“Aiten would have liked it here,” I said softly.

“He would, him and Geris, wouldn’t you say?” Ryshad sorted through a handful of nails to find one for the loop where a leather thong had hung the medallion around his friend’s neck.

I smiled. “He’d have been desperate to get involved with ’Sar and Guinalle’s studies.”

Ryshad shifted the door so he could see the inner face. One day it would be invisible beneath tokens of vows made and boons sought from the gods but for the moment it was unblemished. “Have we settled that score with the Elietimm?”

“I think so.” There was no incense here yet but I found a few fragrant curls of wood shavings and piled them on the plinth. Ryshad watched me take a sparkmaker out of my pocket. He struck the nail square on the head and Aiten’s amulet was fixed to the door. I lit the shavings and hoped the smoke would carry the sound to the Otherworld. Maybe somehow, somewhere, they’d know they were avenged.

Ryshad slowly lowered his hammer, gazing out of the doorway. “Will you marry me?”

It wasn’t a proposal, not with the weight of the question all on the first word nor yet one of those challenges that dares you to say no. He sounded merely curious but I knew my answer had to strike that same balance between lightness and significance. It wasn’t a question he was asking idly, not now we could see a life ahead of us that we might share on equal terms.

“This mid-summer? No. My hair would be nowhere near long enough for a wedding plait and it’ll probably still be this horrible colour. Equinox? Winter Solstice? Unlikely. I can’t see me wanting to get caught up in such a fuss. Next year? The year after? Five years hence? I’ve no idea. I don’t know that I’ll ever want to wed.” My heart pounded as I gambled on complete honesty. “I can be certain I don’t want to be without you. I can’t imagine my life without you. I won’t be going anywhere without you at my side.”

Ryshad nodded slowly but did not speak.

“That’s the best answer I can give you.” I waited.

Ryshad turned and tossed the hammer aside so he could fold me in his arms. “That’s more than enough for me. As long as I have you, I have everything I could ever want.”

I kissed him and it was enough, more than enough, for that blissful moment and, as far as I could see, it always would be.