She smiled, then let out a small laugh. "That's amazing. I hope I get a chance to meet these Mettai you're traveling with. I think I'd like them."
"I'm sure you would."
They sat in silence for several moments.
"You've heard there's war coming," she said at last.
Grinsa nodded. "We heard yesterday. I think that's why Torgan did what he did. He'd been carrying that piece of basket for a long time."
"So you're coming back?"
He smiled. "Yes. We're still half a turn away, maybe more. But we've already started heading south."
Suddenly there were tears in her eyes. "I've missed you so much."
He wiped a tear from her cheek, concern etched in his face. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, we're fine. I'll just be glad to have you back."
"That makes two of us."
"Three, really," she said smiling, despite her tears. "Bryntelle misses you, too."
He grinned, then kissed her.
"I should sleep," he said. "We'll ride later today, but we've had a long night."
"Of course. I love you."
"And I love you."
She felt that he was about to leave her dream, and she said his name, stopping him, though she wasn't certain what she wanted to say.
He gazed back at her, a question in his eyes. After a moment, though, he seemed to understand. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips.
"We'll be careful," he said.
The next moment she was awake, blinking in the pale grey light of early morning. She stretched, looked over at Bryntelle, who was still asleep on her small pallet.
Cresenne sat up and watched the child sleep for several moments. Then she took hold of her power and touched the child with healing magic. Bryntelle stirred, her eyes fluttering open briefly. Then, with a soft sigh, she settled back into her slumber.
"There you go, love," Cresenne whispered. "That's a gift from your father."
Characters
Qalsyn (an Eandi city in Stelpana)
JENOE ONJAEF, a marshal in the lord governor's army
ZIRA ONJAEF, Jenoe's wife
TIRNYA ONJAEF, Jenoe and Zira's daughter, a captain in the lord governor's army
MAISAAK TOLM, lord governor of Qalsyn
RIYETTE TOLM, Maisaak's wife
ENLY TOLM, Maisaak and Riyette's son, lord heir of Qalsyn and a captain in the lord governor's army
STRI BALKETT, a captain in the lord governor's army
OLIBAN HERT, a lead rider in Tirnya's company
QAGAN FAWLER, a lead rider in Tirnya's company
DYN GRATHIDAR, a lead rider in Tirnya's company
CROW, a lead rider in Tirnya's company
BESH, an old Mettai man, a member of the village's Council of Elders LICALDI, also Lici, an old Mettai woman
BRINT HEDFARREN, an Eandi merchant from Tordjanne, also known as Young Red
LARIQENNE GLYSE, an Eandi merchant from Stelpana, also known as Lark TEGG LONSHER, an Eandi merchant
ANTAL KROST, an Eandi merchant
R'SHEV, a Qirsi merchant on the plains of Stelpana
EMA, Besh's wife, now deceased ELICA, his daughter
SIR), Elica's husband
MINAS, Sirj and Elica's elder son ANNZE, Sirj and Elica's daughter CAM, Sirj and Elica's younger son
PYAV, a blacksmith, head of the Council of Elders, addressed as "Eldest" SYLPA, Lici's foster mother, now deceased
On the Plain of the Fal'Borna
GRINSA JAL ARRIET, a Weaver from the Forelands
CRESENNE JA TERBA, Grinsa's wife
BRYNTELLE JA GRINSA, Grinsa and Cresenne's daughter
E'MENUA, a'laq of a Fal'Borna sept in the Central Plain
D'PERA, n'qlae of E'Menua's sept and E'Menua's wife
U'VARA, E'Menua and D'Pera's eldest daughter
Q'DAER, a Weaver in E'Menua's sept
L'NoRR, a Weaver in E'Menua's sept
T'LISHA, a girl in E'Menua's sept, L'Norr's concubine
F'SOLYA, a Fal'Borna woman
I'JOLED, F'Solya's husband
F'GHARA, a'laq of a small Fal'Borna sept in the Central Plain S'PLAED, a'laq of a Fal'Borna sept in the northern plain, now deceased
P'CRATH, a'laq of S'Vralna
Z'FENI, n'qlae of S'Vralna, P'Crath's wife B'ASYA, daughter of Z'Feni and P'Crath
The Merchants
TORGAN PLYE, an Eandi merchant from Tordjanne JASHA ZIFFEL, an Eandi merchant
KENITHA, a Mettai woman, eldest of Shaldir
FAYONNE, a Mettai woman, eldest of Lifarsa
Lowna (a Fal'Borna village on the Companion Lakes)
S'DORYN, a Qirsi man
N'Tevva, S'Doryn's wife
T'NOTH, a Qirsi man, friend of S'Doryn and N'Tevva T'KAAR, a Qirsi man, brother of T'Noth
A'VINYA, T'Kaar's wife
U'SELLE, a'laq (leader) of the village
JYNNA, an Y'Qatt girl
VETTALA, a young Y'Qatt girl
ETAN, a young Y'Qatt boy