Homecoming

By Scott Washburn

Chapter 1

"Foix, I'm scared," said Liss.

"Scared? You?" replied Foix, twisting sideways on his horse to look at her. "The girl who outrides Roknari crossbow bolts, who mans the walls of castles under siege, faces down demons, and hobnobs with saints and sorcerers, scared?" His lips twisted into a smile and she nearly leaned over to kiss them. There was one particular sorcerer she very much wanted to hobnob with.

"Saints, sorcerers and demons are one thing. This is my family! Mother, father, brothers and sisters! Another thing entirely!"

Foix took on an expression of mock-horror. "As bad as all that? What am I marrying into here? Damn these poor roads! Not even a handy culvert to hide in!"

"I'll speak to the Royina about it, next I see her," said Liss. "I'd be happy to have one to hide in myself!"

"You really are rattled, aren't you?" said Foix more seriously. "How long has it been since you've seen them?"

"Over four years. Nearer to five now. A long time. Perhaps they won't even remember me," she said trying to look confident.

"Small chance of that, love. You make quite an unforgettable impression." He reached over and took her hand, unmindful of the four men-at-arms riding behind them.

She smiled at him and squeezed. "I just… I just don't know how they'll react."

"To what? You reappearing four years after vanishing? To your new station? Or to the fact that you're betrothed to a sorcerer? A sorcerer of the Bastard? Hmmm, might be quite a bit to hit them with at that…" He looked thoughtful, an expression she found endearing.

"Perhaps we ought to leave out the sorcerer part," agreed Liss. "It's really none of their business, after all."

"True. And I doubt I'd have any reason to reveal it in these peaceful lands. But as for the rest, did you ever let them know where you'd gone after you joined the courier service?"

"I sent one message about a year after I left," replied Liss. "I never heard anything back. Whether my message went astray or their reply never got to me or if they just didn't care, I don't know." She spoke plainly and she was certainly glad that her family had never come in pursuit of her, but at the same time it still hurt a little that they hadn't even tried…

"And now the little farm girl returns in triumph," grinned Foix. "Made Sera Annaliss dy Teneret by the hand of Royina Iselle herself, lady-in-waiting to Dowager Royina Saint Ista, heroine of the Battle of Porcifors, veteran of the fall of Visping…"

"Foix, stop it."

"… and betrothed to the cleverest soldier-dedicat in all of Chalion-Ibra."

"Foix!"

"The handsomest, too, did I mention that?"

"Well, I'll agree with that last part," she said making a face at him. He smiled back at her with that wonderful smile of his and her pique melted away. They rode in silence for a while over the rolling Labran countryside. This part of southern Chalion was indeed peaceful, unlike the northern regions where Liss had spent so much time lately. The hillsides, though not steep were rocky, the limestone bones of the land poking through in many places, better suited for sheep than farming, although many a farm dotted the lower, flatter spots.

"Things starting to look familiar, love?" said Foix. She looked sharply at him. She'd been thinking exactly that. He claimed that his sorcerous powers did not extend to reading minds, but sometimes she wondered.

"Yes," she answered. "Teneret is just over the next hill. Three more miles."

"Good. We'll get there well before dark. You say the inn there is suitable? We could always impose on the temple to take us in."

"It seemed good enough to me when I lived here. Of course I was just a 'little farm girl' then, unused to fine things or the fine people that demanded those fine things. Perhaps the cleverest soldier-dedicat in Chalion might find it beneath him." She bit her tongue at the tart tone she'd allowed to slip into her voice. Five gods, what was the matter with her?

Foix's usually pleasant expression was missing as he stared at her. "I'm, sure it will be fi… perfectly suitable. I've slept on the ground or in the mud often enough, y'know."

