[piosenniel]

She resheathed the knife and quickly lit the lamp. ‘Come forward, Laurie and let me see you.’ she urged in a gentler voice. Her instincts had taken over at the sound behind her, and had not the girl spoken she would be dead by now. The familiar face, cheek creased where she had lain against the fingers of her hand, came into view.

‘You startled me for a moment, little one.’ she spoke to the anxious figure before her. Her hand went to the swell of her belly and she sent a thought of reassurance. Pio lit the other two lamps in the room, and bade Laurie clear away the small table between the two chairs in the room. ‘A favor, if you will, Laurie. Fetch another glass for yourself and bring it back. We’ll sit and have a snack and you can ask me what you will.’

As the young woman left the room, Pio opened the big window wide to the summer’s air, tying back the curtains so that the stars shone brightly through to her. She leaned out to see Wilwarin flying free in the sky, and wondered if Daisy stood looking at it, too. She smiled and let her mind wander to the south and east. Mithadan had camped for the evening and relaxed now, his back against a tree, watching the flames of his small fire die down to embers. He was drowsy after a hard day of riding, and she sent a soothing thought to him, to bring him pleasant dreams.

She turned from the window, and sat down in one of the chairs, resting her legs on the padded stool. Her eyes were drawn back to the night sky, and she traced the patterns of the stars as she waited for Laurie to return.