"Hanal doesn't wish to—"

"Dear God in heaven," Tess exploded. "I don't care what he wishes! She is going to bury her son tomorrow, and she needs him. Do I have to go in and get him myself?"

He stared at her impassively for a moment before turning and moving toward the closed flap of the tent. "No, that's not necessary. I will go in and find him and make sure he goes to her."

"You will?"

"Why do you look so surprised? How could a savage like me withstand the wisdom of a woman of the West?"

She ignored his mocking words. "Why are you doing this?"

Kalim glanced over his shoulder. "Because you're right," he said simply. "Hanal has no right to indulge his own grief and rage for vengeance and give no comfort to his loved ones."

Kalim was clearly very effective when he chose to act. A few moments later she watched a grim Kalim hustle a surly-faced young man from the council tent and half-push, half-lead him down the street toward Dala's tent.

"What's amiss?"

She turned to see Galen.

"Why did Kalim come for Hanal?"

"Because I told him I'd go in and get him if he didn't," Tess said. "Dala needed him."

He frowned. "How is she?"

"A little better, I think. I treated her like a horse, and it seemed to work, but—"

He blinked. "A horse?"

"You know, I kept her walking."

For an instant the tension and weariness in his expression lightened as a smile tugged at his lips. "Very wise."

"I don't know about the wisdom of it. But it was all I could think to do."

"Instincts are usually correct in situations like this."

"Are they?" She shook her head. "I wouldn't know. I've never been in a situation like this." She added quickly, "But I'm doing very well, you understand. I just realized Hanal could help Dala more than I could now. You didn't have to leave the council."

"You're doing splendidly," he said gently. "As for the council, I left them to their quarreling." His voice was heavy with weariness. "I'll go back later." He took her elbow and propelled her toward the camp the El Zalan had set up at the far end of the El Sabir encampment. "It's much worse than I thought here. I'll order food to be prepared and then send you back to Zalandan with Kalim."

"Said's already prepared a meal." She shook her head. "And I'm not going back. I promised Dala I'd be here to bid farewell to her son." Her glance traveled around the burned tents of the encampment. "And God knows there's work enough to be done."

"Your work?"

"I'm here. Why should I not make myself useful? We'll have to send back to Zalandan for food and supplies, and I'll have to visit each family and determine what and how much is needed." She shrugged. "Besides, I believe it would be beneficial for Dala to keep stirring after the funeral tomorrow, and I cannot count on her husband to keep her too busy. I believe if I show her I depend on her to help me, she'll heal faster."

"You have it all planned." Galen's gaze was on her face. "This isn't your problem. You needn't involve yourself in it."

"They need me."

Galen nodded. "Yes, they need all the help you can give them."

"Then let us speak no more about it. I'll stay until you return to Zalandan. Do you think you'll be able to persuade them not to go after Tamar?"

"If I have the eloquence of Lucifer and the patience of Job."

"They've lost a great deal."

"And will lose more if they start after Tamar. He's a raider, skilled in the battle and the chase."

She offered tentatively, "You could help them."

"Yes." He paused. "But I won't. The bloodletting has to stop." He released her arm as they reached the camp. "There has to be another way." His lips tightened. "Damn Tamar!"

She had been a witness to this pain and violence for only a single day, and yet she felt wounded and scarred. How much worse it must have been for Galen, who had grown up in the midst of this slaughter and bloodshed. "What will you do now?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. Go back and argue with them, I suppose." He reached out and traced the dark imprints beneath her eyes. "It's not been an easy day for you."

"Easier for me than for the El Sabir." And she was not sorry she had come. These sad hours had enriched and deepened her in some mysterious fashion. She felt as if she had started down a path that never could be retraced. "Easier for me than for you."

That truth was also clear to her. The tragic sights with which she had been assaulted had temporarily blinded her to Galen's agony of spirit, but now she became acutely conscious of it.

"He's stronger than the rest of us."

But what price did he pay for disciplined strength?

"Don't go back tonight,” she urged impulsively. "You're too weary. Wait until tomorrow."

"I'm touched by your concern."

She grimaced. "But you won't change your mind."

His expression softened miraculously, but he shook his head. "Tempers are too hot. I have to calm them." He glanced back at the council tent. "I should be there right now."

"Nonsense. You can wait at least until you eat. Sit down." She pushed him down on a log near the campfire and moved toward the large pot simmering over the blaze. "I'll get you a bowl of stew and a cup of tea."

"I have no time to—"

"Of course you do." She frowned sternly at him over her shoulder. "Rest."

A flicker of amusement that held an element of tenderness crossed his face. "As you command, Majira."

It was nearly dawn when Tess roused to find Galen slipping under the blanket beside her, drawing her back against him spoon fashion.

"Did all go well?" she asked drowsily.

"No." He stretched out his long legs and buried his face in her hair. "Go back to sleep."

"Don't be absurd." She yawned and turned on her side to face him. "If you wanted me to sleep, you should have lied to me. They're going after Tamar?"

"They've agreed to wait for three months. If I haven't brought Tamar before a tribunal in that time, they'll launch a foray against his encampment."

"What kind of tribunal?"

He paused. "A tribunal of the United Tribes of Sedikhan."

Her eyes widened. "In three months? You said it might take years."

Galen's lips twisted sardonically. "That's why they felt it safe to compromise. They'll appease me and still have their bloodbath."

"What are you going to do?"

"What can I do?" His face lit with a sudden reckless smile. "I'm going to unite the whole damn country in three months."

She stared at him in fascination, held captive by the forceful magnetism he was emitting. "You're not discouraged?"

"How could I be discouraged? The situation is beyond ridiculous; it's completely impossible."

And he was responding to a challenge with an excitement and exhilaration she had never seen in him. It was because his waiting had at last ended, she suddenly realized. No matter how slim the chances of success, he was now free to act. "You're going to tilt at windmills?"

He shook his head. "I'm going to talk them into stopping their whirling."