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find so amusing,” Terralt said, glancing sideways at her, “I’m glad of it. I was half-afraid of nurse-maiding a frightened child torn weeping from the arms of her family, like my wife.” He had lapsed back into Agrondish, which Kayli found a considerable relief after his terrible mangling of Bregondish.
    “I am sure few are glad to leave family and home forever to wed a stranger,” Kayli said levelly. “But I assure you that you need not act as my nursemaid. Doubtless I find the prospect of my marriage less dismaying than your wife did.”
    That was a telling blow, and Kayli was rewarded by silence from the lord at her side. The guards scattered to their mounts at a glance from Terralt. One of the grooms had already saddled Maja and led her from the stables, and held the restless mare now with some difficulty.
    “That’s your mount?” Terralt said amusedly. “A fiery beast.” He glanced at her daringly. “Like her mistress, I suppose.”
    Ignoring the suggestive remark, Kayli freed her hand from his arm, and turning away from Terralt as if he no longer existed, she stepped over to where her family was waiting to say last good-byes.
    Danine wept quietly as she buried her face in Kayli’s vest. Melia and Kirsa were too young to understand what all the fuss was about, but they cried, too, because Danine was crying. Kairi’s serenity was a welcome contrast, a warm strength against which Kayli could lean. Kairi bent close and kissed Kayli on the cheek.
    “When you learn to use the speaking crystal,” she murmured quietly, “I will be waiting for your call.”
    Laalen’s eyes held a hint of guilt as she embraced her sister. Were it not for her sickliness, she knew, she herself would be making this journey and Kayli would be back at the Order. Fidaya’s embrace was brief and absentminded. She was more concerned with her own wedding, eager for the present chaos to subside so preparations could resume.
    And Jaenira, of course, was gone. Likely Kayli would never see her oldest sister again. If, indeed, she ever saw any of her family again. Her mother’s kiss was cool and formal and Kayli took no comfort from it. From Nerina’s standpoint, Kayli was making an advantageous marriage into a wealthy country where she’d have comfort and power; what more could she want?
    Elaasar’s embrace was strong, but the warmth in his eyes was tinged with shame. He knew what he was doing—tearing Kayli’s dreams away, bartering her to the ruler of a hostile country in exchange for peace. But he met her eyes squarely; he regretted none of it, and Kayli expected no less of him. She returned his embrace and turned away, saying nothing.
    There was nothing more, after all, to be said.
    Kayli saw that one of the guards had hastily saddled a horse for Terralt—one of the spare horses they’d brought, not one of Kayli’s string. It might have been amusing to see if Terralt was capable of riding one of the spirited Bregondish mares. Kayli gave Maja’s tack a brief inspection, breathed lightly into the mare’s nostrils to calm her, and swung lightly into the saddle.
    It was good to sit in a saddle again, to feel Maja’s strength against her thighs. The ebony perch affixed to the already high pommel of the Bregondish saddle was inconvenient; any higher and she’d have difficulty mounting, and her shooting might be impaired as well. But there was nothing to be done for it right now. She accepted the hawk from its handler and transferred it to its perch.
    By the time she had finished these preparations, Terralt had mounted his sleek brown gelding, far handsomer than the buff or pale gray thick-coated horses of Kayli’s string. Kayli frowned at the gelding. Its sleek, short hair was no more a match for Bregond’s razor-edged plains grasses than Agrondish low boots and soft trousers. But Terralt looked annoyed enough to be riding at all; he would not welcome any criticism.
    Terralt waved his hand impatiently and the guards started