She bit into a sweet cake and gave him time to think that over.

He watched her eat; his color had returned. “I have no experience fighting magery,” he said. “Do all the Verrakaien have it?”

“Most do,” Dorrin said. “I will not deny it is dangerous, but not to the soul of one of your faith … you are a Knight of the Bells; you are Girdish. Gird will aid you, I truly believe.”

“And you are Falkian.”

“Yes, and I hope Falk will aid me. You may not know that Falkians are not forbidden magery, if they have it—most don’t, but some, being part-elven, have that form, which is different from mine. If I did not believe my magery, and my experience in war, could prevail, I would not lead my cohort or your people into Verrakai lands; I would have refused the prince’s request.”

“But you said you were not trained in that magic—magery,” he said.

“Not as a child. The current Knight-Commander of Falk and the paladin Paksenarrion released it from the bonds that had held it, and trained me after I accepted the task.”

“So short a time …”

“The Knight-Commander thought it enough,” Dorrin said.

He looked at her a long moment, then nodded. “I’m thinking we could use more troops.”

Dorrin chuckled; he looked startled. “We could always use more troops,” she said. “But we must do with what we have—or you could contact the grange here, or Marshal Pelyan at the next—or both—and ask their assistance. There are granges in Verrakai lands, and though some are dispirited—Darkon Edge certainly was—they are not corrupted, so far as I know. They should be your allies.”

“And yours,” he said.

“So I hope,” Dorrin said. “Though they may well not trust me at first simply because I am Verrakai. No wonder in that.” She ate another sweet cake.

A knock came at the door; she said “Enter” and Selfer looked in.

“All settled, Captain. Animals being groomed and fed; the troops can eat in sections or we can take meals out to the barns where there’s more room. There’s a hay barn almost empty.” Selfer looked fresh enough to travel another half day. “There are locals come in for supper—”

“The barns then, if the landlord has no objection.” She started to remind him about fire precautions and the other minutiae of settling a cohort for the night in civilization, but stopped herself. He was past needing that; what he needed now was her trust.

“Right, Captain. I’ll report back when they’re done. The landlord’s set them up for sleeping in the loft upstairs, sergeants and officers to have rooms. I thought we should leave a guard in the barn with the animals.”

“Excellent, Selfer.”

He withdrew, and Valthan cocked his head. “He’s very young.”

“He’s lived a lot,” Dorrin said. “Youngsters grow up fast in combat.” She yawned. “Excuse me, but I am going to need real food shortly. After that, perhaps we could visit the local grange together?”