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what’s needed,” he said, not looking up. Upsakes reacted if yanked by a string attached to the top of his head.
    “What?” he barked. “You’re not serious!”
    “I know it’s not the popular solution. I know most of Kodu Riik would rather lose every one of their sons than make a deal with Patverseme. Even here in Kallas, and they suffered nothing from the war. Even those miserable squatters in that pisshole they call a village would slit their own throats before they’d sign a treaty with Patverseme. And Lady knows they’ve plenty of cause, but continued fighting will only make their lives worse. As it is, even with a treaty, they’d be hard-put to rebuild their lives with all they’ve lost.
    “We’re ahalad-kaaslane . We’re not supposed to let our feelings influence our duty to protect and preserve Kodu Riik. Don’t you think peace is for the best? Look at the difference just a few months of truce have made. Imagine what a permanent peace could do.”
    Upsakes launched to his feet and resumed his pacing, shaking his head furiously. “I’ll tell you what I told Geran. Patverseme can’t be trusted. This treaty is a ruse, buying time until the Wizard Guild finds a way to extend its power inside Kodu Riik.”
    “I don’t think so. Our magilanes have managed to uncover a great deal of information inside Patverseme. Their intelligence shows that we’ve done a great deal to cripple Patverseme, even as they have us. The drought hurts them also. And it appears that the Karalis is no longer on good of terms with the Wizard Guild. In fact, there’s a split of some sort within the Guild itself. No, this may be the best opportunity we have for peace. If we wait, the Guild will surely collect itself and push to undermine the Karalis, or be rid of him altogether. Imagine the puppet they might replace him with. Or worse, one of their own.”
    Reisil could tell that Upsakes was unconvinced, though the last prospect worried him. But he ceased pacing and propped himself against a tree, scratching at the stubble on his cheeks.
    “So how do you think the squatters are going to take our news?” he asked Sodur in a sudden change of subject.
    “The river is close by for water and there is open, fertile land. It’s a good place to start over, even with a drought. They will be content.”
    “I hope so. I dislike having to uproot them after all they’ve suffered. First the Patversemese soldiers and then us.”
    “Juhrnus, Felias and I will stay with them for a while and give what aid we can. Try to ready them for winter. I’m sure we can convince Kallas to send supplies and labor as well. If only to get rid of their unwelcome guests,” he added mordantly.
    “Varitsema isn’t going to be too happy having a new town spring up so close,” Upsakes said.
    “He doesn’t have a choice about it, does he? And better twelve leagues away than on his doorstep. He’ll come around.”
    Just then the underbrush crackled as either Felias or Juhrnus returned. Reisil took advantage of the distraction to withdraw.
     
    The sun was sinking over Kallas, turning the pink walls fiery crimson. Reisil made her way quickly through the town, stopping for a moment at the cobbler shop to check on Ulla and the baby. All was well and she continued homeward, her pack made heavier with a loaf of bread and a crock of fresh-churned butter.
    Outside the walls she followed the road’s zigzagging course, turning off where the path to her cottage cut away at a right angle. Despite her desire to be home, Reisil paused on the path, finding her gaze drawn farther down, to the narrow bridge over the Sadelema that joined Kodu Riik to Patverseme. There were guardhouses on both sides—matching stone buildings broken here and there by arrow loops. Behind each one stood an archer. A reminder that the truce was only a truce and not peace. She thought of what she’d overheard in the Lady’s grove. Sodur thought it could be peace.
    Reisil’s breath caught