David Coe: The Horsemen's Gambit

"I'm inclined to agree with you. Q'Daer would like nothing more than to kill him with his bare hands."

"He should."

"He can't," Grinsa said. "Torgan's gone. He killed Jasha, and he left. He still has that scrap of basket."

"Demons and fire. So it's still out there. Even if the plague has run its course, he's still got a way of spreading it."

Grinsa nodded. But then he smiled. "You're safe, though."

"None of us is safe, Grinsa."

"Actually," he said, brushing a strand of hair from her brow, "you are now. Besh was very clever with his spell. He made it contagious, just like Lici did. By touching your magic with mine, I've made you immune. You can do the same for Bryntelle. Touch her with your healing magic. That should do it. Q'Daer is speaking with E'Menua right now. Soon everyone in the sept will be safe."

She smiled, then let out a small laugh. "That's amazing. I hope I get a chance to meet these Mettai you're traveling with. I think I'd like them."

"I'm sure you would."

They sat in silence for several moments.

"You've heard there's war coming," she said at last.

Grinsa nodded. "We heard yesterday. I think that's why Torgan did what he did. He'd been carrying that piece of basket for a long time."

"So you're coming back?"

He smiled. "Yes. We're still half a turn away, maybe more. But we've already started heading south."

Suddenly there were tears in her eyes. "I've missed you so much."

He wiped a tear from her cheek, concern etched in his face. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, we're fine. I'll just be glad to have you back."

"That makes two of us."

"Three, really," she said smiling, despite her tears. "Bryntelle misses you, too."

He grinned, then kissed her.

"I should sleep," he said. "We'll ride later today, but we've had a long night."

"Of course. I love you."

"And I love you."

She felt that he was about to leave her dream, and she said his name, stopping him, though she wasn't certain what she wanted to say.

He gazed back at her, a question in his eyes. After a moment, though, he seemed to understand. He leaned forward and kissed her lightly on the lips.

"We'll be careful," he said.

The next moment she was awake, blinking in the pale grey light of early morning. She stretched, looked over at Bryntelle, who was still asleep on her small pallet.

Cresenne sat up and watched the child sleep for several moments. Then she took hold of her power and touched the child with healing magic. Bryntelle stirred, her eyes fluttering open briefly. Then, with a soft sigh, she settled back into her slumber.

"There you go, love," Cresenne whispered. "That's a gift from your father."

JENOE ONJAEF, a marshal in the lord governor's army

ZIRA ONJAEF, Jenoe's wife

TIRNYA ONJAEF, Jenoe and Zira's daughter, a captain in the lord governor's army

MAISAAK TOLM, lord governor of Qalsyn

RIYETTE TOLM, Maisaak's wife

ENLY TOLM, Maisaak and Riyette's son, lord heir of Qalsyn and a captain in the lord governor's army

STRI BALKETT, a captain in the lord governor's army

OLIBAN HERT, a lead rider in Tirnya's company

QAGAN FAWLER, a lead rider in Tirnya's company

DYN GRATHIDAR, a lead rider in Tirnya's company

CROW, a lead rider in Tirnya's company

BESH, an old Mettai man, a member of the village's Council of Elders LICALDI, also Lici, an old Mettai woman

BRINT HEDFARREN, an Eandi merchant from Tordjanne, also known as Young Red

LARIQENNE GLYSE, an Eandi merchant from Stelpana, also known as Lark TEGG LONSHER, an Eandi merchant

ANTAL KROST, an Eandi merchant

R'SHEV, a Qirsi merchant on the plains of Stelpana

EMA, Besh's wife, now deceased ELICA, his daughter

SIR), Elica's husband

MINAS, Sirj and Elica's elder son ANNZE, Sirj and Elica's daughter CAM, Sirj and Elica's younger son

PYAV, a blacksmith, head of the Council of Elders, addressed as "Eldest" SYLPA, Lici's foster mother, now deceased

GRINSA JAL ARRIET, a Weaver from the Forelands

CRESENNE JA TERBA, Grinsa 's wife

BRYNTELLE JA GRINSA, Grinsa and Cresenne's daughter

E'MENUA, a'laq of a Fal'Borna sept in the Central Plain

D 'PERA, n'qlae of E'Menua's sept and E'Menua's wife

U 'VARA, E'Menua and D'Pera's eldest daughter

Q 'DAER, a Weaver in E'Menua's sept

L'NoRR, a Weaver in E'Menua's sept

T'LISHA, a girl in E'Menua's sept, L'Norr's concubine

F'SOLYA, a Fal'Borna woman

I'JOLED, F'Solya's husband

F 'GHARA, a'laq of a small Fal'Borna sept in the Central Plain S 'PLAED, a'laq of a Fal'Borna sept in the northern plain, now deceased

P 'CRATH, a'laq of S'Vralna

Z'FENI, n'qlae of S'Vralna, P'Crath's wife B'ASYA, daughter of Z'Feni and P'Crath

TORGAN PLYE, an Eandi merchant from Tordjanne JASHA ZIFFEL, an Eandi merchant

KENITHA, a Mettai woman, eldest of Shaldir

FAYONNE, a Mettai woman, eldest of Lifarsa

S 'DORYN, a Qirsi man

N 'Tevva, S'Doryn's wife

T'NOTH, a Qirsi man, friend of S'Doryn and N'Tevva T 'KAAR, a Qirsi man, brother of T'Noth

A'VINYA, T'Kaar's wife

U'SELLE, a'laq (leader) of the village

JYNNA, an Y'Qatt girl

VETTALA, a young Y'Qatt girl

ETAN, a young Y'Qatt boy