The Vigil captain had not yet released the side of the carriage. “Then I must pass on this warning now. There’s been trouble nearby.”

Simo looked over sharply. “What manner of trouble?”

“Mischief in the hallow-wood plantations. Cutting down saplings. Salting the soil. The troublemakers do their business at night. You’ll have to push hard to reach Pelis Manor North by sunset today. There’s nowhere else secure where you can halt between here and there.”

The haunt marked Elen seated beside Xilsi before turning back to the Vigil captain. “Your warning is noted. Simo, let us proceed.”

The gates opened. They swept out of the courtyard, down the avenue, through the gardens, past the moat, and into Woodfall Province. Where Elen had not set foot in fifteen years.

The first thing that struck her was the distinctive spicy-sweet scent of hallow-wood. She’d loved that smell once. Now, it made her uneasy, as if Lord Duenn might burst into view at any instant with a ledger in hand, toting up his riches.

Ipis gave a great sniff. “Is that hallow-wood? I’ve never smelled it out in the open!”

Kem said, a bit tendentiously, “Hallow-wood forests cover much of the western half of Woodfall Province. In fact, harvesting hallow-wood logs and shipping them to the heartland is the primary source of wealth for Woodfall Province’s three meritorious Manors, Lolunn, Czeyi, and—uh—Duenn.” He cleared his throat self-consciously, then added, “No one but those Manors is allowed to cut and sell it.”

Xilsi shot Elen the look of an elder amused by the antics of the youth. “Are you showing off, Novice Kem?” she said over her shoulder.

“Oh, uh—” He flushed.

“No, it’s all right. You’ve been very patient with Ipis bossing you around for days now.”

Ipis snorted. “Like you weren’t one of my trainers? I learned the bossy method from you.”

“That’s my girl!” said Xilsi with a chuckle. “You’re both all right, you two. Work hard enough, and someday you might become warden captains, like Simo.”

“Do you think so?” Kem’s expression was eager as he contemplated the prospect of a life far from Orledder Halt.

Elen pressed a hand to her belly, feeling hollow. It was for the best, of course it was, but it was so hard to envision a life without him in it: a flat, silent, empty Pall stretching into an unknown distance.

“Look at all this!” cried Ipis as the carriages rolled past a vast field of recently planted hallow-wood saplings, none taller than Fulmo. The air was redolent of fresh growth. “Which Manor controls this plantation?”

“Likely Pelis Manor,” said Xilsi.

“Aren’t they one of the Six Noble Manors?” Kem asked. “Why would they be in the provinces?”