Six Crimson Cranes

Shiori finishes de-thorning the starstroke nettles and needs to start spinning them into thread, for which she will need Zairena’s spindle. To win Zairena’s favor, Shiori bakes her some monkey cakes, but Zairena criticizes them and does not eat one. Shiori finds Zairena’s behavior suspicious, “as if she were an imposter” (308). She later snoops in Zairena’s room but cannot find any sign of the Four Breaths poison. That night, while Zairena sleeps in Hasege’s room, Shiori sneaks into her room to use the spindle while Kiki keeps watch.

Within a week, Shiori has secretly spun all the starstroke fibers into thread. The last time she leaves Zairena’s room, she runs into Zairena in the hallway, and Zairena threatens to burn her for trespassing. In the morning, Shiori is forbidden to enter the kitchen because Zairena accuses her of poisoning Megari with monkey cakes. Shiori visits Megari in her room, where Takkan assures her that Megari’s illness is not her fault.

In his room, Takkan shows Shiori his paintings, including one specifically made for his betrothed. He heard much about the princess while growing up, and frequently wrote her stories, but she never wrote back. Takkan remembers meeting Shiori at the Summer Festival years ago, which triggers a flashback for Shiori.

Lord Yuji had asked the royal children to successfully grow an orchid but tricked them to test their character. Shiori was the only one who grew a flower, not knowing of her magic at the time. Lord Yuji and Shiori’s brothers accused her of lying, and when she ran away to hide, Takkan found her and was the only one to believe her story. Not knowing who he was at the time, Shiori told him that she had no desire to marry anyone, especially “that barbarian fool in the North” (323).

In the present, Takkan shares that he stopped writing to Shiori after that. He was hopeful of their future at their betrothal ceremony, but Shiori’s rejection left him the object of ridicule. Shiori silently cries, ashamed of her behavior, and Takkan expresses that he cares deeply for her.

Shiori returns to the kitchen, and during lunch preparations, Hasege storms in. He accuses Chiruan of assassinating Oriyu, based on the poison and gold that were found in his room. Shiori runs to Takkan, convinced Chiruan was framed, but Takkan shows her Chiruan’s locked recipe box, which contained instructions for using Four Breaths.

Sensing that her time at Castle Bushian is limited, Shiori works tirelessly to weave the starstroke net until it is finished. As she weaves, she finds herself commiserating with Raikama, and uncovering old memories. She remembers Raikama telling her that she was raised by snakes; she also used to see a glow surrounding Raikama. Raikama once predicted that one day, Shiori would despise her, and reminded Shiori that she would never be her mother. Kiki wakes Shiori one morning, informing her that Seryu has news for her.

Shiori convinces the guard Pao to let her out of the castle and heads to the river to meet Seryu. Seryu facetiously asks Shiori about her life at the castle, which she interprets as jealousy. He bears a message from the Dragon King, who demands that Raikama’s dragon pearl be returned to him if Shiori defeats her. Shiori confides in Seryu that she thinks there might be other motives for Raikama’s curse, but Seryu has no help to offer.

When Shiori returns to her room, Megari is sick and slumped over by the door. Shiori wakes Zairena, who brews some tea for her. Together, they watch over Megari and feed her tea until she stabilizes, and Zairena even thanks Shiori for calling upon her.

Shiori prepares to say goodbye to Megari and Takkan; however, her farewell is thwarted by Megari’s excited preparations for the Winter Festival and the traditional hunt. Megari explains that the hunting party might aim for some cranes that appeared nearby, so Shiori hurries to disrupt the hunt before someone shoots one of her brothers.

Shiori and her crane-brothers take cover nearby, and communicating through Kiki, her brothers confirm that she has been at Castle Bushian with her betrothed. Shiori’s brothers have finally learned Raikama’s real name, Vanna, which will allow them to break the curse. Takkan finds the group, after having sent the other hunters home. He suspects that Shiori and the cranes know each other and shares that Lord Yuji has murdered the leader of A’landi and is now in control of the Wolf, the A’landan enchanter. Yuji is preparing to take over the capital of Gindara, so Takkan will be leaving to fight. Recognizing Shiori and Takkan’s budding romance, the brothers encourage Shiori to stay for the Winter Festival until they return for her later. Takkan observes Shiori and the cranes’ interactions without asking any questions, and eventually takes her back to the castle.