Yuelan spent the next two days feeling much like a doll. Camphor, Laurel, and Willow spent a lot of time deciding how to do Yuelan’s hair to adjust for the horns she was growing, even though they weren’t visible through her hair yet. They also spent quite a bit of time choosing her accessories. Fortunately, Yuelan’s clothes were predetermined: the formal priestess robes she had worn for Princess Ainuan’s wedding.

The morning of the festival, Yuelan was woken early. She ate breakfast, put on the white and silver priestess gown and robes, and then sat in a daze while her maids fussed over her appearance. In the end, they chose to put half her hair up in one loop supported by silver wires with the other half flowing down her back. Pearls and small pieces of white jade were carefully placed along the loop on top of her head and an aquamarine the size of Yuelan’s thumb nail sat at the center of her forehead held in place by a silver chain woven into her hair.

Once all the preparations were complete, Yuelan walked out of her courtyard and settled herself on Byakko’s back. The white tiger carried her out of her manor and toward the center of the capital where the main part of the festival had been set up: the location where Yuelan would form her bond with Seiryuu.

A large stage had been set up on one side of the square. A four golden thrones sat in the center, two on each side of a silver throne in the center and exquisite chairs intended for the imperial families, the princes and princesses and the more important imperial concubines.

Byakko lowered himself just enough for Yuelan to step directly onto the stage in front of the silver throne, then hopped up to join her and settled himself at her feet once she had seated herself. Are you tired already? The tiger’s voice sounded amused.

Yuelan’s eyes were closed and she leaned back in her silver seat. I’ve been tired since I woke up, Byakko. I don’t like early mornings.

A rumbling sound, almost like a chuckle, came from the tiger’s throat.

People had already begun to gather in the square, vying for the best spots to see from. Shop owners had rented out space in their upper floors for the wealthy to sit and watch the liveliness and people were gathering on balconies and in front of windows as well.

The next to arrive on the raised platform was Guangfeng. He smiled and walked over to stand beside Yuelan. “Are you nervous?”

“More tired than nervous.” Yuelan smiled back at him. “It’s not the first time I’ve stood in front of a city’s worth of people and delegates of other countries.”

The third prince nodded and reached a hand out to gently stroke her cheek. “You look beautiful.”

“Thank you. My maids worked hard all morning.” She closed her eyes and leaned against his hand for a moment.

Guangfeng pulled his hand back and went to go sit down. Other members of the imperial family and the delegates from the other countries were starting to arrive, so he couldn’t keep standing in front of her.

When the square and the surrounding buildings were nearly full, the cry of a eunuch sounded: “The emperors have arrived!”

Everyone in the square knelt and pressed their foreheads to the ground as four men in yellow robes walked up onto the stage and bowed to Yuelan. Three of the emperors wore similar outfits with flat-topped hats with beaded tassels hanging from the front and back. The fourth had a different style of clothing and instead of a flat hat the color of his robes, the hat was black and came up in the back with a pennon on one side decorated with a crest. His bow was also performed differently from the other three emperors’ bows.

Yuelan stood and nodded her head to the four emperors. “Greetings, your majesties.” She repeated her greeting in both her own language and in one other language. The second language she spoke pleased the differently dressed emperor, who returned her greeting in the same language.

After exchanging greetings, the four emperors and Yuelan took their seats. They waited a few more minutes before a eunuch stepped forward. “This festival is being held to honor the return of the dragon priestess and to dispel any doubts that her holiness the lady Long Yuelan is the dragon priestess. As the start of the festival, her holiness will now form a bond with the lord of the divine beasts, the azure dragon of the east!”

Overhead, an immense, serpentine, azure dragon appeared and let out a roar. Pillars surrounding the square with the stones Yuelan required to form the bond began to glow as the stones also lit up. Yuelan pulled the center stone of purple jade out of a sleeve and stood up. Her eyes closed as she concentrated and reached out to the Azure dragon.

She could hear gasps and sounds of amazement from the people in the square and feel the millions of eyes on her. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as a wall of sorts appeared in her mind’s eye. A wall she needed to use the help of the stones to overcome. One by one, she reached out to the stones, causing them to glow brighter, as she worked to force her way through the wall. On the other side, she could sense Seiryuu doing the same thing.

This bond is difficult to form. Do not give up, Yuelan. Both Byakko and Seiryuu spoke to Yuelan’s mind, encouraging her. She didn’t notice the faint glow that started to surround her and pulse as it grew brighter and brighter. When she and Seiryuu finally broke through the wall and their minds joined in the bond she let out a gasp and sank to the ground as light burst upward toward the sky then spread out in a rainbow of color.

Cheers roared upward from the gathered people and the four emperors stood to bow deeply to Yuelan while Guangfeng stepped forward to help her back to her feet.

Yuelan leaned on her fiancee for support and let him pull out a handkerchief to gently dab away the sweat on her forehead and nose. “Thank you, Guangfeng.”

“Are you alright?” Guangfeng’s voice echoed the concern on his face.

Yuelan nodded. “Just tired.” She looked up at him and smiled as the Azure dragon descended from the sky and shifted into his human form. Byakko also shifted to human form and the two stepped forward to support Yuelan with Guangfeng.

“Can you keep up with the schedule, or should I ask the emperors to give you some time to rest first?”

“I’ll be alright, Guangfeng. It’ll take a few minutes for everyone to gather in the palace. That will be enough time for me to rest.” Yuelan gave him a smile in an attempt to reassure him.

Guangfeng looked doubtful. “I think you should rest a bit more than that. I’m worried for you.”

Yuelan patted his cheek. “Thirty minutes. I only need thirty minutes starting from now.”

He nodded and smiled. “Alright. I’ll let the emperors know.”