Leo glared at him. "Are you really going to meet with Freath? Is he mad, Jewd?" he asked, turning to their companion.

"I think so, is the answer to both those questions."

"Kilt," Leo spluttered. "Freath is a snake. No, he's less. He's vermin. And he'll be up to something, mark my words. The man betrayed my parents. I watched him. I heard him. He laughed at both of their grisly deaths. He helped Loethar keep my brother on a leash, in a dirty shirt that carried the blood of my father. He would give you up to Loethar without a second's hesitation."

"Which is why he won't get the chance," Faris said jauntily.

"Kilt, don't. He's not someone to allow into your life. He cannot be trusted, I tell you. I'll kill him as soon as I see him."

Faris looked pained by the younger man's bravado. "Who said anything about trust? I want to know what his game is. If he's up to something-or if Loethar is, and I know the emperor wants my head staring sightlessly from a spike at Brighthelm-then it's in my interest to find out everything I can."

"It's a trap, I tell you," Leo said vehemently.

Ciara returned. "Fresh dinch," she said, laying down the pot and mug. "You've got enough honey, I see," she said, opening the pot on the table but looking at Leo.

Kilt grinned. "Yes, I'm sweet enough, but this young man here needs something to wipe that scowl from his face. Can I offer you a silver piece to add some sugar in his life?"

Leo's elbow slipped off the table in shock.

Ciara gave Kilt a puzzled smile. "Your young friend thinks you're staining my honor."

"I apologize without reservation," Kilt replied, lifting his pot of strong but milky dinch.

Ciara turned to Leo. "What's your name?" she asked.

"Er, Liam," he replied, sitting up straighter.

"Well, Liam, I shall see you this evening at the bordello."

The king nodded.

"And you, Henk?" she said to Kilt.

"Ah, Ciara. I have a woman in my life now, and she would cut off my bordellos and feed them to me if she thought I was taking my pleasures with you."

Jewd nodded. "That she would. But I'm free, Ciara. Is that lovely buxom Jenny still working?"

"She is. I'll tell her you may stop by." And with that she left them to it.

"Henk?" Leo repeated, reaching over and stealing the mug of dinch that his friend was about to pick up and savor.

"Hey! Oh, that's just not fair," Kilt grumbled. "Go and pay, Jewd. I'm heading off. I promised Lily some supplies."

"She'll certainly have those *bordellos' off in a blink if you let her down," Leo said between gulps.

They all stood.

"Get word through the right channels," Faris said to his long-time friend. "I'll see Freath. Let's find out exactly what he's up to, shall we?"

Leo scowled as Jewd nodded. The big man handed Leo the single crutch. "Hope that wound won't slow you up tonight."

The grimace left the younger man's face, replaced by a smile. "Not a chance," Leo said, limping to catch up with Faris. "It will take more than a barbarian arrow-wound to keep me from Ciara."

Faris had left Jewd and Leo to their pleasures, and was watching Lily pack up the stores they'd bought. He had never been happier and Jewd assured him frequently that this was due entirely to Lily's presence. Faris had dismissed the comment but now he wondered if there was something to it after all. Up until Lily, the only person he'd permitted intimacy with his thoughts was Jewd. No girl had ever come between them and Lily was secure enough emotionally to see that no girl should. She hadn't once created any bad feeling between the two great companions and, above and beyond that, she had been a blessing in terms of playing a big sister role to the young king over the years since his arrival into the camp.

Faris watched as Lily worked, seemingly oblivious of his scrutiny. He liked watching her move; loved the way she'd flick back her hair when it fell forward, how in that second he'd catch a glimpse of her lovely long neck. He wanted to kiss it now. In fact, he would. Getting up from his seat by the window of the inn, he walked over, put his arms around her waist from behind and kissed the exact spot on her neck he'd been watching. He snuggled into its warmth; could feel her pulse against his lips.

She laughed and squirmed. "I'm busy, Kilt."

"Never too busy for me, I hope?" he asked.

Lily turned in his arms. "No, never." She kissed him tenderly and it turned into a long, passionate embrace. When they parted, she looked breathless. "What was that about?"

"Am I not allowed to show my love?"

