*And did you a are you a'

*There, there,' he said, stroking her hair and kissing her forehead. *I'm the same old Rostigan you've always known.'

Hand in hand, Yalenna and Jandryn returned to the Pass, watched with interest by Loppolo, who waited with his officers.

*Priestess!' he called.

*Give me a moment with him,' she muttered to Jandryn, as she disengaged. *A word, my king?'

*The Wound is sealed?' he asked eagerly. *The threat is past?'

*Yes, Loppolo.'

She folded her arms, wondering if the time would ever come to forgive this man. Then again, perhaps forgiveness wasn't necessary. Did either of them really need it? Perhaps she would simply try not to think about him very much from now on.

*You should know,' she went on, *that I am no longer a Warden. At least, not in the sense that you understand. There are, in fact, no Wardens left.'

*But what of Forger? Is he not in Ander? Must we not go and defeat him?'

*Forger's magic is undone. He will trouble the world no more.'

*And Karrak? Were those his crows? We still have not a'

*That is all I have to say about that, oh king. You need not do anything but believe it.'

Loppolo stroked his chin, but the idea seemed to appeal to him. *Well,' he said, *that is excellent news. And so, er, youa you are no longer a'

*I am no longer a threat to your rule,' she finished. *If that is what you're getting at.'

He frowned at that * not quite the display of jubilance she had expected.

*But a well a' He shot her a funny look. *You are still a powerful threader though?'

*I am.'

*So,' he lowered his voice, *I had better remain a good king, even without anyone pulling my strings, as it were.'

Maybe he did want forgiveness, after all.

*I hope so, indeed,' she said. *Chances are that I'll be in Althala for a time.' She nodded towards Jandryn and the king understood. *So, I will be watching.'

Loppolo drew himself up straight. *You won't have to. Which is not to say you aren't welcome to. But I will try not to give you any further cause to a intervene.'

She gave him a tight little smile. *Good.'

*And maybe,' he said, *you will finally allow me to throw a celebratory feast?'

The keen look in his eyes softened her just a little.

Why not?

*I look forward to it,' she said.

PARTING WAYS.

A couple of days later, a small band left behind the yellow grasses of the Field to move into greener land. They travelled among others, for plenty who had harkened to Braston's call from further afield had decided it was time to return to their homes. Only the original Althalan forces stayed on in the Dale, to ensure that Regret's creations were truly finished * and with special instruction that any Unwoven able to be captured instead of killed, were to be taken up the Spire. So far, however, none had been found.

Jandryn remained with his guards, but Yalenna was confident she would see him again soon. In the meantime, it seemed right for the Wardens to take this final short journey together, after all they had been through.

The first town they came to was a bright little place, full of happiness and rejoicing. Somehow they managed to find a tavern with enough space for them all and, after dumping their packs in their rooms, secured themselves a table in the corner of the bar. Drinks flowed and food piled up, and Yalenna experienced a lightness of heart that seemed entirely foreign, and yet, so welcome.

Sitting beside her, Mergan upended the last dregs of his mug and set it heavily on the table. Opposite, Rostigan gave him an exaggeratedly rueful look, and pushed over a newly brimming jug.

*Still got your appetite, I see,' said Yalenna, nudging her old teacher.

He looked a little troubled by that, and ceased reaching for the jug. *It seems a bottomless pit,' he said. *Be assured I will not let it run away with me again. Although a if you did happen to have any more of that curltooth a'

*I got it from Tarzi,' Yalenna said, nodding at the minstrel who was charging around between tables playing her lute as hard as she could while others egged her on. *You'll have to ask her.'

*Ah. Well, maybe I shall. She might be kind to an old man, eh? I don't want much, just a pinch * enough to stir into a jar of jam.'

He gave an uncertain chuckle, and she patted his hand. *It's all right to enjoy yourself.'

Mergan smiled sadly. *Perhaps.'

A thought struck her, though she did not like it. *You aren't a that is to say, did you ever have your moment? Maybe it even affects you now?'

*Nay, my dear, I do not think so.' He lowered his voice. *I don't need some odious deliverance from beyond the grave to look back upon the sweep of things gone wrong and judge myself deficient. The fact is, I may already have had my moment a hundred times over in the tomb, but how would I differentiate it from what I really felt, or feel now? For so long I have dreamed of how things might have been a such a curse would lack distinction to make it recognisable.'

Strangely, Yalenna found herself vaguely annoyed. *Here,' she said, filling up his mug. *You're too old to mope about it for the rest of your life.'

*Perhaps you're right. But give me another day or two, at least.'

In Mergan she saw glimmers of his old self, unlike the most sorrowful member of the group. Hanry * his injuries attended to, wearing a patch over his eye, and now standing about the same height as Rostigan * was a fragile wreck, never far from tears. Sitting here amongst friends, at least, she had seen a few hesitant smiles cross his face.

*So,' said Mergan, patting his mouth with his sleeve, *what will you do now, my dear?'

