He found he'd been holding his breath, and let it out in a heavy sigh. Maybe things would work out. He would know soon.

"Will they like me?," asked Tamsin. He turned.

She sat astride her mare, wrapped in furs with a fine cape around her shoulders. Two soldiers of Galas' honour guard waited patiently on horses nearby—as did the Voice, who smiled at her now.

"They are family," said the Voice. "It is infinitely more important that they merely exist."

Tamsin shook her head and laughed. "Yes. You're right."

"Are you sure you won't stay and help us weather the Change?" Jordan asked the Voice for the hundredth time. The newborn AI smiled, and shook her head.

"You need your people, Jordan, Tamsin. But they are your people. They would just remind me that I am different, and I don't desire that now. Tamsin understands. No, I need to travel by myself for a time. I want to know the mysteries of thalience, so that I can learn more about how I am different—and how I am myself.

"But this is the right place for you. Tamsin needs a family. And you—you told me yourself, all you really want is to settle down and become—"

"—'A man of good character.' I know, I know." He grinned at her. "Truth is, I'm envious. You'll be seeing the world transform itself into something new."

"And all you have to do is close your eyes, and you'll see it too. I'll be back, Jordan. You know that. And if you want to talk to me meantime, you know what to do."

He nodded. The Winds would carry his words anywhere—to the Voice, to Armiger and Galas, August Ostler and, maybe, even to Calandria May, if she was listening.

"This is what you wanted," she said. "Now go on."

He and Tamsin dismounted, and started walking hand in hand. They got all of twenty paces before both turned to look back. The honor guard saluted, and the Voice waved brightly before turning her horse towards the road that led to Castor's manor and the inn there.

They watched her go, then started walking again. Neither spoke.

There was his house; he stopped to examine it closely. No signs of fire, the roof was still on it—and there, suddenly, was Emmy. She screamed when she saw him, and started running. Jordan grinned and just stood there, opening his arms when she reached him and hugged him and spun him around.

"You're back and you're safe safe safe!" She nearly crushed him and he laughed, hugging her close.

"We're safe," he said. "We're all safe now."

"Oh, Jordan." She started to cry. "You've come back. After everything—the Change, and the Winds coming to speak to us, and hearing what you did to bring it all about—I thought you'd go away to some castle somewhere and never come home."

"I don't want any of that," he said. "I never did."

"And who's this? Could it be that my baby brother is growing up?" She smiled at Tamsin, who blushed. "So introduce me."

He did, and they stood in the middle of the road and talked about everything all at once, laughing all the while. Finally Emmy grabbed his hand and tugged. "Come. They're waiting."

He stopped. Two people—a man and a woman—stood at the door of his parents' house. He knew them, had always known them, though they had aged a bit, and looked apprehensive now as they stood close together: his parents, his people.

He had feared that when this moment came, either he or they would turn away. He hadn't been sure he could forgive them their weaknesses. But as he looked at them, they stood waiting. His mother twisted her hands together, but neither moved, or said anything. It was they who were waiting for him to decide.

We need each other, he reminded himself.

Then he set his shoulders, smiled, and walked up the road to his home.