He shifted her sideways so he could sign, and alarm flashed through her at his seriousness. ‘This isn’t the best time to be talking about this,’ he started and the wind was suddenly too cold and too harsh, stealing her breath, stealing inside her until she shivered. She wouldn’t cry, not in front of him and Lutek. She promised herself she wouldn’t cry.

‘I understand,’ she signed and shifted further away from him so she could stand. He grabbed her hand and pulled, making her look.

‘I don’t,’ he signed. ‘I don’t know what you think’s going on here, but that’s not the answer I was hoping for.’ Toxte hesitated and blew out his cheeks, then nodded once, sharp, to himself. ‘I know it’s early in our relationship, I know we haven’t … Eja Xessa, will you marry me?’

The question was so unexpected that she just sat there, her mouth hanging open. Marry?

Anxiety was building in his eyes and his hands blurred with speed. ‘I know we haven’t been together for long, but the world is changing and there’s war in the trees and we might all be dead in a month and I don’t want to die without you knowing how I feel. I love you, Xessa, I’ve loved you for more than a year and I want to marry you. If you’ll allow it … Will you allow it?’

Xessa’s hands had started to shake. Her fingers were cold and clumsy. She couldn’t even tell him how much she loved him, because her hands wouldn’t work, so she pressed her face against his and then her mouth, and then her arms around him and her chest to his and he shifted and held her and scooped her into his lap and she closed her eyes against the promise of the day and gave herself to the promise of him. It was sweeter, and warmer, and more luminous than even the sun.

When she could finally lean back, he was a little astonished and a little confused. ‘Yes?’ he asked her and she laughed. She nodded. She kissed him again. Marriage during the Great Star’s absence was considered unlucky, but he was right – they might be dead in a month. She wouldn’t waste a single instant of their lives together worrying over that. Malel would understand. So would the Watcher.

‘We should celebrate,’ he signed, jubilant, but a shadow fell over them – Tayan.

‘You’re supposed to be watching my epic victory over the warrior,’ he signed, but he knew. Knew and was trying to hide his grief for their joy.

Xessa unwound herself from Toxte and stood so she could wipe the drying blood from his chin. ‘Go again,’ she signed. ‘Show me how you’re going to save Lilla. And know that I’ll be at your side to do it.’