“Later, we’ll talk,” said Teraj, and took my lord into one of the houses. A boy came and took the donkey from me. I call him a boy, but he was a man. He would have been thirty years old, perhaps, but he was small and squat, and his face was round and childlike. His eyes slanted slightly upwards at the outer corners, his nose was small, his jaw heavy and unbearded. He looked straight into my face, though he was Chosen, and smiled broadly.

“My name’s Shimer.” His voice was deep and his speech impaired, but I understood.

“My name is Elsha,” I said. “I’m the Firelord’s handmaid.”

“I’m his friend,” he said, nodding towards Teraj. “I love him.”

I smiled, won by his simplicity, his openness. I had never seen anyone like him before. I followed Teraj and my lord into the house, and stopped in the doorway, surprised and delighted.

The house of Teraj was like none other I had seen. It was one-roomed, large, and built deep into a cliff, part cave, part timbered house, part stone. One of the supporting beams inside was the huge leaning trunk of an ancient tree, its top long lost in soil and stone, but its trunk and roots still strong. I learned that Teraj had carved strange signs on it, and images of birds and unfamiliar animals. The dwelling was a pleasing blend of homely crafts and the richest Chosen furnishings. Tables and chairs were hand-carved and rough, yet stood on finest wooden floors.

In other sections the floor was hard, trampled dirt, spread with thick wool weavings more beautiful than any I had seen in wealthy homes. The cave had earthen shelves cut deep into the walls and filled with unskilled pottery and rough-carved spoons, yet the windows on the timbered side were covered with shutters of outstanding latticework. Curtains, woven of richest dyed wool, partitioned the house into kitchen, living space, and bedroom. Heavy fabrics blazed on the dark walls, and I glimpsed a magnificent Chosen carved bed laden with wool blankets of scarlet and gold, and rich black furs.

The house enfolded me, welcomed me with the earthy warmth of wool, stone, soil and wood, and blessed me like an embrace.

It was a blessing, too, just being near Teraj. I watched him take my lord behind the curtains to the bed, heard him talking gently, his voice full of compassion and love, and heard the tranquil sounds of water as he washed the sick man’s face and hands. I stood by a window and looked out through the latticework at the peaceful scene outside, encircled and protected by the high mountain walls, and I felt as if I had at last come home.