Maker of Fire

Ud, the Fenlands, Cold Season, 6th rot., 3rd day

I was strolling through the east side passages when I reminded myself two days ago to speak to Emily and Tom. I checked on them, and they were still sleeping. They looked so cute together, wrapped up in each other as they slept. It was almost dawn outside. I could wake them up, but I knew that Emily was not what the humans called a morning person.

I would let Aylem or Usruldes wake them. It would be fun to watch. Humans are so much fun.

I waited until they were up and dressed. I knew Emily would have a human embarrassment reaction if I tried to talk to her before she had her clothes on. Humans are so silly sometimes.

*Emily, Tom, I need to speak with you both.*

Tom whispered to Emily, "Em, where is Ud? Is she outside the door?"

"She could be anywhere, Tom," she whispered back. "Her telepathy is the strongest on the planet. She could be in Mattamukmuk, and we wouldn't be able to tell the difference between there and talking just outside our door."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, no joke. Ud's the most powerful mage on Erdos."

"Damn."

*Are you done chatting, children? This is serious, and I need to tell you before you leave for Sussbesschem.*

"Oh boy, here we go again," Emily sat on the bed.

"Again?" Tom asked.

"Last time, I got lectured about being underweight," Emily heaved a huge sigh.

"Not without reason, miss no-meat-on-ribs," Tom sat beside her.

"Don't start," Emily growled.

"Too late," Tom grinned.

*Emily, Tom, you will soon reconvene your sexual activities with each other. This concerns me because I know you both want children.*

"We will?" Emily asked.

"We do?" Tom asked.

*Yes, both of you. Emily, you suffer from arrested sexual development. When you were a child, the blow to your head did more than rob you of your voice. In Earth terms, what you have would be called hypopituitarism. Talk to Aylem about this at least two years before you want to start a family. If she can't fix it, someone at the Healing Shrine should know how to heal this. If not, come and visit me and I will see what I can do.*

I did not understand the look on Emily's face, but I needed to move on.

*Tom, you need to stop worrying. What you think is a problem is not a problem. It's not length but overall fit that matters. For someone as small as Emily, the important thing will be lubrication. I advise discovering other avenues of pleasing each other until you become serious about fertilizing eggs and having them successfully attach in the womb.*

It was fascinating to watch the capillary dilation effect on their fair skin. I had no idea I would create such a response. I would need to consult with my two human students about Tom and Emily's reactions.

I was tempted to tell Emily not to eat his head after sex, but I'm not sure she would understand a spider joke.

Emily, the Fenlands, Cold Season, 6th rot., 3rd day

"I find it disturbing to believe, but you are the most dangerous person I have ever met," said the Holy Ilsabess as she placed me on Ud's cephalothorax. "I am glad I do not have to go to war against you."

Ilsabess came to see us off as we departed for Gangkego. We had assembled on a shingled beach outside one of the many entrances to Ud's maze of caverns under the Fenlands.

I could tell that Ud was happy with the company of the war mages, to whom she was also teaching magic. The Impotuan refugees received a temporary home, and Ud received company, the one thing she craved and could not provide herself with magic. It was a win-win situation in a way.

"Your fireworks are wonderful," Ilsabess sighed. "I can also see how they could be used as weapons that might prove resistant to magical defenses, especially in a surprise attack. I think I feel sorry for the heretical government of Mattamesscontess, but only a little."

Ilsa picked up Twee and carefully placed him on Ud next to me. He was in his black wetsuit and traveling cloak bag, even though Ud promised that his trip to Gangkego on her back would be warm.

"If you had told me last year that Vassu would pick a Chem as a revelator, I would have laughed," Ilsabess told him, "but the godmark in your aura cannot be denied. Vassu has chosen to free the Chem and to provide for the restoration of all their eyesight. I can no longer ignore what the prophet declared as truth: that all six races are loved and blessed by the gods. It was wrong for every nation and person to look the other way when the Mattamesscontessans and the Mattamukans kidnapped and blinded the Chem to steal their water magic. We have all been complicit, and I am chastised and ashamed of what we have done."

