Another two riders were coming down from the keep. Gurren squinted. The Lord himself, and at his side that woman from the morning. They cantered through the Tithe Gate, pausing there for the Lord to issue some orders, and then rode on to draw up within the rough semicircle made by the soldiers.

Urusander’s grey-blue eyes were fixed on Gurren, and the old man saw in them raw pain which was what he always saw in them, which was why he could never meet them for long. And he remembered how sick that weakness had made him feel. Urusander could not have loved Shellas the way Gurren did. Urusander had no right to weep for her death; he had no right to take from Gurren his own pain.

The Lord dismounted and walked straight to him. ‘Gurren—’

But Gurren pointed at Serap. ‘She made a Legion vow.’

‘I know,’ Urusander replied.

‘I bless your son,’ Gurren said, feeling his face set stubbornly – and all at once he could meet Urusander’s eyes, and feel nothing. ‘I bless him, sir, and nothing you ever say will change that.’

If there was anguish in the commander’s eyes before, it was as nothing to what Gurren saw in them now. But still he felt nothing, and was astonished when it was Urusander who broke the gaze.

‘She will be taken care of,’ the Lord said then.

‘I know. It was promised.’

‘Will you come to the keep, Gurren?’

‘What? What for?’

‘I want you both under my roof. I want your daughter to find you there, with her, when she mends.’

‘I got work to do here.’

‘I will release one of the smiths to stand in your stead.’

‘For how long?’

‘For as long as needed.’

‘Until I die? Has to be until I die, sir, and afterwards, too. Town needs a smith, more than you do.’

‘If you would keep an eye on the work going on at the keep, Gurren, then we have a deal.’

‘I can do that. Until I get too sick. And don’t say nothing about your healers working on me.’

‘I wouldn’t do that,’ was Urusander’s soft reply.

Gurren jerked a nod.

‘We will send a wagon down for you and your daughter.’

‘Want some of my tools, too. The best ones.’

‘Of course. As many trips as needed.’

‘When I’m gone then, sir, what of my girl? Back to this empty house?’

‘If you would permit it, Gurren, I would formally adopt her.’

‘You would, would you?’ Gurren glanced away, studied the small crowd of townsfolk who’d been drawn to the commotion. ‘She’s not a girl any more, though. She’s a woman and that’s how she needs to be treated. You don’t call her “daughter” or nothing either. She’s our daughter – me and Shellas made her.’

‘I know,’ replied Urusander.

Gurren nodded.