Ren woke up to a new day with a rock in her stomach. The city of An Wan sprawled like a skirt outside the palace, offering the scent of smoked fish and the occasional call of an early vendor. Ren was standing at her window, but saw none of what lay outside.

Prince Isao’s face kept running through her mind. His slightly flushed cheeks. Downcast eyes. She didn’t need him to say it.

He was as unhappy about this arranged marriage as she.

A sound in the hallway drew her away from her thoughts, but still she peered at the window, only able to see the melancholy reflection of her own eyes.

Would she ever be happy again?

Ren turned to leave her reflection, the long trails of her red silk dress stretching out behind her. Her hair, brushed by her servants until it shone, danced around her shoulders. Her maid had braided a few segments into petite plaits and draped them in an elegant pattern around the crown of her head. The heavy pull of a golden nine-tailed fox pin decorated her hair, scratching occasionally at her ear. The weight of it already threatened to give her a headache, but she had said nothing when her maid had pinned it into place and had left almost an hour ago, leaving her to her thoughts.

A knock at the door drew Ren from her downward spiral of thought. She startled, glancing up.

Her mother stepped into the room, as lovely as ever in an elegant wrap of blue silk with patterns of umber and crimson. Subtly etched in the designs was a depiction of the Nari nine-tailed fox.

“Ren? Come, darling. It’s time. You are a lovely bride.”

Her mother reached out, taking Ren’s icy fingers in hers, and gave them a gentle squeeze. Ren tried to smile.

"Thank you, Mother."

Together, they walked into the hallway, where Danjuro waited. His eyes darted over Ren, and he nodded in approval.

"Lovely."

Ren said nothing more as she and her parents glided down the hall in silence. Every step seemed to echo in Ren's ears, as if it took her one step away from the person she truly loved, and one closer to her fate. The maze of the imperial palace seemed to stretch into eternity as they navigated the hallways, but Danjuro guided them without fail.

They turned a corner, and Ren pulled in a breath.

The imperial chapel loomed ahead, packed with people sitting on benches on either side of a path outside. Amphorae filled the air, sprinkling colored bubbles above the flower-lined path leading to the altar. The air was thick with the perfume of fresh flower blossoms.

Ren’s parents stepped away from her, lingering at the back of the chapel as Ren continued on to the path. Her body seemed to move of its own accord.

Baran, the High Priest, stood at the top of the room near the altar, where the representative of the Triad always remained. Strands of soft, white hair ringed an almost bald head. He had solemn hazel eyes and a stern expression. Quiet murmurs whispered through the hushed crowd as Ren passed them on her way to the altar.

"Lovely."

"A beautiful bride."

"Fitting wife."

She didn't hear them over the pounding of her own heart. As she closed in on Baran, she caught a movement from the corner of her eye. Isao stepped toward the priest from the side of the room, and moved forward, matching her pace. They arrived together, completing the symbolism of two people from different parts of life coming together.

Baran held both hands over his head. "The wedding ceremony shall begin."

He intoned deeply in the ancient mystic language, his words a guttural sing-song that flowed like water. It washed through the chapel and over those in attendance, and Ren feared the chant would take her heart with her.

Her thoughts wandered, although she vaguely tracked the ceremony in the back recesses of her mind. She murmured when appropriate, and gave her hand to Isao halfway through the ceremony. But when she felt ice-cold fingers, she startled, and became fully conscious of the ceremony’s goings-on.

At least she didn't have to look in Isao’s eyes to know how he felt, she thought.

"Ren of the Nari Clan and Isao of the Hiwan Clan, I unite you and your people in marriage."

The finality of the words resounded through Ren like the vibrations of a gong. Ren sucked in a sharp breath, certain her heart would shatter at any moment. When the new couple turned to face the chapel, a happy cry rippled through the room. Fireworks flew through the air in orange and red spirals, exploding just before the rafters of the chapel with a spray of sparks. White doves scattered, released from cages at the very front of the room. The birds flapped past Ren, their movement past stirring strands of her hair. Bells began to ring, and in the distance, a subtle cry arose from the streets of the imperial city.

Isao leaned in close.

"We will walk together," he murmured. "The Path of the Sun and Moon will be quick, I think."

She nodded once.

Those attending stood with warm smiles as the newlyweds passed, heading down the flower-lined path and back into the castle. Once there, Isao navigated his bride through a short passageway before they entered the streets of the city together.

A wild raucous of cheers from those standing on the sides of the streets met them. Isao pasted a smile on his face, and Ren attempted to appear happy too. Her hand grew clammy resting on top of Isao's, but he said nothing as he led her into the path cleared for them. They turned to the right first, heading onto the prepared road that would lead them in a circuit around An Wan.

"Ren," Isao murmured under his breath, keeping his gaze straight. "You are a lovely bride."

His voice trembled a little, as if he had to force the words out.

Ren blinked. "Thank you."

The highly trained Karu unit waited outside, lining the street in a parade of honor. Emerald and gold tunics fluttered off their shoulders. The symbol of a winged lion filled their chests, wooden clogs, and the ceremonial hat that resembled a lions mane. Ren flinched when the first Karu soldier bent at the waist as she passed, murmuring, “I swear to serve you to the death.”

“Who are they?” she whispered to Isao.”

“The Karu. It is an honorary rank to those with exceptional willpower and skill with their special bushi sword. They are charged with defending the heart of the imperial city.”

Ren bowed her head to the closest Karu soldier and continued on.

Ren and Isao moved through the city without another word, smiling, nodding, and waving to the revelers in the street. Ren's stomach felt as if it was boiling and bubbling inside her, but she tried to disregard it.

When they completed the circuit around the city on the path, the leaders of the Nari and Hiwan Clans greeted them near the chapel again.

"Congratulations," Saemon said, his voice ringing down the hall. "You make a beautiful couple. Now that your trip on the Path of the Sun and Moon has been completed and the Imperial city has met the lovely Ren, you are expected at the feast in your honor in the great hall."

Ren's mother reached out to squeeze her hand.

Ren bowed to her new father-in-law, and with Isao at her side, followed him down the stone corridor and toward the celebration of her new life.