Maran smiled, and only the slightest shadow darkened her eyes.

As to that," put in Akor from the window, "I am to tell you that Kedra offers to fly you as far as Elimar. He returns to his family tomorrow. He has asked me to say that he would be honoured to bear with him any who wish to journey so far."

"Oh, excellent Kedra!" cried Rella, and Jamie went so far as to stand and bow to Akor. "We accept with deep and abiding gratitude, Lord Akor. Kedra is very kind."

I turned to the Healers. "And what of you, O Dragon Mages?" I asked, teasing. Vilkas winced and Aral laughed. "I don't think our services will be needed here for a time," said Aral. "I was going to go home for a bit. Benin's a fair step, but I haven't seen my family for nearly three years."

"Mistress Aral, might I have a word with you?' said Salera. Aral, taken by surprise, rose and joined her in a quiet corner of the room. They appeared to be discussing something quite solemn that was obviously important to Salera.

Vilkas returned my gaze evenly. "I think that where I go will depend greatly on where you go, Lanen Kaelar." He nodded at my belly; I was now growing more obviously pregnant, practically by the day. "I suspect that all will be well for some time yet, but if you can bear my company I would rather be nearby. Especially in the last two months," he added wryly, "lest I outstay my welcome before." He pinned me with that brilliant blue gaze, smiling for a change, and for the first time I had a glimpse of what Aral saw in him. I suppose he was rather good-looking, at that.

"I think Aral's idea is the best, for me," I said, turning to Maran. "Time to go home."

She nodded, resigned. "I suppose you'll want to be in Hadronsstead, somewhere familiar, now that—"

"No, no, I didn't mean that," I said hurriedly. "Not at all." I barked a short laugh. "Jamie, you know I love you like a father, but I cannot bear the walls of Hadronsstead. Maran, I know I haven't asked, and Goddess knows there will be quite some train of us if you'll have us, but—Mother, I would very much like to go back with you to Beskin." I grinned. "I expect I'll be tied down for some time over the next few years, and I've never seen the Trollingwood. Jamie tells me it's quite something."

Why it should have given me so much pleasure to see joy in Maran's face, I don't know. We still hardly knew each other, though surviving the death of the Demonlord had brought us sharply together. Perhaps now we would have the chance to put right what had gone wrong. Given enough time.

"What say you, Maran?" asked Akor gently. "Is there room in Beskin for a dragon? Can you take us both, and Mage Vilkas, and put up with two squaUing babes when the time comes?" He hissed a little. 'Though perhaps your home is too small for two babes and Lanen ... ?"

Maran laughed. "It held me and all my brothers and sisters, it can surely hold my daughter and her family. Oh, come and welcome!" she said, taking me in her arms briefly. "Though you, dragon, are almost certainly going to be a problem."

"Hmmm," said Vilkas calmly. "I appear to be going to Beskin, near the Trollingwood." He grinned. "I always wanted to travel."

The moment I was near enough to hear her quiet voice, Salera spoke.

"Mistress Aral, I have said no word, but the time is come. What is in your heart for my father Will?"

"I beg your pardon?" I asked, taken aback.

She gazed at me. "My speech is much better than it was, I am certain that you can understand me."

I was going to feign surprise, but I could not, not in the face of that open soul. "I don't know, Salera," I replied honestly. "I can only guess at what he feels, and I don't like guessing. He has never said a single word to me about his own heart."

"Father," said Salera. Her voice was not loud, but he heard and wandered over. I tried to read him as he approached, but he was just Will, just there, big and calm and golden-haired, a good friend.

Goddess save us all, Salera really didn't know about human delicacy, for she greeted him with, "My father, why have you not spoken to Mistress Aral of what is in your heart?" Will spluttered. She ignored him and went on, "I know the depth of your feelings for her, but how can you expect to win her if you say nothing?" She turned back to me, leaving Will blushing furiously, and said in a conspiratorial tone, "It appears to be a male trait. My own suitor has waited a full year before speaking."

"A suitor?" said Will, amazed. "But—you've only been awake such a short time.. " His voice faded as he realised the obvious.

"I was awake before, my father, and I remember Tchaeros well. Now that we have speech, he is more courtly"—and she hissed a little with amusement—"but it has taken him a very long time to ask me to join with him."

"Do you love him?" asked Will, frowning like any father at being informed so of a daughter's lover.

"1 do, my father," said Salera, her wings fluttering. I could only guess that it was with pleasure. "I agreed to join with him this morning as the sun brightened. We will celebrate our—betrothal, is it called?—this very night, and I would that you might be there." She turned back to me. "I would see you there as well, Mistress Aral, if your heart allows."

She brushed past Will as she left, and I heard her whisper, "Speak your heart, Father. She is wise. She will hear."

"Aral, I—drat that child, she doesn't understand—"

I put my hand on his arm. He froze.

"I think she understands rather better than you or I," I said quietly. I was suddenly shy, but I managed to mutter, "Will, please—I—please, just speak truth to me. Is Salera right?"

He took my hand from his arm. "Aral, I'm a good few years older than you," he began.

"Not that much," I said, smiling. "Look at Varien and Lanen!"

He grinned back. "Right enough, I suppose. I—I've never said word these last two years, Aral, because I know fine how you feel about Vilkas."

I nodded. "I know how I feel about him too. Go on." I felt one corner of my mouth go up. "You haven't actually said anything yet."

I practically felt him crack. He stepped closer to me as if he would have swept me into his arms that very moment; I could see him tremble with the effort of not doing so, and I was suddenly very aware of him as a man rather than as a friend.

And there he stood, this tall, handsome man, not daring to touch me, but telling me all his heart, speaking such words of love to me as I had only ever dreamed of.

I had dreamed of hearing them from Vilkas, of course, though my rational mind had realised that would never happen. No, he was not Vilkas, tormented, wildly powerful, terrified of life and of love. He was Will. Strong, calm, reliable, capable Will, who had loved me for two solid years now and said nothing until this moment because he knew I cared for another.

I never meant to do it, but in moments of high emotion I seem to call my corona to me without thinking. I swear, I could see his love, flowing between us strong as a river from a high mountain, and still he did not touch me.

"I knew the time would come when you'd bring Vilkas to the point," he said, finally, when all else was said. "I feared it might happen when you were far from me, and I couldn't bear that. I let myself be carried by those great beasts because I would not abandon you when you needed me." He stopped and let himself smile. "Though I won't pretend it was for your sake alone. I damn well intended to be there to catch you."

"And so you did," I replied. I would never forget his arms holding me up when Vilkas cast me from him. Vil and I had come to a working truce, but in that awful moment it was Will who had held me close and supported me until I could stand again.