Thoughts of her one woman riot burned in Cate's mind. Mindless rage had proved a satisfactory scratch to a nagging itch.

The Space Sissy was exceptionally arrogant and sanctimonious. It annoyed her immensely.

Cate recalled one of her first missives from Siran, And then the Red Empress purged her advisors, for it is those who claim to know the most that know the least.

Indeed. If the Space Sissy knew so much and was so wise, why then did he ask her who Siran was. Two in one, Space Sissy and a Space Dummy, how novel.

Cate's thoughts doted on various stories and lessons from Siran, but long ago she had learned to never apply a story from memory to a new situation. The process of "reading" was sacred and unique to every situation in life. One could not simply find or recall a story and apply it to whatever situation was at hand, no this wasn't the Bible of her youth, this was the Sacred text of Siran.

As much as the Space Sissy annoyed her, if he was half as wiseas claimed, he might be a worthy association. No not wise, Siran was wise, the Space Sissy was Knowledgeable at best.

Cate approached her upturned table and righted it, centering the book of Siran on top and setting the jar of matches near her left hand, always strike with the left hand.

Cate opened the book to a new, or perhaps the same empty page and struck a match.

As the flame of the match crept along the wooden shaft, Cate felt the power and wisdom of Siran.
"In the days between seasons, before the Winter wars began, a traveler came to the Red Empress. Many in her lands had heard his wise and instructive words and claimed enlightenment. Yet, the Red Empress, because she was one with Siran, was wary of this sudden intruder and distrusted his wisdom.

And yet, the Empress was impressed by the traveler's charm and knowledge until finally when the traveler journeyed East into the Black Kingdom the Empress said to her favorite daughter, "Go with him so we might learn the origin of his knowledge." And the traveler accepted this new companion happily and praised the Empress.

However the Empress never learned the source of the traveler's knowledge as her daughter was Romantic and naive. In the days between seasons, before the Summer wars began, the favorite Daughter married the traveler and never re-entered her Mother's lands again."

Cate stopped reading out loud and frowned, the stories about the Red Empress were difficult to understand. The White Empress in all her rage and cruelty, Cate understood. The Black Empress with her kindness and genius, Cate understood her too. But the Red Empress was unfathomable.

Sighing, she decided to let the story soak in and reveal itself in time. No, suddenly and violently the meaning became apparent to her.

Scrambling for something to write on, Cate produced a torn piece of paper from the debris of her riot and wrote rapidly.

SO SMART? PROVE IT