"Sssif enlightenment were easy," Twee said, "the racesss would not war with one another."

"I and my mages discussed it last night, and we would like to offer our help in your war against Mattamesscontess if you would have us," Ilsabess stated. It was a generous offer.

Twee bowed his head in respect to her, "Sss must decline your generosity but thank you for your willingness to make a stand for what the gods desire. Vassu was clear in her instructionsss that the Chem must wage this war against Mattamesscontess on our own. The Inkalemi Coyn fought and defeated the Cosm of Foskos. The flying mounts did the sssame. It is now time for Chem to take their own war to a Cosm oppressor and win back our freedom. By our example, Cosm will know that the other five races, even the peaceful Chem, can and will resist unjust rule."

Ilsabess frowned, "I see." She thought for a moment, "Then I wish you good luck in your efforts. I look forward to a world where the Chem are free, and the enslaved can return home with their eyesight restored. Go with the gods, Twee."

"I thank you, Holy One."

That exchange made our departure solemn. I appreciated that Ilsabess was trying to act according to her interpretation of divine will, but she was so severe. It made everything feel somewhat heavy. I confess I was happy when we actually got on our way.

Twee, Tom, Danasma, and I were seated just behind Ud's eye cluster. Aylem on Asgotl and Usruldes on Cadrees flew alongside as Ud ran across the ocean waves. It was an exhilarating ride.

"The only thing that could top this, Em, would be riding on a dragon," Tom said as we passed the Great Wash. I spotted the cottage that Ud made us last Growing Season on the beach covered with snow.

"Huh," I considered. "A ride on a dragon? I'll inquire if that might be possible."

"What?" Tom was gobsmacked, and Danasma made an excellent fish face. Twee just blinked his big saucer-wide eyes at me.

We were suddenly covered in shadow on what was a sunny, breezy day. I looked up at the underbelly of an enormous dragon with dark purple scales and a deep gold underbelly. Its gigantic wings looked as long as those on a B-52 bomber. I think even I was gaping.

*Yes, Little Emily,* an echoing bass voice reverberated in all of our heads, *I will grant that wish for you and Tom after my revelation to you.*

Then he was gone.

*The gods are very invested in you, Little Emily,* Ud stated with a tinge of amusement. *I've never heard of anyone riding on Landa's back before. You might be the first.*

"That was Landa, god of magic?" Tom looked at me as if he was seeing me for the first time. "You talk with Landa? Landa's a dragon?"

"One of Landa's aspects is a dragon," I replied, sighing that everyone thought these goofball gods were more awe-inspiring than goofy. Granted, a god who was a dragon was pretty neat from my point of view. "Yes, I've talked with Landa. He's quite in love with his inscrutable routine. I've never seen him socialize with the other gods at all, but he's never been unkind to me."

Tom wrapped his long arm around my shoulders, "Sometimes I feel like the harder I try to catch up with you, the farther away you get." His voice sounded choked up.

"What are you talking about, silly boy?" I elbowed him in the solar plexus and got a good grunt out of him for my efforts. "I'm not going anywhere without you, and I'm sitting right here, numbskull." The distressed look on his face upset me.

"When this is all over," I told this suddenly unsure Tom, "let's build a little house in the forest by the hot spring. We can hunt and fish and garden. We'll have a bunch of kids, and we can raise them in our little valley, with the river full of panfish and the woods full of deer and elk, far away from cities and slaves and shrines and politics."

"That sound wonderful, my little mouse," he leaned his head on his shoulder. "Let's go now."

"Sorry, Tom," I sighed. "I'd be there now if it were not for those meddlesome gods. But I owe Vassu this favor. I gotta go to Sussbesschem with Twee. Vassu's been good to me, and she asked nicely."

"Vassu asked you? She didn't command you?" Danasma's look of disbelief was epic.

"She did ask," I admitted, "but consider the overall situation. If a god asked you to do something, would you refuse?"

