She shook her head. “What do you mean, the field?”
“I know how he felt about you, Eddis. We both did. I stilldo. I know it’s hardly the time to talk about it. But, if you’ll listen to mefor a little, an idea I had… Well, maybe we’ll have the time, later. Todecide, anyway.”
He folded his arms, leaned against the wall.
“I’m done with the road and guarding caravans. Too manymemories in that, and the gods know I don’t need the coin. I can’t go back toour home village. I’d be stifled in a fortnight. And you?”
He let the question hang. She shrugged.
“M’Baddah’s restless,” she said after a moment. “Wonderingwhat’s happened to his homeland, thinking that if things are still bad for hispeople, he might be able to help shift the balance. M’Whan will go with hisfather, of course. And Flerys-”
“I thought the child was staying with you.”
She smiled faintly. “She sleeps here. Finally understandspropriety, at least in a place like the Keep. But no, she’s bonded withM’Baddah, and he’s very fond of her. I’m… I’m glad for the child. She’ll behappy with him, and safe, I think.”
Silence, but a comfortable one. Eddis looked up to see Blorys watching her, his eyes warm. “You said you had a plan?”
He blinked. “Oh-oh, that. Yes. Panev is readying to journeyon east, and he’s looking for an escort. I know,” he added with a small laugh asshe shook her head. “No more guarding, I said, and I mean it. But this would beone way only, and for my own purposes. You know that the realm used to trade with the lands to the east.”
“Of course. Trading silks and other rare fabrics. It alwayssounded to me like the kind of fable that grows up when the truth has been lost.”
“Sounds it, but I spoke with Ferec yesterday. The old recordsfrom Macsen’s days show that silk and emeralds were traded here, and finepottery. Maybe those people have fallen on hard times as well. If we went there, we’d know, wouldn’t we?”
Silence.
“Think of it. Not the wealth, we both have plenty of that.But new lands, new faces. Maybe a chance to begin trade for the Keep once again, now that the road’s fairly clear.”
He stood, gripped her shoulder gently. “I need to go see tothe horses. Decide whether to sell Jerdren’s gelding or keep him as a packanimal.”
Silence.
“I won’t press you for an answer now, Eddis. Think about it,though. Please?”
She nodded.
“Don’t rush it. We have time.” He hesitated a brief moment,then turned and left.
Eddis gazed down at her hands. The room felt empty without him. Time. Jerdren thought he had all the time there was-until it was too late.She jumped to her feet, leaned out the doorway. Blor was already out of sight, then she saw him striding toward the smithy’s.
“Blorys! Blor!” Her voice echoed, and he turned around as sheran toward him. “I… you don’t need to wait. It’s all right.” The rest ofthe words wouldn’t come.
He took her hand in both his. “You’ll come with me? Friends?I won’t ask more.”
“No,” she said. “I know what I want.” Her face felt flushed.“Besides, you’re good at guarding my side.”
He smiled and leaned forward to kiss her. “Four horses,then,” he said. “Unless you think we can manage with one packhorse between us.”
She smiled back. “Four. Just make sure that you don’t get meone named Feather!”
She turned and ran back to her room, her heart suddenly much lighter. East might be an error, or guarding that grim priest once again might be. It might be a serious mistake getting anywhere near those caves again, however briefly. But they’d come through all right. The two of them. Whereverthey finally chose to go.