She didn't know what to say. So instead, she jabbed her spurs into her horse's flanks and sprang away. "I'll race you there!" she shouted over her shoulder. She heard his surprised exclamation, but she didn't look back. The horse broke into a gallop and the wind tugged at her cape and her long braid flapped in the breeze. A wild grin was on her face. Oh yes! This was what she needed! Her true self was not Sera Annaliss dy Teneret, it was Liss the Courier Rider. She belonged on the back of a galloping steed, her heart pounding in rhythm with the hoofbeats, not in the courts and councils of the high and mighty of Chalion! She reached the crest of the hill in what seemed an eye blink and then onward, down the long slope toward the village of Teneret.

She slowed the horse a bit as she reached the first buildings. The village consisted of several hundred stone and wood structures clustered around the central square where the temple was located. Many people were on the streets and they all looked at her in surprise as she rushed past. The square was paved with cobblestones and her horse's hooves were amazingly loud on them as she reined to a stop in front of the inn. Dozens of faces were staring at her and the innkeeper and one of his men rushed out the door. She looked back and saw that Foix was a hundred lengths behind her and the men-at arms with the plodding baggage horses were just specks on the hillside.

The innkeeper looked from her to the fast approaching Foix and said in a nervous voice: "Are you… are you in danger, my lady?"

She laughed. "No, he's harmless. But we will need rooms and stabling for me and my betrothed and our four men and eight horses, good sir."

"Oh! Of course, my lady!" cried the man, obviously relieved that he wasn't going to have to try and defend her against bandits or whoever the other riders were. "We are honored." He gave rapid instructions to his man, who hurried inside. "And who… who do I have the honor of serving?" he asked, turning back to her.

She recognized the man now but he clearly didn't recognize her. For some reason she was glad. "My betrothed is Ser Foix dy Gura. I am…" her tongue suddenly stumbled over her own title. Too complicated, too many explanations. Not now. "I am Annaliss." That would be safe enough, no one had ever called her that here. She swung herself down from the saddle and patted the horse's side. "This beast needs a walk and a good rubbing down."

"It will be seen to, my lady." Several more people emerged from the inn and her horse was turned over to one of those. The inn had always had a good stable, but she intended to have a look herself later. Just then Foix clattered to a stop and looked down at her.

"Feel better?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

"Much." After a moment she smiled and his expression turned from worry to relief.

Foix dismounted and received the innkeeper's greetings. In a short time they were shown to their rooms which while simple were clean and pleasant enough. She and Foix had a pair of rooms with a connecting door. Their men—on loan from Royina Ista's guard—were lodged over the stable. She was unpacking her things—she couldn't believe how many things she had accumulated—when Foix came into her room.

"So, what is the plan? I assume we won't be seeing your family until tomorrow. But do you plan to go there? Summon them here? Drop in unannounced?"

"I have a better idea. Why don't we rest here tonight and then tomorrow we can get on our horses and ride back to Cardegos and forget this whole crazy thing."

"Not a chance, my lady! We've already visited my family and now it's your turn! And have you given any thought to the fact that I might be as nervous about this as you are? You have what? Three brothers? How big are they?"

"Not all that big, I suppose. But what do you have to be nervous about? You with your sword and all, they'll be in awe of you. But me! I'll just be their silly little sister no matter what I'm wearing. And what should I wear?" She spun around and gestured to the pile of clothes lying on the bed. "If I wear my court finery they'll just laugh. If I wear my riding clothes they'll… just laugh. Oh! This is too complicated! Why can't we…" Her protests were cut off as Foix took her in his arms and pressed his lips against hers. Quite some time passed before he released her.

"See? Things aren't as complicated as all that."

"No," she sighed. "No, they're not…" She seized him and they fell backwards onto the pile of clothing on her bed, laughing.

It was almost sunset by the time they emerged from the inn. Foix wanted a look around the village and Liss was content to hold his hand and stroll. "Is it as you remember?" he asked after a while.

"Nearly. That house there is new and they seem to have added a floor above Olwyn's smithy, but most of it's just as it was." Just like the scores other villages she'd rode through in the last five years. But those other villages didn't have a hundred curious eyes watching her. People were looking out of windows and stealing glances from around corners as they walked.

