“If it brought a way to pay for a new house for that family the Pargunese burnt out … cattle … farm tools…”

“Those you will have from the Crown,” Kieri said. “But such a project as this could profit us both.”

Her back straightened. “I … I think it might be a good idea.”

“Good. I will talk more to Chalvers. It cannot be done in a day or ten hands of them—perhaps a year or two—but it seemed a good idea to me.” He reached out and laid his hand over hers. “Now … you can of course take Sier Tolmaric’s body to bury in your own burial ground, but we have a ground here where he could be laid with all honor, and when his bones are raised, you could take them instead.”

“You said he was bad to see. Maelith and Naren told me it’s better not to look sometimes. I thought it was my duty.” Her eyes filled with tears once more, but she did not break down this time.

“I think not in this case,” Kieri said.

“Does he look … normal … in the shroud?”

“No,” Kieri said. “And that, besides the honor due him, is another reason I offer the royal burying ground, to prevent distress to your people.”

“The children,” she said. “Do you think they would notice?”

“We could not lay him straight,” Kieri said, hoping such bluntness would not start another storm of emotion.

Her lips trembled, but she did not sob. “Then … to spare the children … lord king, you are so gracious … let him be laid in the ground here, and maybe Alyanya will mend his bones.”

“That is my hope as well,” Kieri said.

“I will dream badly,” she said, “if I do not at least see him in his shroud. Let it be as unnatural as you say, for me—I am a plain woman—it is better to know than to imagine.”

“Very well,” Kieri said. “Come with me, then.”

She stared a long time at the crooked bundle, lips pressed tight together. “He was a good man,” she said finally. “A good man to me, a good father to our children, a good Sier to our people.”

“He was indeed a good man,” Kieri said. “I honor him.”

She bent her head and turned away. “Tomorrow?” she said.

“Yes, tomorrow. I will send for you when all is prepared.”

“Thank you, my lord.”

Kieri found the Kuakkgani in the rose garden, humming with the bees. Pearwind, he saw, was having a lesson in controlling the flow of springtide, letting her staff leaf out and then restraining it. Kieri found the sight disturbing. They stood up when Kieri appeared, but he waved them back to their seats and sat down on a bench himself.

“You have told the others what I told you?” he asked.

“Yes,” Elmholt said. “And we have learned a little that may help you.”