Months, and then years passed as the war continued. In the absence of her father, Anri would help her mother with  managing the estate. They awaited eagerly of news from the war, but each day yielded fresh disappointment. Though the Kyutan empire was holding its own against the rebels in the North, there seemed to be no end in sight for the foreseeable future.

Anri kept busy with her swordsmanship, dance with her blades until the sun had fully set. She practiced consistently with her new sword, which she'd affectionately named Ribbon, and relearned all of the forms her father had taught her before he left. Occasionally, her uncle in the palace would send her a scroll featuring the newest modern techniques and fighting styles from various Kyutian regions.

Today, she was onto mastering the notoriously difficult Tayin-style forms.

She took two steps forward and swiveled to shift her weight back. The sword whistled through the air around her as she practiced a parry over and over again.

"Anri!" Lady Lin's voice trailed up the hallway. "We have a visitor."

She stopped mid-swing with a groan. The old house reverberated with the sound of her bare feet hitting the  wooden floor boards.

"Anri!" her mother called again.

"Coming!" She swung her wrapped sword over her back and leapt onto the banister. With a much-practiced motion, she slid to the bottom and ran to the kitchen. As she rounded the doorway she slammed into a man who had just been on his way out.

"Are you trying to impale someone?" the visitor scowled.

Anri crossed her arms and took a step back, quickly recovering and hiding her embarrassment at her clumsiness. "My sword's on my back," she retorted hotly. "Ma, who's this?"

"Anri, behave," Lady Lin set down freshly baked custard buns with a sigh. She'd just finished baking them with Ah Jie, the Lin family maid. The steam rose off the buns' soft surface, curling into delectable tendrils that made Anri's stomach growl. She had been training on the balcony for the past few hours, and couldn't wait to dig in.

"This is General Chen. He's here for a rendezvous with your uncle, who will be arriving later today."

Anri sneaked a glance at the general, who looked only a few years older than her at best. He was tall for a Kyutian, with dark hair that was closely cut on the sides and curled slightly where it was let long. His piercing eyes met hers, and she hastily moved to grab a bun.

"Nice to meet you, General Chen." She gave a hasty curtsy, ignoring the piping hot surface of the steamed treat between her fingers.

"The pleasure is mine," he gave a languid bow before turning to her mother. "Thank you for your hospitality, Lady Lin." Chen saluted smartly with his fist in his palm, and sauntered out of the kitchen without so much as a second glance in Anri direction. She caught the faintest scent of chrysanthemum and aster in the current of his stride.

"He looks like a proper man," Ah Jie remarked in his absence. Anri rolled her eyes and took a bite of the custard bun.

"I need you to show him his quarters. General Chen and your uncle will be staying with us for the next few days." Lady Lin bent to open the side door of their stove, which had been rattling ominously. Straightening, she caught Anri's gaze. "Please be nice."

Her mother's face seemed wearier with each passing day. Her once radiant face had faded into wrinkled pallor with years of restless waiting. "I will,"  Anri wrapped her arms tightly around Lady Lin.

Lady Lin gave her a tight-lipped smile, and Anri left to help their guest.

She found Chen in the front yard leading his horse into their stables. Anri observed the soldier as he spoke with his mare in a hushed tone that was much softer than what he'd used with her in the kitchen. It was strange seeing a grown man in war attire joking around in a high-pitched voice.

As she approached, the horse pulled the reins out of his grip and reared on its back legs, neighing. Chen leapt to the side just in time as hooves slammed back down on the ground where he had been standing just seconds ago.

"I didn't mean to disturb you," Anri apologized quickly. The mare tossed her dark mane and stomped in place.

He swiveled around with a glare. "Could you put that sword away? It scares her."

Anri looked at the breastplate fitted to the horse's chest. "Isn't she a warhorse?"

"We all have our flaws," he retorted and turned to calm the horse in a higher pitched voice. "It's okay, you're just too kind, right, Midnight?"

Midnight pressed her snout into his palm and snorted, as if in agreement. Chen quickly tied the horse to the stable post in a fluid motion. His eyes flickered to Anri's again and she felt a jolt when they made contact. "She's a real killer, this one," Chen smiled and patted Midnight's snout. "Do you ride?"

"Occasionally, when my mother lets me out of the house," she dug her heel into the wet soil beneath her feet. "It's been a long time."