"Oh," realization crossed her face, "I understand. There really isn't a difference between a god's command and a god's request, is there?"

"From my viewpoint, the only difference is that a god decided to use good manners for the latter," I affirmed.

I could feel Danasma and Tom trade a look over my head. Oh, how I wish I could dump this prophet gig and retreat to a cabin in the forest.

Aylem, Gangkego, Cold Season, 6th rot., 3rd day

The beauty of the city of Gangkego stole my admiration. From the air, I could see it all, from the great pier built out into the harbor to the tiers of marble streets filled with marble houses, from the wide boulevards lined with majestic pines to the beaches filled with longboats pulled ashore for Cold Season. Gangkego was a wonder.

We landed at the end of the Great Pier and waited. The pier was tall enough that Ud's head cleared the planks of its walking surface while she was standing on the water. Usruldes and I unloaded the baggage for our four travelers. As soon as the wheelchair was off Asgolt's back, Emily jumped to the pier and set it up. Ud then floated Danasma off her back and into the chair.

I saw soldiers assembling at the entrance to the pier, armed with longbows and short swords. Each carried a smoking bucket. I wondered what defensive measure the Sea Coyn used when Cosm arrived uninvited.

I expected the soldiers to be the first to accost us. I was wrong. The first Sea Coyn to greet us on the pier was the 12-year-old Dimod, who I rescued at the start of Growing Season. He dodged around the soldiers and came running down the pier, yelling, "Jane! Ud! You're here!" I didn't recognize him in his cold-weather gear but I remembered his voice.

Dimod was still a child who had not yet had his growth spurt. He was a bundle of energy about the same height as Emily. Because he was small, I sat cross-legged on the pier and opened my arms to hug the kid. He obliged me and returned the hug.

"Hello, Dimod," I made sure I gave him room to breathe.

"Welladay, Jane," he beamed up at me, not a speck of fear in him. "Wow, I forgot how big you are. You're huge."

"Thanks for reminding me," I made a face at him, grabbed his sides, and tossed him through the air to Ud, who threw him high into the air. He squealed in delight as she caught him and tossed him back to me. I grabbed him and placed him on the planks of the pier.

"Thank you for the warm welcome, Dimod," I mussed up his hair. He laughed.

"Dimod?" Danasma asked from her wheelchair. "Dimod of House Kulgak? Son of Loti and Kimkud of House Kulgak?"

Dimod straightened up, spotted Danasma, and sketched a perfect bow, "I greet you with the sea god's blessing, lady. I am Dimod, son of Loti and Kimkud, of House Kulgak.

"Dimod," Danasma smiled up at the boy, "I learned to read and do sums with your aunt Alisa, and I've known your mother since she was a little girl. When you return home today, tell her Danasma says hello. Now, would it be possible to send you on a brief errand for us?"

"I'm supposed to be working with my father today," Dimod replied, "on caulking around the new seacocks. I'm probably in trouble for saying hi to Ud and Jane just now." He had all the happy guilt of a kid caught in the act but was not at all sorry about it. "It was worth it to say hello. They saved me after the pirate attack last Growing Season."

"And if I threw in a gold piece?" Danasma cajoled.

"Done!" Dimod smiled. "What can I do for you, Camp Master Danasma of Urssi?"

"Take this token," she removed a chain with a carved pendant of what looked like sodalite or lazurite. "Go to my mother's house and ask to see her. They will take you to her with that pendant in your hand. Ask her to come here and bring a carter for four people's baggage. Tell her I will have two human guests and one Chem guest. And escort her here, please. I will have a gold piece for you when you return."

"There's a Chem? Where?" Dimod started looking around. I felt Twee scramble up my back and place his broad arrow-shaped head on my shoulder, "Ssssss am here, little human. I am Twee."

"Wow, a real Chem! But you're all covered up," Dimod looked disappointed.

"Sss is Cold Season," Twee said in what I knew was an amused tone of voice. "Of course, I am wearing warm clothes."

