“Do not underestimate her, True,” Baldrick warned. “Brix and Gal told me, they followed you for some time, and witnessed the beauty of her magic. They also reported to me why it came forth. This means she shares many a trait with you, my prince. She is at her happiest when she sees the ones she loves are happy. She is at her most powerful when she’s protecting the ones she loves from something that might cause harm. Stop treating her like the substance that holds the sand of her land and the dirt of ours in her veneration. She is not made of glass. She is far less fragile than you think. And you do her a disservice by giving her too much, and not allowing her to return it. Allow her to return it, True. Let her make you happy.”

Again, True’s gaze drifted to Farah.

She was now, along with having her hair arranged, playing pattycake with a little gnome girlchild.

True felt warmth hit his stomach.

He thought of the flight of the leaves all around them, how they rose up and hovered, as if waiting for a command, and wondered if she actually could hold up a mountain.

And then he thought of why they rose up.

He’d never given much consideration to his life, how he’d lived it, who had been around him when he did and how they’d treated him.

It was his life, it had been lived as it had been lived, and there was no changing that now.

It had always been his future he’d looked forward to. Something, eventually, he hoped to control.

Something he’d hoped to fill with peace and goodness.

Something that wasn’t within his grasp.

He already possessed it.

It was sleeping by his side every night.

And right then, playing pattycake with a child.

“Oh yes, I’m very happy for you, True,” Baldrick muttered.

“Carrington plans to subvert the treaties by attempting to claim the northern border of Firenze and push south when the royal procession moves to Airen,” True announced abruptly

He and Baldrick were now alone, the others going about their business.

However, his men stood at the ready some ways away, telling him without words that it was time to go.

And it was.

The day was getting short and they had ten miles to traverse before they made the village where they intended to stay that night. They had a tent, and it might have grown warm for the final spell before the depths of autumn and the biting chill of winter set in, but the nights were cold, and he did not want Farah far from a fire iron.

Thus, it was time to finish briefing his friend so they could move on.

“This doesn’t surprise me,” Baldrick said on a sigh.

True turned to him. “Matters are in hand.”

“Will this finally be done?” Baldrick asked.