"Not many visitors here, I'm guessing," said Foix, noting the watchers.

"A lot of people come through," she replied. "On market day it's quite crowded. But folks looking like us… no. The local castillar is way over in Jerret, almost fifteen miles. We'd see him or his men once or twice a year. Of course there is the courier relay station…"

"They're probably all wondering why we're here," said Foix. "Suspicious lot. Look, there's the village divine peeping at us from the temple door. Perhaps if we had a word with him he could calm the others." He steered her in that direction. The divine, an elderly man who had aged rather alarmingly in five years, did not recognize her any more than the innkeeper. Have I changed that much? Or can't anyone see beyond my fine clothes? He seemed relieved at Foix's explanation that they were just passing through although Liss could tell he would have like to know where they were passing through to. They took the opportunity to give prayers of thanks for their safe journey at each of the gods' altars, including the Bastard's in his separate tower. The divine thanked them for the offering they left as well.

"Perhaps you should ask him after your family," suggested Foix. "An intermediary, of sorts?"

"I… I'll think about it." It was an appealing idea. "In the morning."

"Can't put it off forever, love."

"I know, I know…" They headed back toward the inn.

"Liss?" said a voice. "Liss is it really you?" She spun around and saw a young woman. She was clinging to the arm of a young man who she instantly recognized as Egardo, son of the village tanner. She'd been sweet on him once. But the woman… she looked like…

"Fanni!" she gasped. "Five gods, Foix, it's my sister, Fanni!"

[Scene Break]

"Ready?" asked Foix.

"As I'll ever be, I suppose," said Liss. She was staring out the window of her room on the second floor of the inn. It was well after dawn on a fine morning and many people were in the square below. "Fanni and Egardo said they would leave at first light. If they did, then we shouldn't overtake them before they have a chance to get to the house and spread the… the word."

Foix chuckled. "For a moment there I thought you were going to say 'alarm'."

"I nearly did," admitted Liss. "I still can't believe Fanni married Edgardo…" Five years. She'd been so concerned about how much she had changed she hadn't thought about how much else had changed! According to Fanni, two of her brothers and one of her other sisters had married while she was away. And Great Aunt Tessali had died… Fanni had gushed out five years of family history in a quarter hour on the street last night. Maybe her homecoming wouldn't be the huge event—or huge ordeal—she had feared.

"Dearheart, your family is going to be surprised, but I can't believe they won't be happy to see you. Especially when they learn that you've done well in the world. At least I hope you feel you've done well." He looked at her and his usual pleasant smile was replaced by an expression of concern.

She turned from the window and kissed him. "Yes. Very well." They held each other for a moment and then she shook herself. "You're right. I'm being silly. It's not like I'm dragging myself home in rags, unwed with a child, and begging to be taken back in."

"No indeed! And by the way, I think your choice of clothing is perfect."

She looked down at herself. She was wearing one of her 'formal riding costumes'. The normal court riding attire for ladies had always exasperated her. Sidesaddle! Bastards Hell, how could anyone ride properly sidesaddle? And yet her normal riding clothes were far too… plain for many of the duties she needed to perform for the Royina these days. So, with Ista's help—and encouragement—she'd started designing clothing that was both practical and stylish. At first the other ladies had looked at her askance—until Ista started wearing them herself. The trend was spreading all through Cardegos now.

Today's outfit consisted of a pair of pantaloons, reinforced on the inside of the legs, that tucked into calf-high riding boots. But the front, back, and sides had fabric panels, not quite long enough to get in the way, but long enough to look like a proper skirt when standing or walking. Above that was a blouse that was designed to look like it had a tight bodice, but which in fact was loose enough to allow her to breath. The collar was high, to keep road dust out of her cleavage, but not so tight as to constrict her throat. A vest-cloak went over that, but the cloak was short enough to stay clear of saddle and harness. The terminology of the seamstresses still eluded her, but they had managed to put in a few pleats and doodads or whatever they were called to give it some style without interfering with function. It was all in blue fabrics with white trim to match Foix's clothing. Her betrothed was a sorcerer of the Bastard, but he'd refused to give up his position in the Daughter's Order, so blue and white had become his colors.