"Your love?" She looked surprised by his use of the word, but quickly collected herself. She kissed him once again, softly and swiftly. "Don't ever hesitate. It's just not like you to be so demonstrative."

He sighed and let her go. He sat himself down on the bed. "I'm very aware that you're one woman among a group of men. I don't want to rub it in that you're all mine."

It was her turn to sigh. "Well, I want you to rub it in. I'd quite enjoy the attention."

"Oh?" It was Kilt's turn to look surprised. "Do you feel ignored?"

She stared at him with a scornful expression. "Kilt, how could I? You spend so much time with me, and you share your innermost thoughts with me to the point where I want to cover my ears and yell, *no more!'."

His gaze narrowed. "Less of the sarcasm, please. We were enjoying a nice moment."

"We could enjoy so many more if you'd only let me in." Lily turned away and continued carefully packing goods into sacks and saddlebags. She inhaled a bunch of fleshy leaves. "Ah, I love the smell of fresh borrega. We'll have some deliciously flavored stews through Leaf-fall as this dries."

Kilt wasn't ready to let their discussion go. "Let you in? Where?"

Now she looked at him with exasperation, before moving across to where he sat. Tapping his head, she said, "In here, you fool. That is the place I want to be permitted to glimpse."

Ignoring her plea, he pulled her small, voluptuous body closer. "Well, I know where I want to be in," he said, his tone lascivious now.

She pushed away gently, slightly wearily. "I'm busy and you're not taking me seriously."

"I am," he replied, his own exasperation matching hers. "Now come here, one of your bodice's strings has loosened. I'll tighten it," he offered, the tone in his voice and glint in his eye suggesting otherwise.

Lily deliberately moved further from him. "Besides, it's not worth trying to be serious when you're in this mood."

"What mood?"

"The one that is hoping for a tumble in the bed without talking."

"Oh, Lily, isn't that what every man is hoping for?" he asked, frustration spilling over. "You're ruining what could have been some precious time alone together."

She didn't answer him; she gave him an arch glance instead as she packed away some threads and new needles, ticking them off her list.

"What do you want from me?" he asked, feeling injured.

"Is that a genuine question?" she commented, looking up from her list.

"Of course it is."

"Because I'm not sure you want the honest answer." Lily's hands were on her hips now, the list momentarily forgotten.

"Don't I?"

"No. Because honesty would require you to confront who you are, Kilt Faris. I've been with you for a decade now. I've healed your aches and stitched your wounds, I've washed your clothes and cooked for you. I've been your loyal companion and I've made love to you throughout that time and never tired of you. I've-"

"You're a perfect woman, Lily." He cut across her words with a triumphant grin.

She looked sadly back at him. "Everything's a jest to you, Kilt." She turned away. "Even us."

"That's not true," he said, scrambling forward across the bed. "Don't be like this, Lily. I really don't know how to make you happy. Frankly, I didn't know you were unhappy."

"I'm not," she said, returning to her packing.

"You sound it."

"No, I'm disappointed, that's all. I feel as though I'm always on the outside, Kilt. You only let me get so close and then you seem to draw curtains around yourself."

"I don't understand."

"You have secrets. They shut me out."

"Me?" he asked, sounding astonished. "No! How can you accuse me of that after so long together?"

"You're lying. There's something restless inside you that only you control, only you know about, only you glimpse. I can only get so far with you and it's because of that invisible line you've drawn around yourself that I know you can never fully love me the way I want to be loved. You take me and my affections for granted, Kilt. And the saddest part is, I'm a little trapped by how much you all need me. I'm not being a martyr, I'm simply stating a fact."

He stared at her, genuinely hurt. "How can you say that?"

She looked back at him, sad and resigned. "When did you last tell me you loved me?"

"A moment ago, I think!"

"Did you? Did you actually come in here with the full intention of looking into my eyes and telling me you love me? No. You came in here to enjoy some lovemaking. I don't mean to complain, Kilt. But the fact is, you don't show you love me, and never, not once have you ever uttered the words, I love you, Lily." She held up her hand. "I know what you're going to say. The thing is you probably do love me in your own curious way. You are good to me and you keep me safe and you've been a strong figurehead for Leo. I've been a part of your life over these years, and that has been wonderful. But-" She shrugged. "I don't know what else to do for you. I share every ounce of myself physically and emotionally. You don't or perhaps can't reciprocate in the same manner."

