Page 133 (1/1)

"You should be resting," Sowe said timidly and he nodded his surrender and hobbled back to a floor pallet where she helped hiratefully took the tureen of soup from Pasqua, who clenched back her tears and stared at her injured girl with all the protective looks of a mother

Dawn ca Colvin had waited vigil all night long and they spoke softly to each other, talking of their lives, sharing little stories that they had not told each other before Sowe and Bryn were asleep in the loft above Edmon lay still on a pallet near the bread oven Pasqua entered quietly before the first cock crowed and stoked the fire in the hearth, pinched soht another bowl to Lia She set soathered soe of Lia’s bed still, studying her face, his expression unreadable "When we returned to Muirwood, I had been looking for a gift or reward for Sowe for her help when I was injured I think I knohat to give her now"

Lia smiled, pleased that he remembered "What then?"

"You saw the way they look at each other Edirl I cannot blame him He told me yesterday he plans to stay at Muirwood and pass the one, I would like you to tell her that I plan to adopt her as my sister The sae portion to bring With all her years serving at the Aldermaston’s table, I think she would come to understand her new station Would you present my offer to Sowe?"

Lia’s throat constricted with joy and she nodded, blinking back tears "That is generous, Colvin"

"She is your friend I do this regardless of Edes his mind, which I do not expect that he will, she will still have rank and position She is a good girl and I admire her So does Ciana"

A knock came to the kitchen door and Pen-Ilyn entered, but held it wide to admit Ellowyn and an older man The last time Lia had seen him, it had been on the battlefield of Winterrowd, blood-spattered and leaning wearily against a wagon as he spoke to the survivors She could hardly tell his face through the gri burned inside her heart seeing hi It made her eyes brier, with a boyish face – cleanshaven, like Colvin’s – and a ray He wore a chain hauberk and splotched tunic with all the corace of an experienced soldier and had hison the poers itched to snake out and snare his, to keep hi but it still hurt

"Are you ready, my lord of Forshee?" Deh Iwith you If you leave now you will reach Bridgestow before dark There are many ships that anchor there bound for Dahomey You can make it to the island Abbey by the time we arrive in Comoros with the prisoners, I should think Dochte Abbey is on the northern coast if you recall It will only take you and Ellowyn a few days under sail if the weather is fine, I aave her a mournful look, his eyes dark and sad He stood slowly, as if soave her one final look and then started towards the doorway "I a in the loft above and Sowe and Bryn hurried down the ladder Ed his wounded side Pasqua stuffed the food in a new rucksack and handed it to Colvin at the door

"Be you safe," she said gruffly "Come back to us when your duty is finished"

Lia ached She felt the tears sting her eyes as she saw her friends s Who would protect hiuide hi in Muirithout him No more walks in the Cider Orchard Not to see hiaze turned back to look at her, his jaw clenched with visible pain

Ed in Sowe’s ear and she nodded, wiping tears fro Pasqua by the arm and she and Bryn pulled her outside the kitchen into the fresh an to shine Ed to De Colvin alone on the threshold Edlanced back and shut the door after himself