Lorana looked back toward Fiona and then at Xhinna, who gestured for her to precede her. “I’ll be right behind you, weyrwoman.”

“It’s just Lorana, now,” Lorana corrected.

“I’m sorry,” Xhinna said, flustered, “I didn’t mean—”

Lorana raised a hand and shook her head. “No harm done.”

She smiled as she strolled briskly after the youngsters, following them into Fiona’s bathroom.

Xhinna paused long enough to give Fiona an anxious look. Fiona responded with an encouraging smile and a deliberate nod toward the bathroom and the now-loud children inside.

“Aryar has the right of it,” Fiona said to herself as Xhinna disappeared, still not entirely relieved.

“That with our love, she’ll grow her heart back?” Kindan spoke up, startling her. Fiona realized that the harper had been awake in the other room for the whole exchange, merely feigning sleep, and now, the way his eyes explored her left her feeling uncomfortable; his maleness, the spicy smell of him, unnerved her.

“Yes,” she said, rising from her position all too near to him and moving toward her quarters. Her eyes flashed as she looked back at him and snapped, “You, of all people, should know that!”

Kindan’s look of hurt and confusion almost made her relent and return to him. Almost.

“He’s supposed to be a harper,” Fiona murmured to herself as she followed the sounds of splashing into her bathroom and saw that it was full of children, mostly bathing, all wet.

How are you today, Talenth? Fiona asked as she turned back to her bedroom and pulled out fresh riding gear.

I’m feeling much better, Talenth replied. Are we going to fly today?

Oh, dear heart, I doubt it, Fiona told her, a small smile flashing across her lips. I think that Jeila and I should stay here. When we have three queens, then we’ll have a proper queens’ wing.

That will be nice, Talenth agreed. A moment later, she added, Tolarth asks what can Jeila do to help?

Have her meet us for breakfast and we’ll plan from there.

I did, Talenth responded. After a slight pause she added, He is quite confused.

He? Fiona wondered to herself.

Kindan.

She remembered another time, Turns back. A time before she’d gone to Igen, when hatchling Talenth had woken, creeling.

What is it? Fiona had asked, rushing to the young queen’s weyr.

He hurts, Talenth had said with a whimper.

I’m sorry, Fiona had said, not knowing how else to respond.

He hurts and you feel it, Talenth had said. How is it that you feel it?

“He”—Kindan? Did he still hurt now? And did Fiona still feel it? He shouldn’t be hurting now: He had Lorana. And she, Fiona, shouldn’t be feeling his hurt for the same reason. Still …