“Master, you’ve been very quiet,” Death Shadow commented in concern. They’d been flying for a long time, though without the sun’s movement to mark the passage of time Zu Mari could not be sure how long it had been. “Are you unwell?”

“No, I’ve been attempting to commune with my phoenix spirit,” Zu answered dejectedly. “It refuses to answer me.”

“Oh, wise master, I would not presume to instruct you, but there is a secret and ancient knowing among birds that I can pass on to you. The phoenix lives and dies and when it is reborn it can take years before it is ready to interact with the world again. It is a waking slumber, a reawakening to the world, which cannot be hurried or bypassed. It must be that which prevents your phoenix from speaking to you yet.”

Zu’s spirits lifted at once, the explanation clearing away all the concern he had felt. “Of course, I remember now. One of the books in my clan library mentioned that. It may be two months or twenty years before it is strong enough to answer my call. I must only be patient.”

They flew on for some time and discussed minor matters, then Death Shadow began to drift lower and lower. “I am sorry master, I must rest. Even your spirit cannot sustain me forever.”

“It should be able to last a bit longer,” Zu said confidently. “You should be able to keep going.”

“I cannot,” Death Shadow said, his wings straining as they dropped lower and lower still. “I am weary, master, too weary to go on.”

He flapped mightily and slowed their descent enough to deposit Zu gently atop a fallen tree, then sank to the ground and immediately fell asleep.

Zu sat down to meditate, but felt a disquiet in his spirit. Something about this spot disturbed him.

“I sense it too,” said Heart of Fire and Spirit of Twilight Death. “This is a troubled place.”

“It was not Death Shadow’s fault that he could not withstand it, then,” murmured Zu. “Whatever fell spirit infests this land, I will cleanse it!” He stood abruptly and shouted, “FACE ME! Whoever dares trouble this land, I, Zu Mari, will bring you to your end!”

For a moment no reply echoed back but his own mighty voice. Then, timidly, a new voice spoke.

"Please do not kill me again, Zu Mari. I have been killed too many times already." The voice was rough and tremulous, like a branch that had been snapped and then bound back together.

"I will not slay you unless you deserve it," Zu promised. He saw no one, and turned to look in all directions for the speaker. "Where are you? Show yourself to me and be rightly judged!"

"I am here." A gust of wind suddenly rose, blowing fallen leaves into the air, and then they settled, forming a long dress of brown petals and leaves, though he saw no person within the leaves. The form was perfect and made him wonder who could have created so beautiful a dress from only dead leaves and fallen petals. They could make a fortune.

"Who are you?" Zu asked.

"I am Fahai Li, or I was... once a long time ago." The voice clearly came from the unseen person within the leaves, but Zu saw no sign of her face, not even the faintest hint.

"It is my honor to meet you, Fahai," Zu said cordially, and bowed faintly to her as one did when meeting a great beauty. "Why do you trouble these lands?"

"No, no! It is not I who trouble these lands, but my troubles which corrupt both myself and the land anywhere I walk. Alas, fair Zu, mourn for me, for I have been cursed."

"Cursed? How, who would dare to curse one as lovely as you?"

"The one I was promised to marry," she whispered. "The one I hated and fled from. He was a great man and mighty in dark arts better left unknown, and when he had slain me a dozen times over in punishment for my 'crime' of not loving him as he desired, he banished me and cursed my spirit to wander forever alone." Her voice broke and he knew that she was crying, the leaves of her dress rustling as she shook.

Oh, how he longed to reach out to her, to wipe away her tears and embrace her, to promise that he would protect her and find a way to cure her! But when he reached out a hand, she recoiled and the leaves floated apart, collapsing to the ground in a pile and leaving him with no way to see her.

"I'm sorry, come back!" Zu pleaded. "I will save you from this curse. I swear it upon my honor and the honor of the Mari clan! Though it takes me a thousand years and I must tear apart the gods to do so, I swear to you, I will save you! Do you hear me? I will return for you."

Fahai did not answer again, but he felt a brush of wind against his neck, a prickle of leaves as they pressed to his face, then the sensation vanished and a single browned petal drifted down to land in his cupped hand. Zu gently closed his hand over the talisman, his heart heavy. "I will save you, Fahai," he promised again. "Wait for me."

"I will wait, for there is nothing else I can do. But you are far from strong enough to unseal this curse from my spirit and I beg you not to throw your life away on my account. You are strong and young and beautiful. Lord Azinu would take everything you are and leave you twisted and broken. I beg you, do not confront him. If you hear a whisper of his presence, flee. Flee from him, Zu Mari, and do not do anything. I would rather know that your beauty remains in this world even if it means I remain cursed for eternity."

Zu tucked the petal into his belt, determination in his eyes. "I will not be swayed from my course. Fahai Li, I am going to save you even if you do not want me to."

Her weeping voice came from all around him, as though she were wrapping him in her unseen and unfelt presence. "Then I will mourn for you forever," she whispered, her broken voice as gentle as an embrace.

"Where can I find this Lord Azinu?"

"Far from here, beyond the Immortal's Ravine, beyond the Beastlands, beside the Dragon Mountain. He rules with irresistible power. I beg you, do not seek to challenge him."

"You cannot turn me aside."

"Three times he reached the point of ascension, and three times he turned away because he had not yet perfected himself to his satisfaction," warned Fahai desperately. "He will be stronger than the strongest mortal you have ever heard of."

"Then I shall become stronger still."

"No, no, no, I should never have spoken. Well have I been cursed, for I bring a bane to all who look upon me. Please, please do not do this."

"Fear not, Fahai Li. I am not like the others. I am unstoppable. But if the time should come that I must die and begin this slice of frozen time again, I will embrace it gladly if it means you will no longer remember that you sent me to this fate."

"Thank you, Zu Mari," she whispered. "I find myself almost believing you. If ever you do succeed, if I hear the slightest rumor of Lord Azinu's death, I will come to you. Until then, we will not meet again."

The sense of wrongness in the world faded slowly away, and when it was gone completely Death Shadow roused from his sleep. They flew on, but Zu knew in his heart that his destiny had been forever fixed in place.

He would grow strong enough to defeat the cruel lord who had hurt Fahai, and he would un-curse her. One day he would see her smile. No matter what it took.