‘If you think it best,’ he replied, reaching down to find her hand. He squeezed it and then held it up to his lips. ‘I will remember this day,’ he said. ‘When I ride the borderlands and grow old under the sun and stars.’

Her laugh was soft and, he realized after a moment, disbelieving. He looked across and met her eyes. She was smiling, and there was something both tender and sad in it. ‘I think not, milord, although it is kind of you to say so. I was … clumsy. Unknowing. I fear you must be disappointed, although you hide it well.’

He sat up, still holding her hand. ‘Renarr, I do not lie to make you feel better – I will not do that. When I say I will remember this day, I mean it, and above all, it is you that I will remember. Here, upon this cloak. To doubt me is to hurt me.’

Mute, she nodded, and he saw the glisten of tears in her eyes.

Suddenly she looked much younger. He studied her face. ‘Renarr, when was your night of blood?’

‘Almost two months past, milord.’

Abyss take me! No wonder her beloved only yearned! He climbed to his feet, reached for his shirt. ‘Your lips are puffy, Renarr. Use the cold water of the stream to ease them. I fear my beard has scratched your chin.’

‘I will pick berries and make more scratches.’

‘Upon your face? Not too many, I hope.’

‘A few, and on my knees, as if I had stumbled and fallen.’

He pulled on his leggings and reached for his armour. ‘By your wit, Renarr, I had judged you older.’

‘By my wit, milord, I am.’

‘Name your father and mother.’

She blinked. ‘My mother is dead. My father is Gurren.’

‘The old smith? But he was married to Captain – Abyss below, she was your mother? Why did I not know you?’

‘I have been away.’

‘Where?’

‘Yan Monastery, milord. In any case, I doubt you saw my mother much, and she died on the campaign against the Jheleck.’

‘I know she did,’ Osserc replied, buckling on his sword. ‘Renarr, I thought you just a girl – a woman, I mean – from the village.’

‘But I am.’

He stared at her. ‘Your mother saved my father’s life on the day of the assassins. She and Hunn Raal—’

‘I know, milord, and I am thankful for that.’

‘Thankful? She died.’

‘She did her duty,’ Renarr replied.

He looked away, ran both hands through his hair. ‘I need to think,’ he said.

‘There is nothing,’ she said. ‘I too will remember this day. That is all we need, is it not?’

‘And if you take my seed?’

‘I will make no claims upon you, milord.’ She paused and then added, ‘Most of the stories I’ve heard about you, milord, come from my father—’