Radical 十

2 strokes

This character means “ten” (just as an X in roman numerals means “ten”), but also represents a cross shape, such as a crossroads. Just as a unicorn substitutes for “one” in the stories, we will use a cross or crossroads as a substitute for “ten”.

The soundword is the fairy’s “cheroot” so the pronunciation is shí. (Not ché— it is the sound of the soundword, not its english spelling, that is important). There is more about the soundword system in the appendix.

This character exemplifies another rule for writing characters: when two lines cross, a horizontal line is drawn before a vertical one.

/ At the fairground, in one game you have to roll a wheel and knock down ten skittles laid out in the shape of a cross. The fairy, confident of not having to pay out, sits smoking a cheroot.