"Dimod, you should fetch Danasma's mother. We'll still be here when you return," I smiled at him.

"Right!" He made the heart to open palm salute of the Sea Coyn, first to me and then to Danasma. Pivoting on his toes, he ran down the pier, dodging the soldiers who tried to stop him.

I cleared all the snow and ice off the end of the pier and dried the boards of the pier's decking. Usruldes took a small carpet off Asgotl and spread it out. I moved on to it. Usruldes joined me.

A soldier in a cuirass over shiny fish scale armor and a brimmed close-fitting helm approached at a sedate walk. From the fancier armor compared to the rest of the soldiers, I assumed she was someone in charge of at least the pier.

She smiled in a friendly manner, "Welladay, travelers. I assume that the large spider standing on top of the water is the mage Ud. Greetings, my lady. I see we are only missing a flying horse to have representatives of all six races here today. I hope the circumstances of your visit are extraordinary enough to justify the presence of Cosm in Inkalem despite the treaty."

*I greet you, Harbor Master Kalgad. Our circumstances do warrant our visit. The sea god Vassu told the Prophet Emily to bring Camp Master Danasma of House Urssi home to Gangkego. Since the passes were closed, these two mages and their flying friends offered to bring Danasma and the other three little ones to Gangkego.*

Kalgad frowned, "Enslaved persons are forbidden in Inkalem."

"None of our visitors are slaves, Dia Kalgad," Danasma stated.

"Goodness," Kalgad flinched in startlement, "Camp Master, I didn't recognize you in those clothes. I heard you were left for dead." Her eyes focused on the chair, "What a novel contraption. You can travel without getting up, but can you walk at all?"

"I can walk, just very slowly," Danasma sighed. "I will never run again nor reef a sail, but I can still pull an oar and ride a horse. And I am still alive with all my wits. I could have fared much worse."

"There is that," the Harbor Master said, nodding. "I see you have set up for a formal greeting. Might I inquire who our visitors are to warrant such a thing? I recognize Lord Usruldes Udkin, but I do not know any of the others."

"Ah," Danasma composed herself. "Harbor Master, the Chem is the Blessed Twee, Revelator of Vassu. The two other Coyn are the Revered Tom, Blessed of Galt, and the Prophet Emily. They will be visiting with me. The eagle is Cadrees, the bond friend of Usruldes, and the Griffin is the Blessed Asgotl, Revelator of Sassoo. The silverhair lady is the Blessed Aylem, Revelator of Tiki and Queen of Foskos."

Despite the brown-bronze skin common to the Sea Coyn, I could see that the Harbor Master paled upon Danasma's recitation of our names and titles. Poor woman. I could see the growing haze of fear on her instead of the simple nervousness she had when she approached.

She took off her helmet, revealing her short dark brown hair, and made a deep bow, "Please pardon my poor manners, Great Ones. I am Dia Kalgad, Harbor Master of Gangkego, I greet your arrival." She straightened, "Camp Master, I assume you sent that rascal Dimod Kulgak to fetch your mother?"

"I did indeed," Danasma replied.

"Well, that will keep him out of trouble for at least a bell," Kalgad put her helmet back on. "I will keep the sightseers away, honored guests."

"You can stow the fire buckets, too, Harbor Master," Danasma stated in a voice dripping with authority."

"Of course, ma'am," she bowed to Danasma. Then she bowed deeper to the rest of us and left at the same steady pace she used when she arrived. This time, she was shaking her head as she walked away.

As soon as the Harbor Master was out of hearing distance, Usruldes set out a steaming jar, two Cosm-scaled beakers, five smaller beakers, and the two drinking bowls for Asgotl and Cadrees. A large kettle with a hollow pipe in it appeared on the edge of the pier next to Ud.

"Remember, you're the senior person in this traveling party," Usruldes reminded me, "so you need to formally greet Dalmatti of House Urssi. I took the liberty of bringing sekanjabin. It's great served hot. I thought it would be a nice touch."

"Might I try it first before my mother arrives?" Danasma sounded worried. "She very particular."

