'Tsatach's balls! You're Count Vesna?' Carel grabbed the man's hand and continued, 'An honour to meet you, my Lord. Wait a moment-' He looked from Vesna to Isak, then another smile broke over his lined face. 'You took a bond of service, didn't you? Because of the College of Magic. You're from- Hah!' Carel suddenly laughed so hard the men behind him jumped in alarm. 'You're bonded to this great lump of wood?'

'I have that honour, sir,' replied Vesna smoothly, his eyes twinkling as he recognised a kindred spirit. 'But can I suggest we continue this conversation inside, away from the troops?'

'That's a good idea,' agreed Isak quickly, realising that the two were going to get on well, probably at his own expense. He draped an arm over Carel's shoulder and turned towards the main wing where hot food would be waiting. 'I see you're well, then.'

'As well as can be expected for a man who feels his age around all these boys.' Carel waved his hand towards the soldiers, unconsciously touching the white collar on his tunic as he looked at them. Only then did it occur to Isak that Carel was better dressed than Isak had ever seen him before. A fine coat of short black fur reached down to his knees, edged in pristine white fox fur. Under this were bleached soft leathers and a fine pair of high green boots, all of which seemed unusually foppish for the former Ghost.

'You've taken advantage of our hospitality then,' Isak remarked, touching a finger to the coat's edge.

'I've been here only a few days, but your maid has been looking after me – since you're the Krann, I thought I'd better get myself some new clothes; didn't want you to be ashamed of me.' Carel gestured towards the approaching figure of Tila.

'Welcome back, my Lord,' the girl said, curtseying neatly to Isak, then bobbing her head and adding, 'Count Vesna.'

'Have you two met before?' Isak asked, curious.

'No, my Lord,' Tila said, 'but the count's armour makes him easy to recognise, and of course his reputation precedes him.'

The count hesitated a second, then bowed low to kiss Tila's hand in formal greeting. 'My Lady.'

As Tila's face remained impassive, Isak remembered she wouldn't share a soldier's admiration of Vesna's reputation.

There was a frosty edge to her voice when she at last did speak. 'Your apartments have been readied, but unfortunately there has been some storm damage to one of the court apartments, and the other two are already allocated. I hope you will not mind using guest chambers instead. I have had your belongings delivered to the rooms beside Sergeant Carelfolden's, since you are both of Lord Isak's party.'

Isak gaped at the meek girl he had said goodbye to. The hostility was not open enough to be insulting, but it was obvious all the same. It was the first time he really saw her as a Farlan woman, taught from birth that her position would never be equal to that of a man. For the Chetse, that meant women held no opinions; they were docile, obedient and polite to their masters, never even raising their voices. The Farlan were different, for Farlan womenfolk turned weakness into strength in classic military manner: they ran everything from behind the scenes. It wasn't shaming for a man's peers to know his wife made the decisions, and girls with wit and fierce intelligence were well educated and keenly sought in marriage.

'Who's in the other apartments?' Isak demanded when he found his voice.

To his surprise, her gaze never wavered, even in the face of his obvious anger. She stared him down as she replied, 'Suzerain Tehran is still technically in residence, and Count Vilan has been allocated the other apartment.'

'But we met Tehran at his manor. And Vilan? Fetch Lesarl, now,' Isak snapped.

The count raised a black velvet-clad hand. 'My Lord, I am quite happy with the arrangements. I believe Sir Cerse invited Count Vilan here, and I would hate to interfere with that.'

Isak looked at his bondsman for a moment and then realisation dawned. He nodded briefly at Vesna, then turned back to Tila and said politely, 'My lady, the arrangements are most satisfactory. Please convey my warmest regards to the Chief Steward. I'm sure he would have given me a stable if he could.'

Tila curtsied again and swung about to return to the palace.

Vesna breathed in deeply as a brief gust of perfume washed towards him. 'I think she likes me.'

‘She has certain opinions, about-' Isak blushed, and continued, his voice softer, 'about sexual relations. I don't think you quite meet her standards.'

Vesna laughed dryly. 'I should hope not. Those sort of "relations", as you so coyly put it, are not for unmarried girls.'

‘I feel sorry for your wife when at last you do marry,' Isak said with a laugh.

‘Why? If I get all my dalliances out of the way beforehand, she will reap the benefit of my hard work and practice!' He smiled, and Isak

didn't push the subject further. It was clear Vesna had reeled out his defence time after time, whether he actively believed in it or not was not Isak's problem.

'Anyway, enough of this,' the count continued. 'I can decide how to win Lady Tila's heart some other time. What's more important is that Count Vilan is on a certain list in my possession.'

'I know; just don't be too impatient to get his chambers; understood?'

Carel watched Isak. Whether the boy knew it or not, he was growing into his position as much in attitude as he was in body. He felt a welling of pride in his heart, and gladness: for once his wild boy didn't have his usual look of wariness on his face. Now he didn't have to keep out of the way, or keep one eye open for a passing blow, nor did he have to endure the scowls and distrust of everyone he met.

Isak stood tall and proud. He'd shaken off the slouch he'd adopted as a child to disguise his height and he looked more alive than he ever had. No longer would Isak have to skirt around society: now life would shape itself about his battle-hardened figure. It was more than the child Carel had first met could ever have dreamed of. Now, with an enchanted blade hanging casually at his hip, a dragon on his cloak and clad in magical armour, he would be the envy of every boy in the tribe.

As Carel's gaze paused on Eolis, Isak's head snapped around. The youth's face was suspicious for a fraction of a second, then he forced out a smile again. 'Enough of business; we need food and wine.' He ushered Carel and Vesna towards the Great Hall, where the men crowding around the roasting boar parted respectfully. Isak piled as much food as he could carry into his bowl, then directed Carel to the head table with a nod of his head.

Once they were all comfortable, he asked Carel, 'So what news do you have?'

Carel looked up from his food and hesitated for a moment, trying to read the Krann's face, but finding nothing, started, 'Well, Valo finally got around to marrying Faean, Jedah gave birth to a baby girl a day shy of midwinter-'

'That's not what I meant.'

'Well then, just ask. How can I guess whether you want to hear about Horman or not? You've been living with politicians for hair a year; you've grown one of their blank faces.'

Isak looked startled, then his more familiar expression of slight anxiety spread across his face.

'So, is he glad I'm gone?'

'What do you think?'

'I expect he misses having someone to bully. I expect he's got less to complain about, so he's drinking rather than talking.'

'Close enough to the truth there. But of course he misses you. You're still family, even if you can't stand each other. You've got your whole life ahead of you, and quite a life it'll be now. His ended when your mother died. Whatever he thinks of you, you were the last link to her. Many's the time I've got drunk with him and he's not said a word, just run that green ring around and around in his hand for hours.'