He was bold, King Hardan. No one ever disputed that. He refused to huddle on a bleak coastline waiting for the wind to change and allow him to beat his way home in failure and shame, with so many dead—and with rebels all over his court, slavering at the opportunity his failure had given rise to.

He chose to carry on. He might or might not reach Orane now, but he would do damage, as much damage as he could in his rage. Killing, as it happened, came easily to him.

Even so, even with great events occurring, receiving the chroniclers’ attention, men and women in all times and places go about their own lives, as best they can.

What else are we to do?

“Have you heard about the girl?” Marina di Seressa asked.

“What girl?” Silvy said.

They were in the delicately furnished, brightly coloured sitting room of Marina’s family château two days north of the Livraise. The glass doors to the garden were open. Sunshine, late day. Drone of bees, scent of flowers from by the windows. Marina’s daughter and son were outside with an attendant. They were chasing butterflies, and laughing.

“Jeanette. The Maiden.”

“Ah,” said Thierry Villar. “The one who prayed for a storm, they say? I overheard the servants talking about her. They were making the sign of the sun disk, over and again.”

“We don’t know what she prayed for. But yes, her. She is now coming this way, I heard.”

“Oh?” said Thierry. He put down his book.

He had largely recovered. Strength, will, a desire for life. Some nights he still woke from very bad dreams, but many people had those, for different reasons. He had let his mother and stepfather know he was all right. He had been advised by the provost that it was wiser to stay away from Orane, still. There were complex events taking place.

Marina’s hands were calm in her lap. She had, more than any woman he’d ever known, an ability to be calm. And she was calming.

“She’s meeting the two dukes at Chervaux,” she said.

The dukes were Barille and Regnault, of course, the king’s uncles. And there was a sizable enemy force in the land. Again.

“The queen is coming as well,” Marina added. “She has asked me to attend upon her. She also wants you, Thierry.”

“What?” he said, startled. “Why? And why would the court come meet this girl?”

“I have no idea. As for you, the queen might want an expression of gratitude for your rescue. Or something else. I really don’t know. We have been isolated here, haven’t we?”

Thierry sighed. “My gratitude is very great. Even if I’m not good at showing it, and I really want to be back in Orane.”

“Maybe this will lead you back?”