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Deni suddenly laughed. “The look on the Skäddar’s face when you just left the ring. Like you didn’t care.”

She shrugged. “The moment I saw Luc, I didn’t care.”

Deni laughed again, and clapped her shoulder. “Come eat. You can tell your story to the rest of the unit.”

She glanced at him, to make sure he understood what she’d tried to say earlier, and he gave the tiniest nod.

When they reached the circle, she saw the Skäddar, Kikir, was sitting with them, and she slid into the open space beside him.

“I have something for you.”

He turned cold eyes on her. “If it’s the offer of a rematch, forget it. I don’t fight people who leave the ring before time is called.”

“I am sorry for that. But my heart’s choice had come to find me. He and I have been parted for two months, and I had not expected to see him until later today in the Rising Wave column. I was overcome and I apologize.” She dug into her pocket and held out the soft, fine scarf, bought from one of the small stalls that set up shop on days when they reached their night’s destination early enough.

She’d bought four of them, all plain, undyed cotton, as smooth as bird’s down.

He stared at it, and then took it carefully.

“How could you do this in just one day?”

“I worked on it all yesterday afternoon and finished it this morning.”

He smoothed it across his palm and then wound it around his neck.

“You match,” Sybyl said, moving her finger between his face and neck.

“This is intricate work.” Kikir smoothed his fingers over the ends, the only place she’d worked the design. “I never thought it could be duplicated on cloth.”

“I’m glad you like it.” Someone had handed her a piece of flatbread and a bowl of stew, and suddenly starving, Ava dug in.

“So what’s this about your heart’s choice, Avasu? Surely love couldn’t draw a highlander away from the fight?” One of her unit, Nabi, poked at her. Most of the teasing was goodnatured, but with Nabi, she sensed an edge.

“Love can do many impossible things,” she answered.

All around her, her unit members scoffed and laughed.

“That’s the most poetic I’ve ever heard you,” Sybyl said. “And word from on high tells me that you are not some poor little herder girl from the highlands, but in fact a spy for General Ru, who got herself captured with the Commander of the Rising Wave.”

Ava looked up at her, unable to hide her surprise. Sybyl was helping her. Telling the story as her superior officer. Making it easier.

“And fell deeply in love with him,” she said, and tapped her heart with two fingers and then brushed her hand downward.

“It seems the feeling was returned.” Deni got into the teasing game, too. “The way he pushed Kikir here aside and carried you off.”

“I know.” Carrie, one of the members of her unit, pretended to fan herself. “That was not something I expected to see in a sparring match.”

“He broke my good stick.” Kikir sounded affronted, but Ava thought there was a thread of laughter in his tone now.

She had not worked any magic into his scarf, but she had hoped he would forgive her as she finished it off this morning. Was that enough to create a working and influence this change of attitude since he put it on?

Then she realized what language he’d just used. “I thought you needed a translator. Your Venyatux is completely understandable.”

Kikir shrugged, his eyes gleaming. “I might speak a word or two.”

“This is a day for uncovering secrets, it seems,” Carrie said, and Kikir winked at her.

Ava ate her meal and wondered whether Luc and Dak had reached the Rising Wave already.