I could not restrain the wild frustration that was sweeping through me. "Even a few of the Kantri could easily overwhelm a Gedri town," I said urgently.

"Master Varien, I hear what your heart is saying, but Rella's right, it's a bad idea," said Will, unexpectedly. His voice was, to my ear, maddeningly calm. "I know you'd risk anything for your lady: but I had a chat with young Kedra earlier, and I don't think you want your people's first act in their new home to be one of violence."

"And don't forget that Jamie is there now," said Rella. "He'll not be sitting on his hands." She looked up. "Come, we're all here now. Let us go in and talk over food. We won't get Lanen back any the faster for starving to death."

"How can you think of food?" I cried. "Lanen—"

"Varien, you're human now, and you were rather busy earlier," she said sharply. "That body needs food. You're pale as midwinter snow. Eat before you faint." She grasped my arm and towed me into the inn.

I wanted to object, but she was right. I was ravenous. The first course that Will had brought us had barely taken the edge off my hunger, and it seemed that the others felt the same. Rella had ordered a good spread and for once we all ate our fill: there was a cold roast ham, the rest of the hot roast beef with a thick gravy, carrot and parsnip, fresh bread and dripping from the roast, and roasted apples and honeycakes. The beer was nut-brown and cold.

When I had eaten my fill I stood up. The fire was warm and the excellent food tempted me to stay longer than I must, but ever I thought of Lanen. Truth be told, I could think of nothing apart from a burning need to rush in and rescue Lanen as swifdy as I might. Alas, I had not the power of my old form, or I could have flown in and—

"And what?" interrupted the neglected part of my mind that was the voice of reason. "Slaughter innocents who got between me and Berys? Destroy buildings looking for her? Make the Kantri appear as monsters to be dreaded? Where is the wisdom in that? No. Wait. Think. Remember the Lost, five kells ago. If they had stopped to plan, they might not have been so devastated by the Demonlord."

"Varien," said a gruff voice. Maran had come to sit beside me. She was smiting. "Just so you're in no doubt, that was my daughter you married at midwinter, young—well, young as a man you certainly are." She turned away suddenly, avoiding my glance. "She looked—she was absolutely beautiful, wasn't she?"

It took a moment before I could trust myself to speak. "I had never imagined that such a creature as Lanen could exist," I said quietly, just for her ears. "Such beauty of soul, such strength of heart and limb, and a glorious fearlessness that I am learning is rare in any race. Yes, she is also beautiful, but compared to the truth of her soul, I think her beauty is not important." Maran still looked away. "She is a wonder, your daughter Lanen," I said.

Maran did not answer straightaway, but when she did, she managed to look into my eyes. "I'm glad you know it, Varien. She is indeed." She looked away again, and spoke as quietly as I had. "And in case you wanted to know, I wish with all my soul that I had never left her. I have wished that every day and every night since I went away. I thought... my soul to the Lady, Varien, I thought I was saving her life by drawing danger to myself."

"I hear the truth in your words, Lady Maran," I said softly. "But I am not the one you need to speak them to."

To my surprise she looked back at me and smiled wryly. "I know. I thought I'd try a practice run before it's time for the real thing."

Suddenly I liked her, this woman so like my beloved in spirit and in form. I drew her to me and kissed her cheek. "Do not fear it, daughter. She has a large heart. It will take time, as it will take the Restored time to adjust to a world forever changed. Trust her. I know she takes pride in you, for she calls herself Lanen Marans-datter."

"Does she now?" she said, her eyes strangely vulnerable, a little half smile passing across her lips. "Well, well. There's hope in that, certain sure."

I was about to respond when I had the strangest feeling in my gut. I wondered briefly if I had eaten too much too quickly, but it was not that kind of feeling—more an urgency. It pulled me to my feet. I had gathered my cloak and my pack and was nearly to the door before I had a coherent thought.

"Whither away, Master Varien?' called Rella.

"I can wait no longer," I said, desperate to be gone. "I have played my part; I have welcomed the Kantri, I have helped to restore the Lost. What is there now to keep me here, when Lanen is so near?' None spoke. "I go to Verfaren," I said. "Let any who wish to join me follow after."

I strode out into the dark night, down the road to the south, where my dearest love was held by one who wished her nothing but ill.

I did not waste those two days of early spring walking down from the Sulkith HiEs. I spoke at great length with Willem of Rowanbeck, who had lived and worked at the College of Mages for many years. I teased from his memory every corridor of the place, every room, every turn, every scrap of information I could glean, like a greedy harvester picking through the chaff lest a single grain of wheat be lost. When he could recall no more I turned to the young Healers, Vilkas and Aral. They reinforced the map I had built in my head and added a few details that might serve me. Serve Lanen.

It kept my mind off the ache in my knees, and the chill in my bones, and the deep winter in my heart.

For all I knew, the exercise might have been in vain, for we knew not where Berys held her captive; but if there was the slightest chance that I might need to know how to move through that place this was my best chance to learn.

And it kept me from running mad with inaction as we hurried to the plain to meet the other dragons.

I did not wait. I saw them arrive from a distance: aye, I was there when the dragons came. A part of me knew I was watching the world change, and in truth it was a goodly sight, but I could not feel it as Varien and the others did.

I could hardly feel anything.

I swiftly bade farewell to my comrades and took the fittest of our horses, all of whom were complaining.

Rella took my arm as I made to mount. "You insist on this still, do you?" Her voice was calm, but her eyes were troubled in the bright morning.

"I will not stay while there is the smallest chance I can find her," I replied. My own voice surprised me. When had it gone so cold?

"Then keep to our plan. We will meet outside die gates of the College at the morrows dawn."

"Or I will leave word with your friend—Hygel, was it? Your contact at that inn?'

She managed a small smile. "The Brewer's Arms. Try the baker's stall at the mercat square if you get there early and can't find him, he'll be the one buying bread by the basket load. Otherwise, take your midday meal at The Brewer's Arms, but mind you look sharp or you'll miss him. He's very, very good at not being noticed." She frowned then and gripped my arm tight. "Mind you do the same. Berys is a bastard, but he's no fool. Don't make us have to rescue you."

One tiny corner of my mouth lifted, almost against my will. "I may be getting a little old, Rella my dear, but I'm not so far gone yet." I laid my hand on her cheek for a moment, then mounted my poor horse despite its objections. "If you can manage it, why don't you bring a dragon or two when you come, eh?"

Her brows lifted. "What a fine idea. Only two?"

"I shouldn't think any more would fit," I said. I tried, I did, to lighten my voice, to respond to her, but there was no lightness in me. "Be well, heart," I said, and turning away from the gleaming dragons in that great field, headed southward. Towards Verfaren.