*Head to Althala,' she replied. *Though I might wait here for Jandryn. Or perhaps I will travel slowly, take in the countryside on the way.'

*Good, good.'

*What about you?'

*Me? Hmm. Well, I suppose I'll return to Althala too. Maybe even try to trace my lineage.'

His look was somewhat haunted * Yalenna knew he had left behind children, and granddaughters, when he had been sealed up in the tomb.

*Although,' he went on, *perhaps I should take another journey first.' He raised his voice so it carried across the table. *There is hurt in Ander, I hear.'

Hanry froze, a slice of cake halfway to his mouth. Miserably, he put it down.

*Perhaps I shall visit the place,' Mergan went on. *My skills may be of use in restoring the city. And, of course, if anyone wants to come with me a'

He left the question hanging, and they all stared at Hanry. After a moment, he gave a stiff nod.

*I will accompany you.'

*Good,' said Mergan. *I will be glad of the company. I can keep an eye on your hurts as well, my boy * make sure they do not fester.'

*Thank you,' said Hanry.

*Maybe I'll come too,' said Salarkis. *Don't really know what else to do with myself, and I certainly wouldn't mind stretching my legs.'

*Yes,' said Hanry, waving the cake at him. *You'll have to get used to walking everywhere now, won't you?'

*As will we, if he's coming with us,' said Mergan dryly.

*You think you'll find any resistance in Ander?' asked Yalenna.

*The way I hear it, Galra and Sortree already march to free the city. Without a certain influence over them, I doubt the Tallahowans will prove too fearsome. I'm sure that by the time we get there, there will be little to fix but a few broken bones.'

Forger's influence gone, she thought. Have all my blessings faded too?

She sipped her ale. She did not care.

Tarzi bounced past, stopping by Rostigan to aim a string of notes at him.

*He won't dance!' she cried, forlornly casting a hand to her brow. *Oh, but he never dances with me!'

Rostigan frowned with distaste. *Skullrender,' he said, *does not dance.'

*What a fool!' declared Mergan as he rose. *May I take his place?'

*Of course!' said Tarzi, managing to offer an arm while she continued to play. *Though in return you must tell me of your battle with Lord Regret. No minstrel in three centuries has had an eyewitness account to work with!'

*Ah, I would be happy to! You see, it was a dark time, and a terrible tyrant ruled the north a so I scoured the land for the best threaders I could find, a group who would become known as the Wardens a'

She twirled him away into the crowd, and Yalenna was gladdened to see it.

*He doesn't know what he's in for,' said Rostigan.

Yalenna sighed contentedly. Sitting together, sometimes laughing, taking simple pleasures, watching Hanry eat his cake a it seemed but a taste of what was to come. For a moment she saw Braston sitting across from her in an empty chair a and beside him Despirrow reclined in his fancy robes, and they chortled away with each other like they used to do. Even Jillan was there, for a moment * the quiet, thoughtful girl she had been before earning the name Stealer. How she had loved her gardens and growing things a had even found flowers to pick on the way through the Roshous Peaks.

Yalenna raised her mug.

*To old friends,' she said.

Later that day, Yalenna ventured outside and found Rostigan smoking his pipe on the porch. He gazed off down the town's main street, which had been decorated with coloured string and bundles of blooms. People everywhere were carousing joyfully, and children ran about between their parents' legs.

*Look at that,' she said, leaning against the rail.

He smiled slightly. *Yes.'

*So, you managed to dodge a question in there.'

*Oh?'

*What will you do now?'

He pursed his lips as he restocked his pipe. *Tarzi is keen to be off,' he said. *Always itching to travel, that one, and Aorn is full of taverns waiting to hear her newly spun tales. I think she's worried that other minstrels might get ahead of her and muddy the stories to which she has borne witness.'

*I thought the tale's content did not matter? It's all in the telling.'

*Exactly,' said Rostigan. *But either way, Tarzi thinks it should be her to capture our exploits in verse. Otherwise it would be like they never even happened.'

*Well, if you ever visit Althala, be sure not to drift through like a ghost, won't you?'

*I promise.'

There was something else, though she was loathe to discuss it. Not in the face of such celebration.

*Something troubles you?' said Rostigan.

*It's just a well. I asked a couple of locals, and it seems that apples have not regained their taste.'

*I heard the same.'

*And word is that Silverstone has not returned.'

*This too, I have heard.'

She studied him carefully. *You're sure you really went up? You gave it all back?'

He gave her a hard stare as he puffed on his pipe. *I did.'

*Then why haven't Stealer's takings come back into the world?'

He shrugged. *How can we know what happens to threads reclaimed by the Spell? I'm afraid the things that Stealer took may have been sucked in with the rest. Maybe one day the Spell will spit them out again, maybe not. It may not happen until we're all long dead. After all,' he waved a hand, *it took three hundred years to bring you lot back.'

Yalenna nodded. She did not want to dwell on it. *Well,' she said, *it's a small price, I suppose, given the one we might have paid.'