"I think we make a fine pair," she said.

"Indeed we do! Come! No more stalling! Let's be on our way."

A half hour later they rode out of Teneret, Liss and Foix leading the four men-at-arms, who were also wearing their best. "We look like an invading army," said Liss.

"It'll make a good first impression," replied Foix. "Convince 'em we aren't just a pair of loonies with good taste in clothes. Besides, if your father and brothers take exception to me, they can cover my retreat."

"Your retreat! What about mine!"

"Well, you can ride faster than any of us. I 'spect you'll beat us back to the inn."

"Don't tempt me."

Her father's little estate was an hour's ride east of the village and every mile brought new memories of her childhood. Ponds where she'd swum, woodlots where she'd played, farms where friends had lived. A very surprising and unfamiliar homesickness was growing in her. Foix seemed to sense her mood and said little to distract her.

Finally they rounded the last bend and she caught her breath as the familiar buildings came into sight. There was the big old farmhouse with its many generations of additions, the barn, the attached sheds, and the wall that almost, but not quite, enclosed them all. Whitewashed brick, mostly, although in some spots there seemed to be more brick than whitewash showing, A thatched roof on most of the house, but wood shingles in other places. The fenced-in garden was still there although it seemed smaller than usual. In fact, the whole place seemed smaller, but that was surely an illusion! None of those walls had been moved in lifetimes—the place couldn't have shrunk!

She smiled when she saw the horses in the pasture. Fanni had confirmed that Father still raised the best horses in the province. She wondered if old Featherbrain was still around. She'd have to ask.

A shout from up ahead drew her attention away from the horses and back to the house. She spotted a figure by the gate who waved and then disappeared inside. "I think our arrival is being announced," grinned Foix.

A part of Liss wanted to spur her horse into a trot and hurry ahead. A smaller, but still noticeable, part wanted to turn around and gallop away. She did neither, and step by step their mounts brought them up to the gate. A small crowd of people clustered just inside.

"Liss! Oh Annaliss!" A stout woman with graying hair and a white apron was pushing through the crowd.

Without a conscious thought Liss was off her horse and gathering her mother into her arms. She'd sworn to herself, to all five gods, that she wasn't going to cry. But she was foresworn in an instant. "Mama, Mama, I've come home," she wept.

"Naughty girl! Oh, you naughty girl!" cried her mother, weeping in turn and clutching her closer. "How could you run off like that? Without a word! Without a word!" She held her away for a moment and then pulled her in again, tighter than before.

"Well, I did send a message…"

"A year after the fact! We spent a year not knowing if you were alive or dead!"

"So you did get my message?" Liss pulled away slightly.

"That cowardly… dastardly… thief of a courier master held your note for two months before he got up the nerve to give it to us—and admit what he'd done!"

"Mother nearly throttled him," said Fanni, grinning.

"He transferred to another station right after that," put in a tall young man who Liss realized with a shock was her brother Leandro.

"So, are you going stand there crying or are you going to introduce us to this mob," growled her father coming forward. He was a tall, lean man although starting to get fat around the middle. He was completely bald on top now but still had thick brown hair on the sides to match his full beard. Liss pulled free of her mother's grasp and hugged him, blinking back more tears.

This embrace was shorter, but no less sincere. She stood back, scrubbed her eyes on her sleeve and smiled. "Papa, Mama, everyone, this is Foix. Ser Foix dy Gura, I should say! We're to be married."

"Foix will do fine," said Foix, turning slightly red, but smiling and nodding to all of them.

"But… but… how can this be?" demanded her mother. "You to be wed to this great lord? And you but a farm girl? Fanni told us, but we could scarce believe it!"

'Tis true, I assure you, madam," said Foix, making a formal bow. "And no greater prize could I ever ask for than the hand of Sera Annaliss dy Teneret." He took her hand and held it possessively. Liss' heart seemed to melt within her.

