holding him at arm's length and gazing at him as though he were a long lost nephew. Her dark eyes shone, and a smile as sweet as morning spread across her face.” We've often wondered what happened to Tam and his curious cousin." She surprised Fynnol by nodding to him.” Oh, you've not changed so much," she said. But then her manner became suddenly serious.” But you've lost a friend," she said softly.”
Hardly a friend," Tam said.” He was a stranger who joined us at our fire. Who he was or where he came from we don't know.""Well," Aliel said, taking his arm and drawing him into the encampment, "sup with rogues and you will share their desserts."Fynnol laughed, flashing Aliel a smile of appreciation.
Aliel was not tall, smaller than Fynnol, but she was lithe and graceful, as the Fael tended to be. Like many of her people, Aliel's eyes and mouth seemed too large for her face, her nose too long; but Tam thought it gave a kind of drama to her beauty. She wore her long hair unbound, and jewelry dangled and sparkled about her.
Tam introduced Baore, remembering that Baore's father had wanted nothing to do with the black wanderers who had appeared at the gate in the late autumn snow. Baore took Aliel's hand with slight reluctance, but Aliel seemed not to notice and spoke with him as though he were an old friend.
They all took stools by Aliel's fire, and she stirred the contents of an iron pot that hung over the flames, then added a seasoning that was pungent and strange. Around the camp Tam saw the other Fael casting glances their way. Aliel's obvious friendship had not made these glances more welcoming.
"Pay them no heed," Aliel said, not looking up from her cooking.” They are suspicious of your people—thinking that you will rob them or steal their horses. They don't know you.""Nor do they care to know us," Fynnol said.
"That is true. They're happy with their own fancies and superstitions. My people are like yours in this way. Should I assume your day's labors have left you hungry?" She began filling bowls.
Aliel's husband, Cian, arrived at this moment, and Aliel poured him a basin of steaming water. He took a cloth and carefully washed his face and hands, looking up from his efforts to regard Tam.
"You will look like your grandfather one day," Cian said to Tam, apparently pleased to see the Valemen. Although Tam had once thought of the Fael as all appearing much the same, when they had stayed the winter he had realized that wasn't true. Cian was a perfect example of this, for his skin was lighter and his face surprisingly round without the high cheekbones and fine, long nose.” Tell us of your grandfather, Tam," Cian said.” Is he well?" "He is, though his hair is gray now and he walks a little slower—though just as far." "Give him our blessing when you see him, and tell him we've never forgotten his kindness." "You should visit him yourself, Cian," Tam said.” He would be delighted to see you again." Cian was suddenly absorbed in the washing of his hands.” We would like to visit him, Tam," Cian said quietly, "but these we travel with ... they would never understand." Fynnol caught Tarn's eye, eyebrows rising. Aliel served the meal at a low table, and they sat on rugs laid over the spring grass. Tam shut his eyes and let the first mouthful of his meal linger. He breathed in the aroma of it, a clear memory of his first Fael supper coming back to him. Aliel poured them all a light, clear wine, then raised her cup.” I'm glad of this chance to have you to ourselves for a while. Genn will want to speak with you. Any news of brigands on our favored roads is a concern. Let's drink to ... well, let us drink to the river, for last night it gave you refuge." "To the river," the Valemen said with feeling, and raised their glasses.” Who is Genn?" Tam asked.” She is our ... guide, I suppose you would say. Don't be concerned. Genn knows how many of us would have died if not for people like your grandfather, Tam."
Hardly a friend," Tam said.” He was a stranger who joined us at our fire. Who he was or where he came from we don't know.""Well," Aliel said, taking his arm and drawing him into the encampment, "sup with rogues and you will share their desserts."Fynnol laughed, flashing Aliel a smile of appreciation.
Aliel was not tall, smaller than Fynnol, but she was lithe and graceful, as the Fael tended to be. Like many of her people, Aliel's eyes and mouth seemed too large for her face, her nose too long; but Tam thought it gave a kind of drama to her beauty. She wore her long hair unbound, and jewelry dangled and sparkled about her.
Tam introduced Baore, remembering that Baore's father had wanted nothing to do with the black wanderers who had appeared at the gate in the late autumn snow. Baore took Aliel's hand with slight reluctance, but Aliel seemed not to notice and spoke with him as though he were an old friend.
They all took stools by Aliel's fire, and she stirred the contents of an iron pot that hung over the flames, then added a seasoning that was pungent and strange. Around the camp Tam saw the other Fael casting glances their way. Aliel's obvious friendship had not made these glances more welcoming.
"Pay them no heed," Aliel said, not looking up from her cooking.” They are suspicious of your people—thinking that you will rob them or steal their horses. They don't know you.""Nor do they care to know us," Fynnol said.
"That is true. They're happy with their own fancies and superstitions. My people are like yours in this way. Should I assume your day's labors have left you hungry?" She began filling bowls.
Aliel's husband, Cian, arrived at this moment, and Aliel poured him a basin of steaming water. He took a cloth and carefully washed his face and hands, looking up from his efforts to regard Tam.
"You will look like your grandfather one day," Cian said to Tam, apparently pleased to see the Valemen. Although Tam had once thought of the Fael as all appearing much the same, when they had stayed the winter he had realized that wasn't true. Cian was a perfect example of this, for his skin was lighter and his face surprisingly round without the high cheekbones and fine, long nose.” Tell us of your grandfather, Tam," Cian said.” Is he well?" "He is, though his hair is gray now and he walks a little slower—though just as far." "Give him our blessing when you see him, and tell him we've never forgotten his kindness." "You should visit him yourself, Cian," Tam said.” He would be delighted to see you again." Cian was suddenly absorbed in the washing of his hands.” We would like to visit him, Tam," Cian said quietly, "but these we travel with ... they would never understand." Fynnol caught Tarn's eye, eyebrows rising. Aliel served the meal at a low table, and they sat on rugs laid over the spring grass. Tam shut his eyes and let the first mouthful of his meal linger. He breathed in the aroma of it, a clear memory of his first Fael supper coming back to him. Aliel poured them all a light, clear wine, then raised her cup.” I'm glad of this chance to have you to ourselves for a while. Genn will want to speak with you. Any news of brigands on our favored roads is a concern. Let's drink to ... well, let us drink to the river, for last night it gave you refuge." "To the river," the Valemen said with feeling, and raised their glasses.” Who is Genn?" Tam asked.” She is our ... guide, I suppose you would say. Don't be concerned. Genn knows how many of us would have died if not for people like your grandfather, Tam."