Wil shook his head. “Attitudes change.”

“And they have, to our benefit, for now.” She smiled. “You will find Auraya of the White surprising, Wil. She visits us every night. She and Leiard are old friends, since before her Choosing.”

Wil’s eyes widened slightly. He stared at Leiard for a moment, then shrugged. “I look forward to meeting her.”

“We had best return to our tarn,” Arleej said firmly. “We have much travelling to do before we draw close to the army again.”

Wil nodded, then headed toward the first of his group’s tarns. As Leiard turned away, Arleej spoke his name. He looked back. She gestured to her tarn.

“Join me for a while?”

He followed as she climbed up onto the seat. The newcomers waited while she urged her arem forward and took the lead along this new road. After several minutes Arleej looked at Leiard and smiled.

“The White have told Raeli that they have lifted the ban on people using our services for a day after the battle.”

“That is good news.”

“Yes. It appears some good has come from your friendship with Auraya.”

He nodded in reply.

“I expect she does not reveal any of the White’s plans for the army?”

Leiard shook his head. “Nothing we don’t already know.”

“Has she mentioned the new Dreamweaver adviser at all?”

“Once.” He grimaced. “She finds Raeli’s aloofness disappointing, but understands the reason for it. She hopes there will be time later, after the war, to befriend Raeli—or at least gain her respect.”

“I see. What else does she talk about?”

Nothing you could repeat now, Mirar muttered.

Quiet, Leiard thought sternly.

“Reminiscences.” He shrugged. “Stories of her visits to Si and Borra.”

Liar.

“Has she noticed this trouble you have with Mirar’s link memories taking on a personality in your mind?”

He frowned and looked away. “I’m not sure. She hasn’t mentioned it.”

Because you block me out too effectively when you’re with her, Mirar growled. Nothing like pure lust to make a man take full possession of his body.

Then she is the key to getting rid of you!

No. You can’t be with her all the time.

A feeling of threat came with the reply. Leiard felt his control slip and found himself looking at Arleej.

“I have a confession to make,” he found himself saying. “This fool of a Dreamweaver has been…”

No!

Leiard fought Mirar and managed to regain control. Arleej was frowning at him in puzzlement.

“What’s wrong?”

Leiard shook his head. He dared not speak for fear that the words that came out would not be ones he’d planned to utter.

“It’s Mirar, isn’t it?”

He nodded.

Her eyes widened in understanding, then she frowned again in concern.

“Jayim told me he thought things had been getting worse lately. He said it started after Auraya first visited you.”

Leiard looked at her in alarm.