Usruldes poured a small beaker and handed it to her. She took a sip.

"Ooh! Hot!" Danasma blew on the liquid to cool it off, "Bring the temperature down before mother gets here. Warm is okay, but you shouldn't serve a greeting cup too hot to drink." She took a deeper sip, "That's rather good. What is this made of? It will be just fine to serve my picky mother. I believe she will like this."

"It's made with honey, vinegar, and mint extract," Emily explained. "It's also really good served cold during hot weather. Sugar also works when making it, but it's too expensive to use for sekanjabin in Foskos. Sugar is too expensive for most people to buy. Usruldes, where are the camp stools?"

"I'll get them," he started to get up, but one of Ud's pedipalps pushed him back down. Two chairs for Emily and Tom appeared, and a lounging cushion for Twee. Then Ud cast a charm to block the wind and raise the temperature. It was currently cold enough to freeze ocean brine, so a little more warmth was welcomed by the little ones, especially Twee.

Ud created a Coyn-scaled padded armchair and side table facing our semi-circle of travelers. The bowls for Asgotl and Cadrees were suddenly full of something savory and steaming. The beakers for all the little ones were full too. Since I was the greeter, my beaker had to stay empty until Damatti of House Urssi arrived.

She didn't keep us waiting. The soldiers no longer looked confrontational. Now they were keeping a curious knot of gawkers away from us. They allowed a two-horse wagon driven by an older woman onto the pier. I guessed she was in her sixties. Dimod was seated next to her.

The old lady parked the wagon about 50 hands from where we were waiting and jumped down from the driver's box, followed by Dimod. She ignored us because her eyes had no room for anyone besides her daughter. Danasma got to her feet. Tom sprang up and grabbed her as she began to lose her balance.

"Careful there, lovely lady," he smiled and poured on the charm. Emily just rolled her eyes at Tom, flirting once again with anything female.

"You can lean on my arm if you want to," he offered.

"Thank you, Tom," Danasma smiled up at the tall Coyn and then forgot all about him as she took a careful step toward her mother. Mother and daughter were inseparable for a long moment, with tears and whispered greetings. Then Dalmatti led her daughter back to the wheelchair and sat in the armchair facing Aylem.

Somehow Dimod had managed to perch on the edge of Ud's cephalothorax to watch.

"I come with the words of my lips to greet you in friendship and with my water to share with the stranger," I touched my fingers to my lips and then held my hand out, making the welcome gesture. "I am Aylem, Queen of Foskos. Please share my water with me, Dalmatti of Urssi."

Usruldes took the jar of warm sekanjabin, too large for most Coyn to lift, and filled our beakers. Dalmatti and I picked up our beakers and drank at the same time.

"I greet you, Great One," Dalmatti put her fingers to her lips and held her hand out in welcome. "Thank you for bringing my daughter home to me, alive and in better health than I had hoped for."

"I have a letter from the High Priestess Lisaykos haup Foskos of the Healing Shrine of Mugash," I extracted the sealed paper letter from the buttoned inside pocket of my cloak and handed it to her. "The seal might be too thick to break. I can break it for you, or a good whack with a hammer should work too."

Dalmatti weighed the letter in her hand, "Do you know what this is about?"

"The Blessed Lisaykos outlined detailed care instructions for Danasma since she was released before Lisaykos judged her ready to leave," I explained. "As we described in the message we sent to Tuleen last rotation, it was Vassu who wanted Danasma to return home, and not even a high priestess will argue with the orders of a god."

"Yes, I received a bird with the message," Dalmatti smiled at her daughter. "I find it strange and a bit worrisome that a god conveyed a command that involved my daughter. We are just humble merchants of no particular virtue or piety." Dalmatti looked the entire party over. "I assume that you and Lord Usruldes are not planning to stay but are here to leave these folks off," she pointed at Tom, Twee, and Emily.

