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ON HER EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY there was a banquet for the first sol, despite all she could do to prevent it Galanna shot her glances like poisoned arrows and clung curiously near Tor’s side for someone else’s wife of so few seasons Perlith ht tenor that always sounded kind, whatever heher father toasted her, and the faces around the tables in the great hall glittered with s of teeth

Tor watched her: she earing a golden tunic over a long red skirt; the tunic had embroidered floound round its he down the full sleeves; she wore the sa Her flaolden circlet was set upon it, and over her forehead three golden birds held green stones in their beaks He saw her wince away from the courtiers’ smiles, and he shook Galanna’s hand froer even pretended to smile

Aerin did not notice this, for she never looked at Galanna if she could help it, and if Galanna were near Tor she didn’t look at Tor either But Arlbeth noticed He knehat it was that he saw, for better or for worse, and it was not often that he did not knoas best done about the things he saw; but in this case he did not know What he read in Tor’s face tore at his heart, for it would be his heart’s fondest wish that these two hter of his second wife, and he feared their mistrust, and he had reason to fear it Aerin felt her father’s arm around her shoulders, and turned to smile up at him

After the banquet she went to sit in herseat, staring into the dark courtyard; the torches around its perireat pools of shadow near the castle walls Her bedroom was dark as well, and Teka had not yet coood clothes up as she should instead of leaving theht knock on the door She turned and said, "Coht about it, she would have been silent and let the visitor leave without finding her She wished to be alone after the hall full of food and talk and bright smiles

It was Tor She could see hiht froh to see clearly But he blinked and looked around, for her figure was only a part of the heavy curtains that hung around the deepalcove She stirred, and he saw the flicker of her red skirt

"Why do you sit in the dark?"

"There was too ht"

Tor was silent After a hed, and reached for a candle and flint It seemed to Tor that the shadows it cast upon her face randchildren, for all her brilliant hair Then she set the candle on a sain

She saw that he carried so, wrapped in dark cloth "I have brought you your birthday present - privately, as I thought you , he thought

She knew at once what it was: a sword She watched with rising excite, caerly, and slid it out of its scabbard It was plain but for soht and true and perfect in her hand, and her hand trembled with the pride of it

"Thank you," she said, her eyes still fixed on the sword, so she did not see the look of hope and pity on Tor’s face as he watched her

"At dawn you shall try it out," said Tor, and the tone of his voice shook her out of her reverie, and she raised her eyes to his "I will meet you at our usual place," he said, and tried to speak as if this were a lesson like any other lesson; and if he failed, Aerin still did not guess why he failed

"This is ever so htly, and was pleased to see hiown"

"If it had been less beautiful, I would not have disliked it soto keep own forever"

"And a lot of good it did us, despite the fact that you could not stand on your feet without either fainting or falling over"

"It was concentrating on my lessons with you that finally sweated the last of the surka out of ently under his nose

"I almost believe you," he replied sadly