They commiserated on that for a bit. Then Ronica rescued them from pointless pleasantries as Rache reappeared with the tea. "Well, let us stop being as nervous as if we do not well know why Jani is here. She has come to take Selden to the Rain Wilds when the Kendry sails tonight. I know Keffria has agreed to this, and it is what Selden wants. But…"

And there Ronica's courage failed her. Her voice went tight on her closing words, "But I do hate to lose Selden…"

"I wish you did not feel that way," Jani offered. "That you are losing him, I mean. He comes with me now, for a time, because he genuinely believes he has a duty to help us in our preliminary work. Certainly, the Rain Wilds have marked him as their own. But that does not mean he is no longer a Vestrit. And in days to come, I hope for a time when Rain Wilds and Bingtown will mingle freely and often."

That brought little response. "Selden is not the only reason I am here," she added abruptly. "I also bring two offers. One from the Rain Wild Council. One from myself."

Before she could go on, Selden opened the door. "I'm ready," he announced with undisguised satisfaction. He came into the room dragging a lumpy canvas sack behind him and looked around at the gathered women. "Why is everyone so quiet?" he demanded. Firelight danced on his scaled cheekbones.

No one replied.

Jani settled herself in her chair and accepted the cup of tea that Rache poured for her. She sipped at it, seizing the moment to organize her thoughts. It tasted of wintermint, with a tang of niproot in it. "This is actually quite delicious," she complimented them sincerely as she set the cup down. Her eyes traveled over the waiting faces. Keffria held her tea but had not sipped it. Ronica had not even picked her cup up. Jani suddenly knew what was missing. She cleared her throat.

"I, Jani Khuprus, of the Khuprus Family of the Rain Wild Traders, accept your hospitality of home and table. I recall all our most ancient pledges to one another, Rain Wilds to Bingtown." As she spoke the old, formal words, she was surprised to feel tears brim in her eyes. Yes. This was right. She saw an answering sentiment in the faces of the Bingtown women.

As if it were a thing rehearsed, Ronica and Keffria spoke together. "We, Ronica and Keffria Vestrit, of the Vestrit Family of the Bingtown Traders, make you welcome to our table and our home. We recall all our most ancient pledges to one another, Bingtown to Rain Wilds."

Keffria surprised them all when she spoke on alone. "And also our private agreement regarding the liveship Vivacia, the product of both our families, and our hope that our families shall be joined in the marriage of Malta Vestrit and Reyn Khuprus." She took a deep breath. Her voice shook only slightly. "In sign of the link between our families, I offer to you my youngest son, Selden Vestrit, to be fostered with the Khuprus family of the Rain Wilds. I charge you to teach him well the ways of our folk."

Yes. This was right. Let it all be formalized. Selden suddenly stood taller.

He let go of his sack and came forward. He took his mother's hand and looked up at her. "Do I say anything?" he asked gravely.

Jani held out her hand. "I, Jani Khuprus of the Khuprus family of the Rain Wilds, do welcome Selden Vestrit to be fostered with our family, and taught the ways of our folk. He will be cherished as one of our own. If he so wills it."

Selden did not let go of his mother's hand. How wise the boy already was! He instead set his free hand into Jani's. He cleared his throat. "I, Selden Vestrit of the Vestrit family, do will that I be fostered with the Khuprus family of the Rain Wilds." He looked at his mother as he added, "I will do my best to learn all that is taught me.

"There. That's done," he added.

"That's done," his mother agreed softly. Jani glanced down at the rough little hand she held. It had already begun to scale around the nail beds. He would change swiftly. It was truly for the best that he went to the Rain Wilds where such things were accepted. For an instant, she wondered what her young daughter Kys would think of him. He was only a few years older than she was. Such a match would not be unthinkable. Then she set aside the selfish thought. She lifted her eyes to meet Keffria's bleak stare.

"You can come also, if you wish. And you, Ronica. That is my offer to you. Come up the river to Trehaug. I do not promise you that times are easier there, but you would be welcome in my home. I know you wait for news of Malta. I, too, await the dragon's return. We could wait together."

Keffria shook her head slowly. "I have spent too much of my life waiting, Jani. I won't do that anymore. The Bingtown Council must be pushed into action, and I am one of those who must push. I can't wait for 'them' to settle Bingtown's unrest. I have to insist, daily, that all complaints be considered." She looked at her son. "I'm sorry, Selden."

He gave her a puzzled look. "Sorry that you will do what you must do? Mother, it is your own example I follow. I go to Trehaug for the same reason." He managed a smile for her. "You let me go. And I let you go. Because we are Traders."

There was a sudden loosening in Keffria's face, as if an unforgivable sin had been expunged from her soul. She heaved a great sigh. "Thank you, Selden."

"I, too, must stay," Ronica said into the quiet. "For while Keffria is being the Trader for the Vestrit family, I must look after the rest of our interests. It is not just our home that was raided and vandalized. We have other holdings as well, similarly troubled. If we are not to lose them all, then I must act now, to hire workers who will labor for a share of next year's crop. Spring will come again. Vineyards and orchards will put forth new leaves. Despite all our other troubles, those things must be anticipated."

Jani shook her head with a small smile. "So I expected you to answer. Indeed, so the Rain Wild Council told me you would, when I told them of my plans."

Keffria frowned. "Why would the Rain Wild Council have an interest in how we answered?"

Jani would keep it to herself that the Council had been as anxious as she to lay claim to Selden Vestrit. Instead, she told the rest of the truth. "They were anxious to avail themselves of your services, Keffria Vestrit. But for you to be effective, you would have to remain here in Bingtown."

"My services?" Keffria was obviously astounded. "What services can I perform for them?"

"You may have forgotten or dismissed the last time you spoke to the Rain Wild Council. They have not. You were quite inspiring in your offer to risk yourself in the service of the Traders. As it was, the situation changed so swiftly that your sacrifice was not necessary. But the fact that you were willing to offer, as well as your clear grasp of the situation, left a deep impression on the Council. With all the changes now in the wind, the Rain Wild Council needs an official voice in Bingtown. When Traders such as Pols, Kewin and Lorek can all agree that you are the best choice to represent us, you must realize that you left a very favorable impression."

A faint pink rose in Keffria's cheeks. "But the Rain Wild Traders have always been free to speak in the Bingtown Council, just as any Bingtown Trader can claim the right to speak in the Rain Wilds. You do not need me as a representative."

"We disagree. Changes are raining down swiftly; our communities will need to cooperate even more closely than we have in the past. Message birds can only fly so swiftly. Liveship traffic on the Rain Wild River has been reduced in these dangerous times, as all our ships patrol against Chalcedean vessels. Yet more than ever, we need a voice sympathetic to Rain Wild concerns here in Bingtown. We see you as the ideal choice. Your family is already strongly linked to the Rain Wilds. While we would ask you to seek our advice when you could, we would also trust you to speak out when an immediate voice was needed."