"You assume correctly," I smiled my friendliest smile. "I do have two other matters to broach with you. The first is to inform you that we wish to open negotiations for the crafting of a new treaty between Foskos and Inkalem, one that will allow Inkalem merchants to travel freely in Foskos, and would also allow for a limited number of trading stations where Cosm could trade freely in Inkalem without burdening local Coyn residents. The other matter is to inquire if Inkalem would be open to creating a canal from the Salt River to the Great Wash. Such a project would allow trade to start earlier in the year, at ice out, and to last longer into the Harvest Season, even when the passes closed. I do not expect an answer now. I am here merely to introduce what we in Foskos would like you to consider."

"Great One," Usruldes leaned over and spoke softly in my ear, "you forgot to introduce everyone."

"Merciful Mugash," I could feel the blush spread on my cheeks. "Please accept my apology. My manners are remiss."

"I am not offended, Great One," Dalmatti stated. "Please, continue."

"In case you've not met before, this is Ud," I gestured at the giant spider. "The boy is Dimod, with whom your daughter is acquainted. He came out to say hello to us since we met last Growing Season after Ud and I found him adrift on a boat hatch many wagon-days out to sea." Dimod waved.

"It is a pleasure to meet you in person, Lady Ud," Dalmatti nodded politely. "Is there a reason you have come to visit?"

*It was a good excuse to get out and see something other than my cavern,* Ud made the mental equivalent of a shrug. *Besides, I thought Danasma would enjoy running on top of the sea to get here.*

"This is the Blessed Twee, Revelator of Vassu," I looked at Twee askance where he was perched on my shoulder.

"Ssss greet you in the name of Vassu, Councilor Dalmatti," he bowed his head to Dalmatti politely.

"You are welcome to my heart and home, Twee," she bowed her head back.

"This is the Revered Tom, Blessed of Galt." Tom and Dalmatti exchanged head bows.

"And this is the Blessed Emily, Revelator of Tiki, Mugash, Giltak, and Galt."

Dalmatti was shocked for a moment. Then Danasma made some kind of hand signal which Dalmatti caught out of the corner of her eye, and her expression returned to normal.

Dalmatti bowed her head, "I greet you, Great One. Please be welcome to my hearth and home."

"I greet you, Dalmatti of House Urssi," Emily replied, making a perfect Sea Coyn gesture of fingers to the lips followed by the open hand of welcome, "and I thank you for your hospitality."

"I am already acquainted with Usruldes and Cadrees, but is this the Blessed Asgotl, Revelator of Sassoo?" Dalmatti asked, looking up at the griffin.

"I am indeed Asgotl, Councilor," Asgotl bobbed his head in respect. "It is a pleasure to meet you."

"And I, you," she bowed her head. "I can see the white caps out by the breakwater, but I feel no wind here, and it's warmer than it should be."

"I cast a charm," I admitted. "Twee is susceptible to cold, and it is important to keep him warm. He will freeze much quicker than any of us."

"That is understandable," Dalmatti nodded at me. "Even if I could invite you for more than a brief greeting at the end of a pier, I'm afraid we have no place where we might accommodate someone of your stature, Great One. I believe we will need to rethink that before much more time passes. Might I ask, when will Foskos formerly abolish slavery?"

"I'm guessing it will be in one and a half to two years," I replied. "It depends on Landa, god of magic. His revelation will do away with slavery, and he is in control of the timing. We are already getting ready for the event. Two years seems like too short a time to get everything done that needs to be done."

"I originally heard that it would be sooner than that," Dalmatti fished.

"It was," Emily interjected. "That was before Aylem got pregnant. Now the gods will wait until after Aylem gives birth."

Dalmatti's head whipped around to study me, "You're pregnant?"

"Yes, I should deliver about a year from now."

"I can't begin to imagine being pregnant for a year and a half," Dalmatti said. "Being pregnant for three seasons is bad enough, but a six-season gestation hurts my head. So if you're coming up on the end of your first trimester, why aren't you showing yet?"

"I've shown late for both my previous pregnancies," I explained, "so people tell me. I don't understand how people can miss it, actually. I can see and feel all the differences, but I think for most people, the early signs are less obvious for taller people, especially if you've got a fuller figure like I do."

