“It’s all right,” said Tisala, still chuckling. “That’s the first time anyone ever called me a rabbit. Actually, Oreg, if you’d started listening about five minutes earlier, you would have heard Ward’s half of that very conversation. I haven’t gotten around to my half yet. Why don’t you go see if you can get Axiel and Tosten to meet us in the stables. Tell anyone who asks you that I suggested you three come out hunting with Ward and me.” To me she explained, “My father just got word that the southern lords won’t be here until late tomorrow. He’ll think, at least for a while, that I took you out to entertain you.”

“As my lady commands,” said Oreg, grinning. He turned on his heel with military precision and shut the door as he left.

“He could still be listening,” I said after the door closed behind Oreg.

“I’m older than you,” she said baldly.

I waited.

“I’ll never be beautiful.”

“My dear lady,” I said, exasperated. “I don’t know if I ought to be angry that you think I am so shallow that I need an ornament at my side to be happy, or if I ought to tell you that when I first saw you wear court dress in your father’s hall all those years ago, you made the other ladies fade into obscurity. Or if I should tell you of the heat in my blood every time I see you use your sword.”

“At least I don’t take my shirt off during sword practice,” she accused. “Did you honestly think that I believed you were hot? There was snow on the ground.”

I grinned at her, the butterflies in my stomach settling back to where they ought to be. Oreg, bless him, had been right about the effect of my embarrassing outburst on the raft.

“You didn’t have to look,” I suggested.

To my delight she snorted, sounding very much like Feather. “You’re interrupting me,” she said unfairly.

I obediently closed my mouth. The humor drained out of her face to be replaced by something that made my heart pound. She stepped forward and touched the side of face. I closed my eyes briefly and turned my head into her touch until she withdrew it.

“I tried so hard not to love you,” she whispered. “I didn’t want to love a Shavig barbarian. Shavig’s winters are too cold.”

“At least it doesn’t rain all the time,” I said, my voice hoarse.

“Ward, I love you. If we both make it out of this alive, I will marry you—gods help you—if you still want to marry me.”

Yes!I caught my cry of triumph before it passed my lips, but I grabbed her around the waist and swung her high. She laughed, gripping my shoulders. The joy in my heart was matched by her eyes.