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He raised a skeptical brow. ‘Is that right?’

‘Tis. Like I suffered with you as Ribau,’ she threw in to lighten the mood.

It worked.

Riv gave a bark of laughter. ‘Damn, he was my best guise yet. I put in sweat and tears trying to convince you I was him.’

‘My love, your smokescreen was so freakin’ infuriating,’ she teased. ‘And suss as all hell.’

His chest rumbled with amusement. ‘Shiiit! It was fun seeing how confused you were.’

‘Turns out my soul knew who you were all along.’

‘Payback, my heavenly sprite.’

‘Not fair. The years apart were torture enough,’ she quipped back.

He leaned back so his eyes found hers, sobering as he sought more truth. ‘How did you survive out here with Killen?’

‘We made do,’ she shrugged, letting her eyes fall to the dusky view outside. ‘I swapped some of my crown jewels for schills to start a small trade store at the foot of Räk Hill. When the nebula wasn’t quite so tempestuous, I was able to make clean runs to Neron N13 and some of the neighboring planetoids.’

‘Is that when you met Halima and her man at The Righteous Pegasus?’

Élisa laughed. ‘Naam. She traded with me. She liked the hops we produce here on Devansi. They make a good beer. She grew into a good friend over the years. She became very protective of me when I told her about my run from Noab. Heck, she even gave me the energy stun barrel I used on you to knock you out.’

‘About that,’ Riv said, knifing up straight. ‘Fokkwoman, it has the power of a million volts. Enough to kill a space whale.’

Élisa buried her face in his back. ‘Please forgive me, my love, but I had no idea who you were and if you’d turn around and attack me if I didn’t hit you right the first time.’

He placed a hand over his chest in mock drama. ‘My heart is still in spasms.’

‘Let me soothe it,’ his woman whispered, running her hands over his muscled trunk while their lips met for a long, gentle kiss.

When they parted, Riv leaned back again, nuzzling her neck.

‘Have you always lived on this hill?’

‘Nada, we eked out an existence in the same tree hollow we slept in a few nights ago. Soon, however, the monks of Räk Hill, who’d traded often with me, offered us a home and helped me build my store at the base of the rise.’

Élisa paused for a moment. ‘They were kind to us. They also guided me in understanding more about Killen and how he was changing. At a very early age, I think four, he began to show signs that the hawkstone was melding to him. In a new way than it had to past regents. He was seeing visions and making statements that were so persuasive I was sure he was no normalKírígain waiting.’

‘He knows this?’

‘Oh yes, I’ve told him about Katáne, of the K?str?l hawks and his people. He believes he’s been given a mission and convinced me to go along.’

‘What does he know that you don’t?’

‘He found one of the few books I brought from Katánopolis that showed how my people were once people of dignity. In the old days, they waged no war and gave honey for milk. They only raided when driven to the brink of starvation and even then just to acquire sustenance. They only took a small percentage of livestock as legitimate plunder. The convention also regulated what was to be seized. Spears, swords, and weapons were considered battle trophies. Food, herds, and supplies were not beads, cloth, salt, or trading items. They were sacrosanct; no damage to them was allowed. Now -’

Her voice trailed off.

‘Now what?’

‘Now they kill at will, only for glory. But Killen is convinced the age of marauding has come to an end. And if what Noab said is anything to go by, he may be right.’

Élisa paused, leaning her cheek against his shoulder as her arms embraced him from the front. ‘You understand why I had to do what I did?’

He took a deep breath. ‘Naam, I do.’