I’m going to do something special over here — Spoiler Sunday!  Here’s a spoiler from the Sural’s backstory:

“What are you
going to do?” Storaas asked.

“Show the ruling
caste who leads them.”

He took the basket
of hand-sized flowers and headed for the transport pod.

He returned
three days later in high good spirits, laughing to himself in adolescent
cockiness.  He sobered when he reentered
the stronghold.  The atmosphere was thick
with grief.  Storaas confronted him in
the keep’s main corridor, oozing anguish. 
He laid a hand on the proctor’s shoulder, then drew him into a hug.  Storaas wept, grateful to see his dead Suralia’s
grandson still alive.

 “They will not dispute my rule now,” he said quietly,
when Storaas had calmed himself.

“What did you
do?” Storaas asked hoarsely.

“I went to the
strongholds of each of the Suralia’s – of my
enemies and laid a tea flower by their heads as they slept.  On each tea flower I had written the word,
‘Suralia.’  Even when they knew I was
coming, they could do nothing to stop me.”

Storaas nodded,
his eyes bleak.  “They will not fail to
understand your message,” he said in a tone as bleak as his eyes.