Cate meets the eyes of the man and represses a smile. In the past 15 years, Cate has never made a decision before consulting the Sacred Book.

Cate wedges a fingernail in the paper and opens the leather bound tome. As expected, the pages are empty, neither writing nor stain nor mote of dust disrupt the page.

Turning to the matches, Cate strikes one and waits for the Wisdom of Siran to find her.

Meeting the man's eyes, Cate finally speaks as the words on the page fill her soul and mouth.

"In her early years, the White Empress was displeased with the environs of her Palace. Her subjects had built homes and businesses right up to the Outer Wall.

"An Empress should be surrounded with natural beauty, not daily life and commerce." She told her Advisors.

While the Advisors agreed, to keep their heads, they warned that should a Palace garden be erected, many would be without home or employment.

As the heat of the flame touched her fingertips, Cate waved it out and fell silent until she struck the next match.

"The Empress, knowing her desire was worthy made offering to Siran for a Palace garden to be constructed in her honor.

Varily, not more than three hours after dark, lightening erupted from the sky though there was no rain and sparked a fire in the quarters the Empress desired.

When the fire was reduced to Embers, nearly 4,000 had died and the Empress rejoiced for the dead make excellent soil."

Cate furrowed her brow, The Wisdom of Siran was rarely this direct.

Glancing at Tommy's somewhat concerned expression, Cate held the note to the table and with the Carbon of the spent matchstick she circled Riot

Still extending his hand, Cate reached out to touch it, tentatively at first. His skin was rough, like a Carpenter's and she liked it's grainy texture.

Riot