As Rozea climbed out of the vehicle, Emerahl looked at Star and smiled grimly. She had no intention of keeping her word. As soon as the caravan neared the army and the girls were safe, she would leave. The conditions she had set would only help to ensure her safety until then.

And perhaps I can arrange for us to fall too far behind the army for nobles and priests to ride back to visit us, she thought.

As soon as Auraya’s feet touched the ground, Mischief leapt off her shoulder and ran into her tent. Auraya approached slowly. She had seen the light within as she’d flown closer to the camp, and the lack of any sense of a mind there had told her that one of the White was waiting for her.

“Mrae! Mrae!”

“Hello, Mischief.”

Auraya relaxed a little, though she wasn’t sure why finding Mairae waiting for her was different to finding any other White. It was probably because Mairae had admitted to enjoying many lovers. She, of all the White, would be the least bothered by Auraya having one, too.

The tent flap was open. Auraya peered inside to find Mairae sitting on one of the chairs. In the lamplight she appeared even younger and more beautiful. She looked up at Auraya and smiled.

“Hello, Auraya.”

Auraya entered the tent. “Has something happened?”

“Nothing new.” Mairae shrugged. Her smile became more forced. “I couldn’t sleep, so I decided to visit you. Seems like I never get a chance to talk to anyone. It’s always war and politics. Never just talk, between two people.”

It was more than that, Auraya guessed. Something was bothering Mairae. Auraya didn’t need to read the woman’s mind to know it. She moved to the chest that Danjin had packed for her. Opening it, she lifted out two goblets and a bottle of tintra.

“Drink?”

Mairae grinned. “Thank you.”

Auraya filled the goblets. Mairae took one and drank deeply.

“So where did you go tonight? Just flying about?”

Auraya shrugged. “Yes.”

“Juran seems eager to face the Pentadrians. Have you noticed?”

“I wouldn’t have said he was ‘eager.’” More like…if he has to do it, he’ll do it well. How do you feel?”

“I…I’m dreading it,” Mairae admitted with a grimace. “You?”

“Definitely not looking forward to it,” Auraya smiled wryly. “I have no doubts, though. We’ll win. The gods will make sure of it.”

Mairae sighed and took another gulp of tintra. “It’s not defeat that I’m worried about. I dread the killing…the bloodshed.”

Auraya nodded.

“You don’t seem worried, though,” Mairae commented.

“Oh, I am. When I find myself thinking about it, I think of something else. It’s going to be horrible. Of that we can be sure. There’s no point tormenting myself now by imagining how horrible. It’ll be bad enough when it happens.”