Estie did not say, That also will ease me. It would fill empty days. Instead, she said, “I am content. The Commander and I will learn it together. We can practice on each other between your lessons.

“But I do not want to ask too much of you.” His trembling hands reminded her of his exhaustion, the strain of refusing voices that clamored for his attention. “You must respect your own needs. There is no hurry. The enemy is still distant. Fortnights may pass before I must choose my future.”

For a moment, there were tears in Travail’s eyes. Earlier, Estie might have misunderstood them. Now she knew that they were tears of relief. In his own way, his needs were as great as hers; but he had refrained from mentioning them until he had gained her consent. Without it, he would have kept them to himself.

It was no wonder that Magister Facile had loved him.

After the Apprentice left, Estie dismissed Crayn and spent some time alone, trying to gather her scattered emotions.

Her first question had been answered. She knew the name of her gift. Now she had to face a more searching dilemma. Did she want power like Magister Avail’s? How much of herself could she bear to surrender?

Could a deaf woman still be Amika’s Queen?

Would a deaf wife—a deaf sorceress—repulse her husband?

Travail’s offer might enable her to examine the mystery of which Estie she would choose to be.

SIXTEEN

OUT OF TIME

The day after Elgart’s return with the el-Algreb, King Bifalt rode out to the training-fields. The previous evening, the horse-warriors had been given their promised rifles. They had been taught the basics of handling and caring for their guns. This morning, Suti al-Suri’s people would begin learning to shoot.

The King was more than glad to have allies. They were a gift he could not have expected. Nevertheless he looked forward to seeing the el-Algreb receive a lesson in humility. None of them had ever touched a gun before. Yet the chief warrior had declared that they would be ready to fight in two days. With rifles. From horseback.

Of course, any fool could fire a rifle. Accuracy required skill. Accuracy from the back of a galloping horse was a skill that commonly required seasons to acquire.

The el-Algreb would not be ready to challenge the raiders from the south in two days. Unfortunately, the King could not give them more time. Signals from the south and reports from the west indicated that both of Rile’s armies would reach the Open Hand sometime on the fourth day.

By good fortune, the horse-warriors had other weapons: cutlasses, throwing knives, and a few archers. And they were excellent riders. They might be able to slow the raiders.

On a hillcrest at a safe distance, the King paused to watch the el-Algreb try their rifles for the first time.