"That's an interesting observation," Dalmatti looked satisfied with the answers she received. "Well, write up some kind of proposal for what you folks are thinking about for a new treaty and send it along the usual route. And now, I believe I want to take my daughter home. Danasma, I believe these three are our house guests?" She pointed at Twee, Tom, and Emily.

"For a short time," Danasma replied. "They need to hire some ships to take them to Sussbesschem."

"At this time of year?" Dalmatti was surprised.

"The sooner, the better," said Emily. "Vassu has a schedule she wants us to meet."

"Then let us get moving, and we can talk about your plans back at my house," Dalmatti resolved.

As we were saying our goodbyes, I waited for Emily to sit in the back of the cart. Then I knelt and gave her a small box I almost forgot about. "Emily, this is from Lisaykos and me. It's a small crystal on a chain you can wear around your neck. It has only been in the Well of Mugash. Nothing else has been done to it. We don't want you to pick up another wound infection or fever, especially when you are far from any healing chapel shrines. We would sleep better at night if you decided to wear it."

I took her hand as gently as I could, put the box in it, and delicately folded her fingers over the top. Then I cradled the back of her head and implored her strange amber-yellow eyes with my own, "Take care of yourself, and don't work too hard like you tend to do when you boffin-out. Okay?"

Despite her flinch of fear when I touched her head, she acted outwardly as if she felt no fear of me. With exaggerated patience, she rolled her eyes and said, "Yes, dear."

I watched the cart make its way down the pier. It made me sad that she was still afraid of me at an instinctual level, especially when she had lost her fear of Lisaykos and her friends at the Healing and Building Shrines. Given what I had done to her, I knew she might never lose her fear of me, and that realization hurt to the depths of my soul.

In the midst of that moment, there on the pier, I finally knew I had really changed inside. It was an incredible feeling. While I still desired Emily's esteem and friendship, I no longer wanted it selfishly without giving anything back. It would make me happy if she could be happy, doing the things she valued, even if that meant not getting what I wanted from her.

I also realized those feelings extended beyond Emily to the other people I cared about, including that annoying, fascinating, boisterous man I was married to. Under all the bluster, I knew he was trying in his own way to help me, and that touched me. My children, too, especially Opa, had showered love and care on me that my bad character didn't deserve, along with my few friends who I never appreciated before this year, like Kamagishi, Fassex, and Lisaykos.

I jumped when Usruldes touched my arm and then passed me a kerchief.

"Why are you weeping, Great One?" he looked dismayed. In the depth of the moment, I didn't even know I was crying.

"I'm just overwhelmed by all the people who have given so much since I lost myself last year," I smiled at him as I dried the tears from my face, "like you, my old adversary and new friend." I felt good to leave him gawking as I walked back to the end of the pier.

I noted Dimod was still perched on Ud. I folded my arms and gave him my best parental look of disapproval, "You, young man, are avoiding your caulking. What will your father say?"

"I'll be in trouble again," Dimod grinned. "You're really a queen, Jane?"

"Yes, I am the Queen of Foskos, young troublemaker."

"Does that mean I can't call you Jane anymore?"

"Well, you probably shouldn't use it in public," I winked at him, "but if it's just us, you can still call me Jane."

"But that isn't your real name, is it?"

"It is one of my names, Dimod. People used to call me Jane a long time ago when I was very young."

"Oh," Dimod thought about it for a moment. "I guess it's alright then."

"Now, you need to get back to your chores," I told him in my best motherly voice.

"I suppose," he sounded less than thrilled, then turned to look at Ud's eye cluster, "but first, Ud, can I get a ride over to my dad's boat? It's down there on the beach." He pointed down the long row of beached longboats, most of which had crews working on them, preparing for next year's trade season.

*Of course, you can, Dimod. You need to sit in the hollow behind my eyes.*

"Yep, I remember." Then he and Ud were off, with Ud running across that water of the harbor.