Page 244 (1/2)

He left Laren an had been, potentially, pregnant A curious thing that, since fenant Oh, they could after their brooches abandoned them, and they went on with their lives in the outside world And soer service, though it was rare But never while they were Riders The belief that had coenerations was that after the tiic had been instilled in the brooches to prevent pregnancy as a practicality

Had Karigan been in a tiic?

She would not know until Karigan told her tale, but she had no doubt it would include heartbreak, and that this "Cade" had played a crucial part

• • •

Morning light woke Laren again She yawned and stretched ht spent in a chair She realized with a start that Karigan was no longer beneath the ru through the frosty panes, her breaths fogging the glass

"Karigan?" Laren rose, took a step forward

Without turning, her Rider said, "How can it be winter? It was just summer"

Before Laren could speak, the door opened, and Vanlynn entered "Good e over her eye once again taking Laren aback Of course, Karigan would not know Vanlynn "This is Master Mender Vanlynn," Laren said, "who has taken over for Destarion"

"We have already met," Vanlynn said, "while you slept in your chair, Captain It did not seem necessary to wake you"

"Not necessary?" Laren demanded

"No Your Rider has had a cup of broth, and now I’d like to examine her"

"But--"

"Please, Captain, if you would step outside I will report to you when I’m done"

Laren obeyed Vanlynn was a bulwark of a mender and would not be counter It did not make Laren any less irritated

Her irritation was soht tea and biscuits to the waiting alcove Neither Fastion nor Donal re or had returned to their scheduled duties Her Riders remained absent, as she requested There was little to tell them anyway Ben was nowhere to be seen, and she wondered if he was still with Estora, and how Estora fared as well as the child she carried There were no Eletians in sight Perhaps Fastion and Donal had escorted thean’s chamber, the master ht for her, too, and Laren noticed for the first time how tired thethe master could not be an easy duty for one of her years