Disclaimer: Avatar the Last Airbender copyright Dante Dimartino, Brian Konietzko and Nickelodeon Studios.
"A fine feast."
Katara blinked, her eyes focusing on the chrysanthemum extended to her. "Lord Tatsuo," she acknowledged. "An unusual gift."
"A gift worthy of your stature," the nobleman replied.
Her stomach knotted, recalling the double meaning of the white chrysanthemum: nobility and truth or grief and death. It wasn't difficult to guess which Tatsuo meant.
"Does the bloom displease?"
Realizing she had yet to reciprocate his gift, Katara nodded at the servant beside her.
"Lord Tatsuo." She held the tiger lily to him, reciting the traditional blessing. "May wealth and prosperity find you."
And may the spirits protect me.
