So I did, from the losing of the woman-stone to the finding of the firestones Dannii hid to test me. He listened to it all, his eyes closed, his hands folded in front of him. He was so still that I thought he had fallen asleep. But when I stopped talking, he lifted his head and looked at me.

“Then I most certainly was wrong,” he said quietly. “And I apologise for mocking you. You see, Elsha, I thought I was the one in control. I thought I had called you to be a part of my purpose, my dream. Now I think the dream isn’t mine at all, and we’re both part of a much bigger one. I thought I saw your road, your destiny. I realise now I haven’t seen the half of it. I’ve been as blind, as mistaken and as prejudiced as the rest of them.”

“No, you haven’t, lord,” I said gently. “You are the wisest, the best person I know. I love you more than anyone else in the …” I hesitated, stopped on the edge of a lie. He watched me, half smiling, one eyebrow raised.

“Well, almost,” I murmured. “I love you more than anyone, except Teraj.”

He laughed softly, put his cup down on the hearthstones, and held his hands out to the flames. Even his hands had aged these past months he had been ill, and become wrinkled and unsteady. “That much I understand, handmaid. I saw you leave his sleeping place that last morning. And I saw the kiss he gave you before we left.”

“Don’t judge me wrong, lord.”

“I don’t judge you at all You called me a priest once, Elsha. You said I didn’t need human warmth, human love. You were wrong. I have loved.”

“I know,” I said, and couldn’t resist adding quietly, “Her name was Nirala.”

He looked startled, and his eyes, narrowed, burned into mine. “So. You read minds, too.”

“No,” I grinned, “but I slept beside you one night when you were very ill and cold, to warm you You talked in your sleep.”

“You slept with me?” He looked amazed, then he slowly smiled, and an old spark lit his eye “I’m sorry I missed that, Elsha.”

“You didn’t miss it entirely, lord You thought I was Nirala. From the way you spoke her name, I knew you weren’t talking about your donkey.”

He laughed quietly, then fell silent, thinking, and all the colour was in his face again at the thought of her, and he looked almost well.

I leaned forward and checked the meat on the spit. It trickled with juices, and smelled delicious. It was almost done. I got up and took two bowls from the saddlebags, and came back to put them by the fire to warm.