Fingers untied the knots on the flap of the canvas tent and Amber was surprised when she saw the face of a woman. She was young — younger even than Amber — and wore the simple tunic of a farmer's daughter. Her curly dark hair made Amber think she might be Halrana.

Then Amber noticed the small bundle held in the girl's arms, the realisation hitting her like a hand squeezing her heart. She knew it was him; of course it was him. Amber would know that beautiful baby from among a thousand others.

"Oh." Amber made a sound and held out her arms. "Please. Please. Can I hold him?"

"Here, miss," the girl said, squatting down on the earth next to Amber and passing her the bundle. "He's yours, in't he?"

Amber clutched him to her breast and felt a feeling of such intense joy to be reunited with her son that for a long time she couldn't speak. She marvelled at how much he'd grown in the time she'd been separated from him, and couldn't stop herself from playing with his tiny fingers in awe and cooing at his constantly changing expressions. Amber lost track of time, holding and rocking him, never saying a word, simply smiling and kissing him gently on the forehead time and time again.

"I'd best go," the girl said, as the babe suddenly made an urgent, distressed sound. "He's hungry and wantin' a feed. Anyone catches me here I'll be whipped."

Amber realised she hadn't spoken at all to the woman who was taking care of her son. This must be the wet nurse, she realised, a girl who had probably lost her own child shortly after giving birth. It must have taken a lot of courage for her to come here.

"Can you come again?" Amber said. "Please… I just want to see him."

"I'll try, miss" she promised.

"I'm Amber."

"Casey," the girl said.

"Thank you, Casey," Amber said. "I know coming here is a big risk."

"I know I'd want to see my boy, weren't he dead," Casey said plainly. "Better go. I'll try come back."

~

ANOTHER week passed and Amber counted herself lucky that in that time Moragon was still away or too busy to deal with her. Then she overheard some soldiers talking outside her tent, and discovered what it was Moragon was busy with.

A battle was about to be fought against the allied army of Alturans and Halrana. It was time for Moragon to bring out his 'secret weapon', something called the Akari. Or perhaps someone? The name was familiar.

Amber heard the sound of marching footsteps all throughout the day and night as the Black Army's soldiers departed for the coming battle. It was going to be a pitched effort, an all-out struggle between the two great armies. Amber worried endlessly about her child, and she feared for Miro. Between the two, she was so worried she couldn't eat the thin stew the soldiers gave her.