

Trae grips the papers so tightly they crinkle and wither in his grasp. He angrily rereads Coda’s letter next.

‘To Trae Crest,

I have received a strange letter authored by a person claiming to be your long lost brother, Sae. Not only does this person claim to be Sae Crest, he has taken liberty to claim the mountain on the eastern border of my territory. With this situation being so strange and unprecedented I ask for your advice and support in this matter. At your earliest convenience please come to the Song temple so that we might discuss this matter.

Sincerely, Coda Song’

Both letters are so preposterous that he can’t help but keep swiveling his head back and forth between the two and trying to understand what any of the nonsense written in them means until finally he slams his fist against his desk. “Fake or real, I’m going to wring that bastard’s neck!” He shouts out angrily before pulling out a clean sheet of paper and writing his response to Coda.

✧ ☽ ❀ ☾ ✧

Hona Westin reads and rereads the letter contained within the package with a strange feeling stirring in his chest.

‘Dear Hona,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Upon my return I chanced on a silver shop selling trinkets. I saw this one and thought of you. I hope you enjoy it.

-Your’s truly, Sae (formerly of the Crest clan)’

p.s. Please feel free to visit me at your own leisure. I’m currently residing on the mountain formerly owned by the Song clan.

His fingers trail over the hair piece and the blue velvet ribbon it’s strung on. It’s not like Hona to wear ornaments in his hair. Currently his long hair is braided simply and is tied with a bit of leather cording. He would never go out of his way to buy frivolous things, but he has to admit that he is endeared to this particular piece. He feels the details of the clouds and then the fine chains holding the little stars.

Carefully Hona pulls loose the tie in his hair and switches out to the silver jewelry. The velvet ribbon is so dark that it is nearly invisible against his black hair, but the silver shines out beautifully. The stars clink prettily as he moves his head back and forth to admire the way the metal catches the light.

Feeling pleased with the gift Hona then pulls out a clean sheet of paper and sets himself to writing a letter to Trae in case he hasn’t been made aware of his brother’s return.