"Oh," Anwei moved her hands in little spirals beside her face, as though winding her braids around them, "I had practice, endless practice. Even though there was no way for me to put up my hair like this without help, I was still supposed to guide the people who did." Guide, order, force, punish: all those bad things.

Doing her hair up was like an exorcism of sorts: proving to herself that she could still be Living People and not harm or take advantage of others.

"When you return, you could have the chance to change everything. You'll have seen and done things that no one else ever has. What's the political system like? Perhaps you could be elected to power, and help your people change."