Chapter 120

Of wind and snow, of river snow, of night snow, of spring snow, of dusk snow, of impending snow, and of snow after clearing. What was falling now was the first spring snow of the new year. Alin leaned against the carved wooden lattice window, her fingertips lightly touching the frost flowers congealed on the pane. A thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the branches of the old plum tree in the courtyard. Amidst the drifting, faint fragrance, a few petals wrapped in snow granules fell in a rustle. She suddenly remembered last year's dusk snow season, when he stood under the plum tree holding an umbrella, his dark cloak covered in falling snow-feathers, yet he was three parts more dazzling than the newly blooming flowers on the branches.