"Sera?" snorted Leandro. "How can that be?"

"Have you not heard of the great doings in the north?" asked Foix. His normally easygoing speech and manner was turning quite formal. "Victories against the Rocknari, the fall of Visping?"

"Of course we have!" said Mother. "And we've thanked the five gods, good ser. But what has this to do with our Liss?"

"Well then, you should know that Liss' courier duty landed her in the midst of adventures both strange and great. She stood at the side of Dowager Rowina Ista during the siege and battle of Porsifors and then later at the great victory before Visping. For her loyalty and courage she was made a lady afterwards by the hand of Royina Iselle herself. I, being caught up in those same events, witnessed her valiant actions and pledged myself to win her favor. Surely all five gods must have blessed me, for I was successful."

Liss felt like she was going to burst into flames. Her cheeks were burning and she squeezed his hand tighter. "No small part did you play in those great events, my husband-to-be," she managed to squeak out.

Foix bowed to her and then again to her parents. "I must apologize for not asking your permission, sir, but time and circumstances did not allow it. I trust that you do not object."

A dozen faces gaped at them. After a long silence her father cleared his throat noisily. "Well!" he said. "Well! I don't… I don't imagine a lord such as yourself would be interested in the dowry of a poor farm girl. I assure you I have no dowry for a great lady!"

Foix smiled. "Have no fear, sir. Dowry or no, I would have Liss' hand. But she is now a lady-in-waiting to the Dowager Royina and as is traditional, Ista has seen to her dowry." Her father relaxed visibly. "And," continued Foix, "she also bade me to present this small purse to you to cover your expenses should you decide to accept our invitation to the wedding, which will be in Cardegos two weeks before the Mother's Day." He drew a small velvet bag from his cloak and presented it to her father.

"Cardegos!' exclaimed a half-dozen voices at once. Father weighed the purse in his hand and looked thoughtful.

"Royinas Ista and Iselle and the Royal Consort Bergon and Chancellor dy Cazaril all wish to attend and their duties won't allow them to come all the way here," said Liss apologetically. "We do hope you can come."

"Oh, this is all madness," cried her mother all aflutter. "Cardegos! It's so far and I have nothing to wear in such high company! I couldn't possibly…"

"No need to decide now, madam," said Foix. "Think on it." He turned to Liss. "Uh, I'm assuming that these are you mother and father, love, but perhaps you can introduce the rest?"

"Oh! Of course!" said Liss. She sorted out the family as best she could by age. She started with her oldest brother Leandro, his wife, Celia and their baby son. Leandro had just been courting Celia when she left but now the three of them were all living here—and her father was a grandfather! "Fanni and Edgardo you've already met, of course," she said. Next came Rosara and her husband Gimar. They'd only been married the previous fall, but Rosie was very obviously with child. They lived on a nearby farm with Gimar's parents. Then there were sisters Dalitta and Yesenia and brother Seve, the baby of the family, but not so little anymore! Seve was the age she had been when she left. Finally, there were the farmhands Arand and Artur, brothers who had worked for her father as long as she could remember. Not quite family, but almost.

But wait… someone was missing… "Where's Toma?" she asked. Her brother was just a year younger and according to Fanni, married less than a year.

"Oh," said Fanni, "I guess I forgot to mention in all the excitement last night. Toma married a girl from over beyond Teneret. Vilma is nice but her father has a farm and no sons so he moved in with her. They're doing well."

"Very well!" chuckled her father. "He sold some horses to the temple two months back and got twice what they were worth from what I hear. Guess he learned a thing or two from me after all."

"Anyway," continued Fanni. "Seve is going to ride over there after the noon meal and tell him the news and see if he can come by tomorrow."

"Oh good," said Liss. "I do want to see him." In fact, Toma was her favorite among her siblings. A quiet, thoughtful boy who didn't tease her like the others when she'd talked about leaving Teneret someday and seeing the world. She'd looked forward to talking to him about her adventures. He'd understand if anyone would.

