Half an hour later, Qilin sits in the imperial study with us, watching the peacocks displaying their tails and parading around with grace. Although elegant herself, she looks uncomfortable in this refined setting.
"He's gone?" she says in a soft voice. Her feet don't even seem to touch the floor.
"He won't be bothering you again," Daji says, pushing a plate of osmanthus cakes toward Qilin. "You won't have to worry about his advances."
Nibbling delicately at the osmanthus cake she's taken, Qilin responds, "I was never worried, you know. I felt it was divine destiny."
She's either the most extraordinary person I've ever met or the most deluded. However, my money is on extraordinary. She doesn't loathe Zeus for making her another name on his list of conquests. There is something Zen about her.
"I know you have the gift of divine vision," Daji begins, "but you can't possibly believe that what happened between you and Zeus was fated."
