hey are so small and fragile,” said Palles, as his son grasped hold of his finger, refusing to let it go. “It is difficult to believe that they will grow and prosper.”

“They are doing very well, my Lord. Dybra has become devoted to them.” Ilsaa smiled as she watched him with his children. Little Olyva was fast asleep on his arm, while Jaym explored with his questing fingers, wide unfocused eyes bright with pleasure. Her heart was glad that Palles could at last look upon his children, without blaming them for his wife's death.

“Here, Ilsaa, take them. I could sit and hold them all day, but there is work to be done!” He sighed as she took the babies and placed them in their cradle. With a gentleness not often found in a man, he rubbed a finger tenderly along the sleeping Olyva's cheek. “She will be pretty, like her mother.” Jaym, as though jealous, let out a cry. “Oho, Jaym! Peace! I love you too, though I would hope pretty will not describe you. No, you will be like your grandsire, the Old Lord of Dragon Swan, quiet and brave.” He laughed out loud as the baby continued to wail.

“Well, perhaps not too quiet.” He looked helplessly at Ilsaa. “Is there something amiss with him?”

She smiled. “Probably. Leave him to me; I will see he is changed.”

“Oh,” said Palles as he backed quickly away. “Well, I’ll just leave that to you. I'll be back at the dinner hour.”

With that, he left Ilsaa to deal with the wet and fussy child.

Jika turned as he made his way through the kitchen. “Will you be back for dinner?”

“Yes, Jika. How are the supplies holding up?”

“Well enough for now, sir. The meat is getting scarce, but we've still plenty of grain and meal.” She wiped her hands on her apron. “I've set Gallen to bringing what there is left of the winter stores, the dried meat and such, to the settlement. Some of those poor folk have been without anything proper in their bellies far too long already. We may not last much longer ourselves, but at least we can feed them while it holds out. I'm sure certain, we'll be hearing good news from Thannon soon!”

“I hope you're right, Jika. Tell Gallen to meet me in the stables, will you? We need to do something about the mares. At least two of them are nearly ready to birth, and we have to decide who to foster them to. There's no sense wasting the foals.”

“Aye, I'll tell him, my Lord. Here, take this out with you.” She handed him a bundle with a half a wheel of new cheese and some bread. “No sense in going hungry. We've enough shalma in milk to provide as much cheese as we can eat in the manor. I'll have some of the women in to churn more this week for the villages.”

“Good, Jika. Whatever we can do, we must. Next winter, I fear, will be a hard one. If the fields are not tilled and planted soon and the shalma put to mating, there will be shortages.”

“Well, we'll face that time when it comes, my Lord.” She hesitated a moment then started to say something. “Beggin' your pardon, sir, but has Gallen said anything to you about ...oh never mind!” Blushing furiously she turned back to her grinding with a vengeance!

Palles went out the kitchen door, smiling to himself. “So, it's like that, is it? I'll have to have a word with my galla man! I think we could manage a handfasting.”

Erkay and Ilsaa had not been successful in their attempt to reach the dragon, but the boy was determined to keep trying.

It seemed lately, that the raids on the outlying farms and villages had slackened off. There were fewer Bazc troops reported moving through the province, and most of those were small, undisciplined bands of men, looking for easy prey to loot. Some of the people in the settlement were talking of returning to their homes, to get started on the spring chores. Others spoke of joining the Guards and forming patrols to protect the land. There was much talk, but little action.

The Guard had been making continuous sweeps of the countryside, occasionally rousting small bands of invaders.

The cellars of Dragon Swan had been converted into a prison of sorts, though with food in short supply, there was an inclination on the part of the soldiers to take very few prisoners. The magic barrier was still somehow maintained, however, and a bond with the Tower remained impossible.

Erkay was determined to contact Zyalia. He badgered the midwife until she relented.

“All right Erkay, all right. We'll try again tonight. I'll come to your room after the moons have set.” She looked at him sternly. “But you must promise me that you will get some sleep first! There is much work to be done in the morning, and I can't have you lagging behind because you didn't sleep!”

“I know, Ilsaa. I promise, I'll work as hard as anyone, even as hard as Tomaz!” He smiled up at her.

“Best not let your mother find out what you're up to, boy. You know her feeling on the subject of your Talent.”

“That's only 'cause she doesn't want me to go away to Thannon, like Tomaz. But I'm gonna, Ilsaa. Soon, I'm gonna go to the Tower and become a real Krys. Maybe I'll even get to see my brother. Is he really a soldier?”

“By all accounts, Erkay, he's really a soldier and a hero as well. Don't you remember the fuss about the Ferunda? By all reckoning, it was your brother who killed the assassin that murdered Lord Balizar! I would say that makes Tomaz a soldier.”

“I miss him, sometimes. Mostly at night. I close my eyes and try to remember what Tomaz looks like. He probably looks all different now, don't ya think?”

“I imagine you're right. You look very different too, Erkay. You've grown in a year, and I'm sure so has Tomaz! He was always big for his age.”

One of the babies set up a wailing, naturally waking the other two. “Erkay, I must tend to the little ones. Be a good boy and go to the kitchen. See if you can help Jika.”

©2005 by Trish Reynolds