Kilt looked pained. He sighed. "But how do you know you love me? You've hardly lived, Lily. You could meet any handsome fellow tomorrow and fall head over heels."

"Don't turn this on me. I'm not looking for anyone else and I'd love to know how you imagine someone handsome and available is going to stumble across me when I choose to spend my life in the forest with you. I only come into town twice an anni! Besides, we're talking about you and how you treat me. And by the way, your suggestion is ridiculous."

"Don't be angry," he said, reaching for her. "I'm so sorry, Lily. Truly, I am."

She allowed him to draw her into his arms, relaxing into them, and he could tell she didn't want to prolong this conversation. "I'm not angry." Her expression became more wistful. "I suppose I am as happy as you permit, Kilt." Her careful words were not lost on him.

"How can I make this better between us?"

"Let down your guard with me. I'm hardly a stranger and I would never do anything to hurt you or be disloyal to you." She stroked his hair, touching the first silvering at his temple. "Our relationship is a decade old, or do you forget?"

He shook his head and kissed her softly. "No, you've saved me a fortune in brothel fees."

Lily's eyes widened in horror and she mock-swiped at him. "That is really going to cost you, Master Faris!"

He laughed, inwardly sighing with relief that she was keen to lighten the moment. He hugged her more tightly, knowing something profound needed to be said now to secure her faith in him. "I'll have to marry you soon, Lily."

That caught her attention. She didn't speak immediately, but stared at him silently, searching his eyes. "Do you mean that?" she said, her eyes glistening, her voice soft, unsure.

"I've never meant anything more deeply. We're as good as husband and wife now. Let's make it official as soon as we can."

Lily embraced him tightly. "You don't have to do this."

He laughed, twirled her around. "This is going to make all the boys happy."

"Are you sure? Jewd won't mind?"

He made a dismissive gesture. "He told me only last moon that if I didn't hurry up, he'd ask you and steal you from beneath my nose."

She smiled. "Well, it's tempting. I'm sure Jewd shares more with me than you ever could!" She didn't say it unkindly, though. Then she laughed. "And Leo? You think he'll be happy?"

"Don't be vain. Leo got over you years ago."

"Says the great father figure!"

"Well, in a way that's been my role."

"You could have fooled me," she said but her voice was light.

Kilt frowned. "What makes you say that?"

She smiled, and again it was gentle. "Kilt," she began, her voice affectionate, "you have left all the rearing to myself and Jewd. I've played the maternal role and Jewd has been at his side in everything. I'm sure I'm not being unkind when I say that if you do see yourself as a father figure, then you've been the most remote father I can imagine. Surely you can't deny that you keep him at arm's length?" She frowned. "I don't mean that unkindly either, my love. I understand that being a kingmaker is hard enough without playing father to him. In fact, I've told Leo time and again that it's not that you don't like him, but that you have to keep a distance in order to keep what we're trying to achieve in perspective. He knows that you will likely have to make hard decisions and they can't be clouded by your affection for him."

"He thinks I don't like him?"

"He used to. But he's older now." She shrugged. "He accepts that this is how you are with him."

"And how am I with him?"

She regarded him quizzically now. "Distant is how I'd describe it. I've watched you. You never sit near him. You certainly never touch him. You always cast off duties that might involve Leo to Jewd. You disappear for long periods when all of us are together. And it's got worse, rather than better. You spent more time with him as a youngster but you seem to have pulled back as he's grown and matured. Leo is perceptive, Kilt. Surely you can see how he might interpret this as a lack of love?"

Kilt felt sick, and angry with himself. "I've just spent the last couple of hours with Leo," he bleated. "I can't believe-"

"Yes, I know you have. But this is how you behave. You go for weeks avoiding any sort of close contact and then, whoosh!" she said, making a sweep of her hand. "You do something like this morning, as though you've come out of some stupor or you can bear to be near him for a short burst. Then you're gone again."

"I wanted to see you," he explained, sounding injured, but his mind was racing across all of Lily's observations. He hadn't realized it was so obvious.

"I know you did, and I'm glad you came to see me," she said, kissing him gently. "But once again you've left Leo with Jewd."