Lanying raises her eyebrows. “Don’t you ever do that again, sister.”
“Do what?” The divination went well, so what did I do wrong?
“Doubt yourself, of course.” Her tone is biting. “Especially in front of others.” Her arms fold across her chest. “It doesn’t become strong, intelligent women like you and me.”
Strong. It’s everything I’m not feeling at the moment. The sun drains my body, and the divination occupies my mind.
“Now there’s a woman you might take as an example.” Lanying nudges her head at the sculpture before us. Walking into the gate of the temple hall, it’s the first thing we see.
A rich tone of gold gleams on the intricately carved sandstone towering before us. My eyes don’t recognize her—is she a goddess, or merely a queen? A silk nun’s robe drapes around her body. Ser
