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Her eyes widened, brightened with tears. She clearly hadn’t expected him to be gracious.
    She’d braced herself for the worst, probably since themoment she’d stopped her husband from hurting anyone ever again, Syrriah realized.
    Joral relayed the facts to the mayor, allowing Syrriah to add details as necessary. Then he gave the verdict, one that would be upheld because the Heralds’ word was law.
    â€œLady Meriette Blenvane acted to prevent a child from being harmed and to protect herself from future harm,” he said. “Given those circumstances, she deserves no further punishment. It will be up to the village to decide whether she continue as lady of the manor keep until her son is of age, or whether another should be appointed. Herald Syrriah and I are in agreement, however, that we believe Lady Meriette is capable of handling the duties of her deceased husband.”
    Mayor Quentlee nodded. “On behalf of the village of Blenvane, I accept your ruling and will inform the village of the decision.” He looked at Meriette and added, “Given that no one may question the Heralds’ verdict, there is no need to explain the reasons behind your action. That will remain a secret.”
    â€œNo,” Meriette said, and this time the strength in her voice was clear. “I want my story told, and I will be the one to tell it. No woman—no woman, man, or child—should ever suffer in silence as I did, and only by my honesty can I help anyone in this village who finds themselves in need.”
    *   *   *
    Syrriah hadn’t wanted adventure, hadn’t wanted her life to change. She might have been reluctant, but she’d done her best at the Collegium, done her best on the road with Joral, despite her aches and pains and the desire to be safe and warm in a home of her own.
    Being a mother and the lady of the manor keep had been her life, a life she’d loved, but she’d lost her purpose when her children had left and Brant had died.
    She’d been given an opportunity for a new life. One where she could use her Gifts and effect more change than in just one village.
    For the first time, she felt ready for the adventure.
    For the first time in a very long time, she knew what her purpose was.

The Barest Gift
    Brenda Cooper
    A thin trickle of foot traffic made its way back into Goldleaf from the ripening fields as the sun finally released its heat and sent long, slanting rays across the road.
    Helen sat amid the hedgerows, glancing down the road from time to time, only to be continually disappointed, as it was either empty or held only one or two people she already knew. Some waved at her or stopped to say hello, perhaps on their way to her family’s inn, the Robin’s Rest.
    When she wasn’t watching the road, Helen played with a fine, carved wooden Companion her grandmother had given her two years and three days ago, on the day she had turned seven. While she waited, Helen made up adventures for the Companion to share with a small doll she’d made from straw and an old shirt.
    She couldn’t have told herself why she expected to see a Herald and a real Companion soon. She was certain she had known a day in advance about the Herald and Trainee pair that had come through last year, and right now she felt the very same way. Like there was an itch on her heart.
    While she watched, Helen hummed the tune from“The Innkeep’s Daughter,” a song about a young woman who saved a field Herald from a band of notorious thieves. She liked to imagine herself being that brave, although she liked to imagine herself as a Herald even more.
    The gloaming turned to true dusk. She stood and rubbed the silver hooves clean on the inside of her dress and tucked her doll into a pocket. Before setting out for home, she looked back down the road one more time, finding it empty again.
    Inside, she set her toys down on her very own small shelf by the door