"And who are these gentlemen?" asked Yesenia, pointing to the men-at-arms who had been looking on in amusement all this time.

"Ah," said Foix. "These are worthy soldiers of the Dowager Rowina's escort. She lent them to us for the journey here." He quickly gave their names and several of them smiled broadly at Yesenia, who had blossomed rather spectacularly in Liss' absence. She blushed and smiled back.

"They can stay with Arand and Artur in the barn," said her mother firmly, taking Yesenia by the arm and pulling her away. She looked at the farmhands. "Don't just stand there, you oafs! See to all these horses! Get them settled! The meal will be ready by the time you're done."

The pair smiled. "Yes'm," said Arand. He and Artur began collecting the horses—and the soldiers.

"You don't really have to put us up,' said Foix, suddenly looking unsure of himself. "We do have rooms at the inn…"

"Nonsense! You'll stay right here! The very idea!"

"We left two horses and all our things…"

"Seve can fetch them back here after he talks to Toma," said Mother as if that settled it all. "Now come! I have to get back to my kitchen before the meal is spoilt. No more backtalk! Come on!"

She herded them into the big old house and before long they were seated around a table that was just barely large enough for the whole family. The memories and feelings nearly overwhelmed Liss. Everything was going so much better than she'd feared! Once there was food in front of them—solid country fare that brought back more memories—Foix kept them all enthralled with tales of the 'strange and great' events of the past year up north. Carefully edited tales, of course. His own demon was left out entirely and even the details of Ista's triumph over Princess Joen were largely glossed over. But there were battles and daring-do enough to leave everyone gape-mouthed. Liss said little except to rein-in Foix when he got too enthusiastic describing her own exploits. Only when trying to describe Lord Arhys' last ride did he falter. Liss' own view of the event had been limited to the awful and terrifying moments atop the tower in Porcifors and she was disinclined to say anything about them. "He was the bravest man I've ever seen," was all Foix could force out.

A short silence followed, but then her mother began clearing the table and her sisters started asking questions about Royina Iselle and especially about her husband. "Is he as handsome as they say?" demanded Yesenia.

"The first time I saw him he was dripping sweat and covered with dust and Rocknari blood, but cleaned up, yes, he's handsome enough, I suppose," said Liss. She looked fondly at Foix and smiled. "Not as handsome as some, though." That produced some giggles and snorts of laughter.

"I assume that you, both of you, will be going back north?" asked Leandro. "Even after the wedding?" Liss smiled. Was he worried that they'd try to move in here?

"Yes, the campaigning season will soon begin," replied Foix "and there's word that the Roknari are not going to sit idly by while we solidify our hold on Visping. The remaining princedoms are calling for help from the archipelago and there could be some serious fighting. We must be ready for it."

"'We'?" said Mother, returning from her kitchen. "I can see why a brave lord such as yourself might be involved, but why my Liss?"

Foix glanced at her and licked his lips. "The… the Dowager Royina provides important… counsel to her daughter and the Consort. She intends to go north with the armies and Liss is her most important attendant. But have no fears, madam, your daughter will be well protected—not that she isn't quite capable of taking care of herself," he added hastily.

Eventually the gathering broke up as there was always work to be done, even on a day when a lost daughter returned. But they all agreed to assemble again the next day when Toma could be there. Seve departed on horseback with a hastily penned note from Foix to the innkeeper (and a few extra coins) to assure that they would get their horses and belongings when the boy returned. Yesenia wormed her way out of some chores by volunteering to show Liss and Foix around the estate while Mother and Rosie got their rooms ready.

Her sister managed to drag the tour out for most of the afternoon. Not a great deal had changed to the physical layout of the estate in five years and Liss doubted that Foix was all that interested in what he was being shown, but they were both perfectly content to follow the girl around, holding hands and sneaking kisses when she wasn't looking. Liss was delighted that old Featherbrain was still alive. The horse had been her favorite as a child. But now he was blind in one eye and mostly lame. She was amazed that her father—never prone to sentimentality—had not put him down. She spent some time with him and he even seemed to remember her.

