He nodded. “It’s true. She gets all that dry information about customs and politics and law that I know you love so much. Is that what you miss? Shall I tell you all about the laws laid down by the King of Genria fifty years ago? Or the many traditions and rituals for the serving of teho in Sennon high society?”

“There’s a lot more of that in you than anything else,” she retorted.

He caught her hand and turned her to face him. “That may be true, but everything else there is to have, I give to you. My friendship, my respect, my children, even my body—though you probably see nothing of worth in this sad, neglected form.”

Her lips thinned, but he could tell from the way the lines around her eyes deepened that she was pleased and amused by his words.

“If I didn’t suspect you were hoping I’d convince you otherwise, I’d be a bigger fool than you,” she said.

He grinned. “Can’t you at least pretend to be a fool for me?”

She pulled away and strode toward the door. “I don’t have the time, and my husband no doubt has more dry information to hurry off to gather and deliver to his mistress.”

He sighed loudly. “How can I face the world believing such things about myself?”

Reaching the door, she glanced back and smiled. “I’m sure you’ll manage.”

If Auraya hadn’t known that there were many times more Siyee than those now waiting in the Open, she might have thought the entire race had come out to see her off. Most had gathered together into a large crowd standing under the outcrop from which the Speakers had addressed them during the two Gatherings. Others filled the branches of the enormous trees on either side. Still more glided above, and their constant movement cast distracting shadows on the ground.

As she emerged from the trees, faces turned toward her and a shrill whistling began. This was their way of cheering. She smiled at them all, could not have stopped if she had wanted to.

“Your people are so friendly,” she told Sirri. “I wish I could stay a little longer.”

The Speaker chuckled. “Be careful, Auraya. While we would like to keep you for ourselves, we know how important you are to Northern Ithania, and to our own future. If you like it too much here, we may have to stop being so nice to you.”

“It would take a lot to change my opinion of you and your people,” Auraya replied.

Sirri paused to regard Auraya thoughtfully. “We have won you over, haven’t we?”

“I’ve never been so happy as I have been here.”

“You’re the only landwalker I have found myself constantly forgetting is a landwalker.” Sirri frowned. “Does that make sense?”

Auraya laughed. “Yes, it does. I keep forgetting I am a landwalker, too.”