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Ferada’s father, he would have better insightinto how she was feeling. At least he did not think her too stupid to be given strategic details. “I understand that,” she said. “I understand about the war, and why it’s important to secure Alpin as an ally. It just seems such a rush. I hardly have time to prepare myself …”
    “The journey is long.” Faolan’s tone was neutral, detached. “You’ll have more than enough time to think about it on theway.”
    “How long?” She frowned at him.
    “For a party with women, more than a turning of the moon, even if the weather’s favorable. Quicker for warriors, or messengers.”
    Ana turned back to Bridei, addressing him formally. “In your message, my lord king, did you tell Alpin I was coming?” she asked. “So he will have had a number of days’ notice, time to consider this for a little before I arrive?”
    “That was my intention,” the king said.
    She had run out .of questions. Everyone seemed to be waiting for her to speak. The wrong words were on the tip of her tongue, angry words, hurt words, the words not of a princess of the Priteni, but of a frightened girl who finds herself given to a stranger. She swallowed them.
    “My consent to this is, of course, just a formality.” She could hear the tight,sharp tone of her own voice, and worked to moderate it. “I will begin my preparations in the morning. I hope this proves a significant help to Fortriu’s cause. I would hate it to be wasted.” For all her best efforts, her voice shook.
    Nobody said a thing. Ana saw tears in Tuala’s eyes, and a resigned compassion in Fola’s. “Good night,” she said. “I will retire now. May the Shining One guard yourdreams.” Even the king rose to his feet as she made her way out.
     
     
    “SHE DOESN’T WANT to go,” Tuala said to Bridei. “It’s plain in her every word. She’s frightened. Who knows what kind of man Alpin might prove to be?”
    Bridei was sitting by the fire in their quarters with his small son drowsing on his knee. The council was over. The royal bride would be dispatched as soon as Faolan hadthe escort ready. As king, Bridei had become used to making decisions on a balanced assessment of risks and advantages. This decision had been harder than most.
    “That’s one reason I’m sending Faolan,” he said. His head was starting to thump with persistent pain; he closed his eyes, leaning back in his chair, the warm, relaxed body of the infant a comforting presence in his arms. “He may see thismission as somehow beneath him, but I trust him to make certain Ana will be safe before he leaves her at Briar Wood. He has the skills to assess Alpin’s true intent; to predict his future moves.”
    “But not those to recognize whether he will make a good husband,” Tuala said quietly.
    “Ana understands the situation,” Bridei said. “She’ll be as well protected as we can manage. If for any reasonthis goes awry, the escort can see her safely back to White Hill. Faolan’s taking ten men-at-arms. You know how capable he is.”
    “Capable isn’t enough. This is worrying me, Bridei. It just doesn’t feel right. Here, give me Derelei. He should be in his bed.”
    Bridei lifted the sleeping child and placed him in her arms.
    “Ana will miss him,” Tuala said. “She loves him.”
    “I suppose she’ll have oneof her own soon enough.”
    Tuala bore the child away. When she returned some time later, Bridei saw the glint of tears in her eyes. “You’re crying,” he said, alarmed. For all her delicate, fey appearance, Tuala possessed an inner strength that had impressed him even when she was a child of five. She did not often let him see her tears. “For Ana? I’m sorry—here—” He gathered her into his arms, hischeek pressed against her dark hair. “I do regret the manner of this bitterly, Tuala. At the same time I know I must do it. If I don’t take steps to win Alpin over, and promptly, I put the lives of hundreds of men at