Still, the tour only reinforced in her mind how different her life was now. I don't fit in here anymore—not that I ever did, really. It saddened her for reasons she couldn't define. She didn't want to come back, but the knowledge that she couldn't even if she wanted…

The rooms that Mother prepared for them did not have an adjoining door. They weren't even in the same part of the house. Just before dark Seve arrived with word that Toma would come tomorrow and with their baggage horses in tow. Her sisters 'helped' her unpack, fingering and commenting on every item in her bags. It was touching and irritating at the same time. For a few moments she felt like the old Liss—with all the good and the bad that entailed.

The evening quickly drew to a close. Farm people retired early and Liss was glad. It had been a long day and all the nervous energy she had expended left her very tired. She did manage to find a few moments alone with Foix in the hallway.

"That went much better than I'd feared," she sighed, leaning against him. "Thank you. Thank you for being here with me. And for the things you said."

"I want to always be there for you," he said nuzzling her ear. It tickled.

"Good," she giggled. "But tonight I think we should keep to our rooms. The floors creak dreadfully around here."

"As you wish, my love," said Foix with a small bow. "Good night."

Days both ended and started early for farm people. While no one actually came to get them up, the noises had them awake soon after dawn. Breakfast was more elaborate than the ones Liss remembered and she supposed Foix's presence was the reason. Her mother announced that she planned a special meal at noon when everyone, including Toma and his wife would be there. She drafted all the girls, including Liss, for the preparations. Foix went off with her father to look over the horses. Liss wondered what they would talk about besides the horses.

The morning passed quickly and pleasantly with remembered tasks. Her sisters kept up a steady stream of mocking remarks about the 'great lady' doing farm girl chores that were just good-natured enough to keep her from getting angry. She'd been expecting and fearing far worse and she managed to give as well as she got until they were all laughing.

The meal was close to ready when the men-folk returned from the fields. Fanni and Edgardo and Rosara and Gimar arrived shortly after that. Only Toma and his wife were missing. Liss and Foix drifted out to the gate to wait for them. "I like your family," said Foix. "Your father seems like a good man."

"I hope he didn't interrogate you too severely."

Foix laughed. "A bit! Quizzed me about my family and what I stood to inherit. Your father knows the value of land! When he learned that I stand to get a good parcel from my father when he goes, he became downright friendly. He does care about your welfare, love. He tried to hide it, but I think he was very worried about you when you ran off."

Liss wasn't sure what to say to that. Instead she stared down the road and was rewarded to see a pair of figures riding in their direction. "Oh, that must be Toma!"

"One good thing about living in horse country: nobody has to walk," observed Foix.

"Well, some people, do," replied Liss, "But I was riding almost before I could walk."

"And haven't stopped since." He grinned at her. "I get the impression that you're pretty fond of Toma."

"Well, I was. Not sure what he'll be like now. Hard to believe he's married! He was always rather shy when we were younger. I'll be interested to meet his wife and… What?"

The expression on Foix's face had become very strange. Toma was only a hundred paces off now, and Foix was staring at him intently. Her brother was staring back and slowed his horse almost to a stop.

"Foix, what's wrong?"

Suddenly, Toma yanked at his horse's reins and turned the beast around. An instant later he was galloping away as if a squadron of Roknari cavalry was on his heels. His wife called after him, her voice shocked and bewildered. "Toma! Where are you going?" She looked back at Liss and Foix for an instant and then rode after her husband who was already a quarter mile away and still moving fast.

"Well what got into him?" said Liss, half angry and half worried. She looked at Foix and stopped. He was frozen, still looking after Toma. "Foix! What is it?"

He shook himself as if startled out of a dream and then looked at her. "I'm afraid I know what's gotten into your brother, Liss…

…and it's a demon."

End of Chapter 1