"I expected nothing less from the daughter of General Lin."

She cocked an eyebrow. "I see my reputation precedes me."

"Absolutely not," he crossed his arms. "Your father's reputation precedes you."

"I suppose that's fair, given that he's the best general in all of Kyutan," Anri let filial pride preceded her own.

"The emperor and his crown prince may have a different opinion," he raised an eyebrow and held out his wrist for Anri to inspect. A bronze dragon wrapped itself around his wrist, with a space between its yawning jaw and tail for the wearer to slip the band on. An imperial emblem, the Golden Talon, which was only given to the subjects most trusted by the emperor, marking them with authority equivalent to that of a prince.

"You?" she blurted out incredulously. "But you're so young."

"No offense, but you don't seem like just a simple noblewoman either, Miss Lin," Chen retracted his wrist and pulled his sleeve back down again.

"None taken," she reached behind her to fiddle with the sheathe of her sword, which Chen eyed curiously.

"I saw you fighting a couple years ago. Though you were just using a wooden sword back then," he said.

"When was this?" Anri was certain that she would have remembered if they'd met before.

"I seem to recall you winning against the baker's boy," he chuckled. "I take it a dozen loaves of bread weren't enough for you?"

"Half-a-dozen loaves," she corrected, smiling as she recalled the scene. "It was a worthy dowry." Chen laughed again, and a distinct memory clicked into place. "I remember now! You were cheering for him during our fight, and you ended up falling into a barrel of cooking wine!"

"I was laughing so hard the top of it broke," Chen shrugged guiltily. "I was really rooting for our little champion. May I see?" he took a step forward and nodded towards her sword. Anri turned around, reluctantly exposing her back, and the sword upon it, to the general. He ran his fingers deftly down the covered blade, pressed it into her back as he traced its outline. It was clear that he was impressed with its design and build in the way that he murmured and marveled praises under his breath. Heat crept up the back of her neck and spread to her cheeks, and Anri turned around to face him again. "That's enough. I'm glad you appreciate it."

Chen seemed unvexed and withdrew his hand. She noticed that they were covered with many thin scars that seemed to glint maliciously in the dark of the stable. Anri swallowed. "I can show you to your chambers."

"After you," he gestured.

She hoisted the strap of her sword farther up her shoulder and led him into the main hall of the house. It was a beautiful day, and the sunlight filtered through the thin paper windows, illuminating the foyer with a warm speckled brightness.

"How goes the warfront?" she asked as they walked up the winding staircase to the second floor.

"Tough. We're barely holding on," Chen replied absentmindedly, running his hand up the banister. "Ouch! Why are there so many splinters here?"

"Sorry," she winced. "I slide down the banister, but it leaves marks. Ma berates me for it all the time." Was that a smile she saw flash across his face just now? Chen glowered at her. Never mind.

"It's faster," she said in defense.

"I see," he nodded, turning away.

"Have you heard any news about my father?" the words tumbled out of her mouth as they rounded the corner together to the guest room. He gave her a sad look and shook his head, "I'm sorry. But your uncle may know more than I do, he has greater access to resources and news."

"When will he arrive?" she brightened up a bit at the thought of seeing her uncle again. He always brought the best gifts from the palace.

"Any minute now. He sent me ahead later than I would've liked," Chen frowned slightly, then glanced at her again. "Is this my room?"

Anri slid open the wooden doorframe and gestured to the simple cot and small desk inside the room. "It's not much, but I hope you enjoy your stay."

Chen nodded and tossed down his sword onto the blanket, along with the small bag slung over his shoulder. A warm breeze swept into the room through the two open windows, carrying the rickety sound of a horse-drawn carriage with it.

"That's him!" Before Chen could respond, Anri turned and ran down the stairs, grinning from ear to ear. Her mother was already situated at the door and had clearly been waiting for Anri, who leapt out in front of her towards the approaching carriage. Coming to a stop in front of the Lin estate, and one of two horses whinnied and tossed its mane prettily. The coachman hopped off his seat in the front and hastily scurried to the back to open the door for the palace official.

Uncle So emerged from the carriage, his expression darker than Anri had ever seen before. In his arms, he clutched a standard blue-and-white porcelain urn.

Her smile faltered and his name died on her lips. The urn had three characters carved on its side.

Lin Kwei Jun had come home.