"I'm sorry, Miro," Rogan said. "If she's living, I promise you, I'll help get her back to you."

Miro nodded, unable to ask more. He took a deep breath and opened his mouth to ask Rogan where the rescued prisoners had been taken.

"Ah," Rogan said, spotting someone over Miro's shoulder, "there's someone I'd like you to meet."

Miro turned.

"Enchantress Amber Samson, meet Lord Marshal Miro Torresante."

42

42

"MY LAST name is Rosalie," Amber said. "My husband was killed."

Amber had thought about this meeting for so long that she couldn't believe it was happening. He had changed — Lord of the Sky, he had changed — but if anything the resolve in the lines of his mouth and the thin scar that ran from below his left eye to his jaw line added something strong and indefinable to his character.

The last time she had seen him was at her graduation from the Academy of Enchanters in Sarostar; what felt like a lifetime ago. He had told her then that he was being sent to the front — and now he was the Lord Marshal.

Amber remembered the day so clearly because it was the day she realised that he'd finally come to terms with the way he felt about her. It was nothing he'd said; it was in the way he'd sat close to her, their legs touching, and the surreptitious glances he'd given her when he'd thought she wasn't looking.

Amber had been married then, but now Igor Samson was gone. But there was so much she knew she should tell him but was terrified to say. How could she ever tell him about how she'd given herself to Moragon? How could she mention her baby, when Miro hadn't even known she was pregnant?

She had forgotten how tall he was; as tall as Rogan. His dark eyes looked down at her past his sharp nose. Stubble lined his angular jaw, and his black hair was tied back with a cord. He was finally saving her, just as she had always imagined him doing.

All of a sudden Amber felt frightened and dropped her eyes. Of course he would be pleased to see her, but what if it was just as his sister's long lost friend; as the girl he had grown up with? She knew she looked terrible; why did he have to see her like this?

Amber felt fingers on her chin. She once more looked up into Miro's dark eyes, and saw the welling of water around their edges.

Miro spoke for the first time since he'd seen her. "Never again let me forget how beautiful you are," he said.

He lowered his head and his strong arms went around her. The last thing Amber saw from the corner of her eye was Rogan wiping some speck from his eye.

Then she forgot everything else, as finally Amber had what she had wanted ever since she first saw him in Sarostar, so many years ago.