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preposterous garbage I’ve ever heard.”
    Erin stopped at the sound of Katalaan’s angry voice. She brought her hands to her cheeks and tried to smooth away the tears. They only smeared.
    â€œKatalaan, I—”
    â€œCan shut up any time now.” The hatch to the stall was lifted, and Erin heard the bustle of brown and green from behind her back.
    â€œKatalaan—”
    â€œDidn’t you hear me, Korfel?”
    No one talked like that, not to Korfel. Erin turned around to see Katalaan’s distinctly red face.
    â€œErin?”
    She nodded dumbly, partly from shock, and partly because her throat felt too swollen for words.
    â€œDon’t you listen to him, dear. You didn’t come to see him, after all.” She reached out and gripped both of Erin’s shoulders tightly. “We’re not all so stupid, and we’re not all so weak that we need to be lied to.”
    â€œKatalaan, I’ve not lied. This is the route the Lernari take to deal with their own troubles. We do not seek to burden others.”
    â€œFor the Bright Heart’s sake, Korfet!” If Erin thought Katalaan had sounded angry before, she was mistaken. “Even the Lernari don’t demand that their children go out to the front! You’ve obviously never lost a child yourself—or never had to leave one—” She caught herself almost grimly. “Why don’t you pack up and go.”
    Korfel nodded, equally grim, and disappeared from view.
    â€œI don’t understand that man sometimes. Says this life is a better one—but still can’t shake his training. Don’t you ever be like that, Erin. We’re all people, and this is all our war, no matter what anyone says. We’ve come from different places to
be in Elliath, and we may not be perfect, we may not pick up swords, but we’re willing to help.”
    Erin nodded quietly.
    â€œCome on, dear.” She cast a backward glance at the stall. “I’ve not much left to sell or eat, but I’m just as good a cook when I’m not in the circle. Where are you staying?”
    â€œAt home.”
    â€œWith whom?”
    She shook her head.
    Katalaan nearly lost her eyebrows. “By yourself ?” Without waiting on a reply, she took Erin firmly by the hand. “Korfel!” she shouted over her shoulder. “Close up here. I have to speak with someone. Come along, dear.”
    â€œAre we going home?”
    â€œNot quite yet.”
    Â 
    The knock that sounded at Serdon’s study door was singularly unwelcome. He was tired; the ceremony often had that effect. He knew that many of his line-children, armed and armored, had marched to the front to die there, and there was nothing any Lernari could do to prevent those deaths. Worse still, Kerlinda had gone: Kerlinda, the healer; Kerlinda, the Lady’s youngest daughter; Kerlinda, who had not been trained well enough to know how to die the warrior’s death.
    He chose to remain silent and hoped that the person on the other side of the closed door would accept this; whoever it was should well know that at this moment he needed his privacy. He bowed his forehead into his gray sleeve.
    The knock grew louder and more distinct.
    He waited a few moments more, then rose, scraping the hardwood legs of his chair against the carpet.
    â€œWhat is it?” he called as he opened the door.
    To his surprise, no initiate grays greeted him; instead he saw the colorful brown and green that could only be market wear. And he knew the face well, if not the expression.
    â€œKatalaan!”
    â€œDon’t you ‘Katalaan’ me, Serdon,” the baker said, barging past him and into the room.
    â€œIs there some problem?”
    â€œI’ll say there is.” She looked at the chair for a moment and decided that she didn’t want to sit. Her plump hands met her hips with a decided thump. “What by the Hearts do you think you’re