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His eager smile lost none of its radiance "I will And I will tell her about you"

When Lia awoke on the war watched by a young man she had never met His eyes blinked as did hers, and she sat up in alar quickly froesture and backed away "Your name is Lia I know of you from Colvin He asked me to watch over you, to see that none disturbed your rest"

She rubbed her eyes, feeling aard and eer than Colvin but older than her Probably sixteen or seventeen His hair was long and fair, the color of straw It was unfashionable, but he was still handso have you been watching me?" she asked, aware of the filthy dress she wore Part of the sleeve was ripped and she wore a irdle "Who are you?"

His eyes widened "I have eive me I have had sufficient tiht I should have remembered that ht nothing of it Again, forgive me My name is Edmon My older brother was the earl of Norris-York" He stepped closer, looking into her eyes pleadingly while fidgeting with his hands "I am now to hold that estate, humble as it is" His expression beca Colvin Price to Winterrowd Our domains border each other My brother was to find hi him here I have since learned that it was you who led Colvin here because my brother was murdered by the sheriff of Mendenhall You are the one who found where his body lay in a garden near Muirwood" He looked down for a ht me our father’s sword and chaen shirt His blood-stained tunic I am not yet a maston, but I will be within the year, if the Medium wills it" He stopped, turned red in the face, then bowed his head "I wanted to thank you in person, Lia of Muirwood My gratitude may be small compared to Colvin’s, but I feel it ht this day and win rateful to you and count you as a friend"

Lia had no idea what to say, she was so disratitude She had not suspected the maston sent to fetch Colvin would be another earl of the realm Like Colvin, he had refused to say his narateful to meet you, Edmon," she said, and it felt hollow She felt filthy, unworthy of the look of kindness on his face

He stood quickly then went to the tent flap "I will tell Colvin you have awoken" He parted the curtain and looked outside "By Idu?" he said, almost to himself

Lia pulled away the blankets and joined him at the entryway She heard the voice before she saw the speaker It was loud and strong and throbbed with emotion Outside the pavilion, a hundred ht-rime, so much so that she could hardly make out any features except his dark hair, wavy and matted with sweat A hel from a scabbard at his side His voice was hoarse and raspy, and it re’s herald thatis now done Bodies are being laid to rest in ht thousand were killed froh the caued with questions How many of our brothers have fallen? Do I knohat happened to a lad carried away from the field in blood? How many who stood beneath our banner fell this day? I know that Trowbridge and Holland are still with the surgeons Many of you sustained grave wounds today But here it is, nearly dusk" He looked up at the red-rirace alone, there is none of ours fallen this day Not one I am…I aan to churn, but Deray flecks in his hair above his ears, watched as the crowd fell silent His lip treh the will of the Medium that e our victory Let no man as here this day declare otherwise My brothers…the day is ours"

Lia saw the tears tre His thoughts were choked with visions of Maseve and the battle his own father lost