The night after the Thrades attacked Rhynforde, a meeting was held. The citizens cast their votes and it was decided they would abandon the tiny village that had been left in tatters and travel up the coast to Yarhtah, using the caves and natural tunnels as protection.

Early the next morning, after an uneasy rest by the mineral pool with men taking turns guarding the mouth of the cave, the refugees, some so frail they needed to be carried over the rougher sections of the caves, began to sojourn. They traveled through the mountain tunnel paths for two dark and hungry days and nights until rejoicing with a hearty cheer when sunlight was spotted at the end of the tunnel high on the northern coast. They camped for one night, eating the last of the root vegetables some of the women had been able to salvage during the attack. The humble repast scarcely quieted the roars in their stomachs, but they pressed on the following day, traveling up the coast until they had reached the burned-out shell of Bonn Skaard's village.

Twenty bedraggled troops had found their way down the sheer mountain face after another attack had killed half their men and set up camp at what remained of Yarhtah. They had been part of Bonn Skaard's original battalion, left scattered through the Kadaar mountains during the initial onslaught. The men who weren't badly injured had already filled the village food stores with fresh fish, grains, and vegetables. For the first time in weeks, the group filled their bellies.

Flagons of wine were passed from hand to hand, and in the warmth of the firelight, with their bodies refreshed and Leiffen piping a soft tune on his flute, a sense of normality returned.

But Starlex knew the pleasant feeling of security was fleeting. The Thrades would reach them eventually. They needed reinforcements from Scipio's army.

With a disquietude gnawing at her, she shifted her focus to helping the women put children to bed while the Skaard soldiers remained in counsel around the fire. Bonn was laying out his plan to salvage one of their least damaged ships to sail to Oran. It would take time to make it seaworthy.

That night as she lay in one of the burned-out bungalows with a makeshift roof draped with hides, Starlex allowed herself to dream about becoming Bonn Skaard's wife. She would need the king's permission to do it properly. Hyperia would have much to say about it.

Too much to say. She would rather me die an old maiden than married to a Skaard.

In her sister's opinion, Skaards were worse than Nazeers because at least Nazeers could be trained. The Skaards had an independent nature of which Hyperia disapproved. Skaards lived life on their own terms, in their own land, supported their families, and worshipped the snow-crusted ground beneath their feet more than any god in the sky. And now, they were in the humiliating position of having to ask for help.

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Starlex had barely slept an hour when the pink light of dawn pierced a rip in the tent. She sat up, stirring the dogs asleep at her feet. Because they were not married, she and Bonn did not share a bungalow. She wondered when, or if, he was going to ask her. In Oran tradition, a man would need permission from his intended's father. She was unsure of what the Skaard tradition was, and so far no one had clued her in, not even Bonn.

Has he changed his mind about wanting to marry me? she wondered anxiously.

Needing a strong cup of Skaard tea to clear her head, Starlex threw back the fur covering her, stood, and stretched till her fingers grazed the roof. Folding back the hide flap used as a door, she stepped gingerly into the morning light. The glistening snow covered every surface, nearly blinding her. But the scent of tea penetrated the frigid air, and she followed its spicy aroma to the community fire.

Wallick and Batag were already up and cooking breakfast.

She wished them good morrow while she warmed herself near the flames.

"Sit with us for a while," old Wallick said in a whistling voice. "There's not much else to do but wait."

The village was positioned on a high plateau so close to the sea that Starlex could hear the waves lapping against the rocky cliffs.

Thanking him, she sat down and accepted the cup of tea Batag offered. It was a strong brew. Delicious.

She turned to Batag and in the Skaard tongue said, "You're a gifted herbalist."

The old woman shrugged. "I've learned a few things in my time."

"May I ask, are you two married?"

The old couple's crinkled eyes met over the flames, and they both chuckled.

"I'm sorry," Starlex said. "I hope I didn't offend you."

"We Skaards don't marry," chuckled Batag. "At least not in the way they do on the mainland."

"But you two are a couple?" she continued, her face flush with embarrassment.

"We've been together forty-four years," Wallick said, lifting his gaze to the sky as he calculated.

"But how did you become man and—?" Starlex asked with a stammer. "What I mean is, how do you make it official?"

Batag's blue eyes sparkled. "As long as the man is free, and you're not stealing him from anyone else," she waved a gnarled finger at Starlex, "and you have a pretty good idea he feels the same way as you, you simply walk up to him and say, 'I am your wife.'"

"But I already told him 'I will be your wife,'" replied Starlex, her cheeks warming as the old couple erupted in chuckles.

"That's putting it in the future," Batag said. "Say, 'I am your wife' and it happens right now." She stomped her leather boot into the snow.

"That's it?"

Batag blew on her tea, took a long sip, and said with a shrug, "That's it."

"You mean it's my choice?"

"Of course," said Batag. "You think he'd ever get around to doing it?" She pointed at her husband who dismissed her with a wave of his hand.

So, I'd been waiting for him to tell me about the custom or marriage when all I needed to do was...

She stood so quickly, the teacup tumbled from her hand, staining her leather skirt. Wallick and Batag laughed again, but she didn't care if she appeared foolish.

She thanked them, and careful not to slip in the snow, she jogged down a narrow path to the shipyard where Bonn and his men slept.

She ran to Bonn's tent and pulled back the tent flap. His ice-blue eyes popped open. His mouth formed an O between his beard and mustache.

"I am your wife," she said, her heart beating like a bird in a cage waiting only for his release.

He watched hungrily as she quickly removed each layer of her Skaard clothing.

"Come on," he growled and flapped back the fur cover where he lay naked underneath.

She dove in next to him.

"What took you so long, princess?" He whispered as he pulled her into his strength and warmth.