[your grandfather was the head of clan ichimonji. he chose me to marry his third son, taro. the recollection was stark. the father of your father was a powerful man. but he was also a cruel thing stained by murder and later by fear. when he became sick at the end of his life, he said that his three sons must all inherit the leadership. kaede closed her eyes. this was not fair. only one must become Great Lord. each brother knew it. they spoke against their father. they spoke against one another. first brother was sent away on pain of death. your grandfather did not trust them enough to choose. he thought that by forcing them to share, he might preserve his lineage. what he preserved was nothing but his own selfishness. there were things kyoami must never hear. but she would tell her son all that she could, no matter the pain to her heart. i told your father he must take the leadership from your grandfather. i said he must also keep this from his brothers. it was his right. kaede had never known the notions of her father-in-law. she had not asked. what she had taken with her was based on perceptions of the man; his ferocity -- his closed face -- his rejection of what she felt to be her mate's birthright. she had been chosen. she had been left to struggle alone. for this reason and for others, she does not speak their names. their memories do not deserve to put down roots in the good soil of kyoami's heart. your father and second brother began a battle with your grandfather. but it was second brother, your uncle, who killed ichimonji taro. kaede does not allow her son to think. she is not thinking either. she is only reciting the bloodstained edicts of another time. your grandfather was spared. i do not know why. he was spared even while his clan broke from what he had done. your uncle hunted his third brother and killed him also. i escaped between the banishment of your father's father and the search. i was only a widow and i did not matter to second brother, the new Great Lord. kaede reaches out softly to cup kyoami's face. but he would not allowed me to leave if he had known i carried you and your sister. you are what is left of taro. you are the only son of your father. this was too heavy for her son to bear. he was both only a child and the rightful claimant to the leadership of that farflung clan, a boy who would be a man as noble as the emperor who had given them shelter. pride -- kaede wanted what had been robbed from her to be restored for kyoami.]

your grandfather was the head of clan ichimonji. he chose me to marry his third son, taro. the recollection was stark. the father of your father was a powerful man. but he was also a cruel thing stained by murder and later by fear. when he became sick at the end of his life, he said that his three sons must all inherit the leadership.

kaede closed her eyes.

this was not fair. only one must become Great Lord. each brother knew it. they spoke against their father. they spoke against one another. first brother was sent away on pain of death. your grandfather did not trust them enough to choose. he thought that by forcing them to share, he might preserve his lineage. what he preserved was nothing but his own selfishness.

there were things kyoami must never hear. but she would tell her son all that she could, no matter the pain to her heart. i told your father he must take the leadership from your grandfather. i said he must also keep this from his brothers. it was his right.

kaede had never known the notions of her father-in-law. she had not asked. what she had taken with her was based on perceptions of the man; his ferocity -- his closed face -- his rejection of what she felt to be her mate's birthright.

she had been chosen. she had been left to struggle alone.

for this reason and for others, she does not speak their names. their memories do not deserve to put down roots in the good soil of kyoami's heart.

your father and second brother began a battle with your grandfather. but it was second brother, your uncle, who killed ichimonji taro.

kaede does not allow her son to think. she is not thinking either. she is only reciting the bloodstained edicts of another time.

your grandfather was spared. i do not know why. he was spared even while his clan broke from what he had done. your uncle hunted his third brother and killed him also. i escaped between the banishment of your father's father and the search. i was only a widow and i did not matter to second brother, the new Great Lord.

kaede reaches out softly to cup kyoami's face. but he would not allowed me to leave if he had known i carried you and your sister. you are what is left of taro. you are the only son of your father.

this was too heavy for her son to bear. he was both only a child and the rightful claimant to the leadership of that farflung clan, a boy who would be a man as noble as the emperor who had given them shelter. pride -- kaede wanted what had been robbed from her to be restored for kyoami.