his home just as warmly as his wife had. From his dark good looks to his charming stoicism, he reminded me much of Matai … and I longed for home. Mrs. Zanst was so worried for me, I felt terrible for deceiving her, for having been foolish enough to be kidnapped by the Iavii in Ryl. She asked me if I had been treated badly, and I assured her I had escaped unscathed.
After a wonderfully civilized and pleasantly refreshing evening with the Zansts (perhaps because Wolfe stayed away), the Guard and I set off for Peza. It rained the entire journey. I wasn’t sure if it was because my body had hardened with its recent experiences, but I escaped the head cold that swept through the Guard. Mayhap because of their position distant from the Guard, Wolfe and Lieutenant Chaeron escaped it too. Still, I was glad to reach Grof Krill Rada’s home. I’d never heard men complain so much in my life, and all over a little cold.
Grof Krill came bounding out of his mansion with Strider, the wolfhound, at his side. Strider seemed to remember me and my generosity at the dinner table and licked my hand when I reached out to pet him. Grof Krill grinned at me so happily, I was taken aback. We hadn’t exactly left on the best terms.
“My lord.” I bobbed a curtsy.
“You are a vision, Lady Rogan.” There was no flirtatiousness in his tone. He seemed genuinely delighted to see me.
Bemused, I replied, “Thank you, my lord.”
“Come. I want you to meet someone.”
As I took his arm and followed him inside, a suspicion grew.
No. It couldn’t be. Could it?
As the door was swept open by the butler, my heart pounded. I prayed my suspicion was correct.
As soon as we stepped inside, I saw her. I broke out into a choked laugh. “Ariana?”
The pretty young woman came forward in a hurry, her gray eyes brimming with happiness. “Is this her, Krill?”
“This is she.” He spun me around, gripping me by my upper arms. “How can I ever repay you for writing that letter, Lady Rogan?”
Ariana joined us, pulling me into a hug, joyful tears filling her eyes as she told me all about receiving the letter; how she couldn’t believe the Handmaiden of Phaedra had written to her; how she so wanted to believe me about Krill’s love for her; how she’d left her life behind and took a chance on what I had confided.
I chuckled as she barely drew breath.
Grof Krill and Ariana married three days after her arrival in Peza. She was now Grofka Ariana.
Exhausted and incredibly elated that I’d done one thing right on this quest of mine, tears welled in my eyes.
“Lady Rogan, are you all right?” Grof Krill asked anxiously, seeing my eyes shine.
“I’m fine,” I whispered hoarsely. “I’m just delighted for you and … so very tired.”
“Oh.” Ariana looked aghast. “Here we’ve been monopolizing your time when you must be so weary from your journey. How ill-mannered of us.”
“No, no,” I rushed to assure her. “I am so pleased to meet you, Ariana, and I am so happy I had a hand in bringing you and Grof Krill together. It’s just been such a long trip.”
I struggled to hold back the frustrating tears.
With a perception that bothered me, Grof Krill straightened his spine in alert. “Nothing untoward has happened to you, Lady Rogan?”
“No, no. Please … I just need to rest.”
“Krill, stop pestering the poor girl,” Ariana admonished gently. She took my arm. “Come, I shall show you to your room.”
Ariana left me in the suite I’d stayed in my last visit and sent for a supper tray to be brought to me. With one last grateful hug, she departed the room, and I flopped down on the bed. I was glad the grof had gotten his happily ever after. At least someone had.
The food arrived, and delicious though it was, I barely tasted it as I shoveled it down. I kept seeing Winter at the door to her mansion, waving her handkerchief at Wolfe with that knowing, intimate look in her eyes.
I slid back on the bed and rested my head against a fluffy, gold-brocade pillow, willing the nightmares away tonight. I’d give anything for a restful, dreamless sleep.
My eyes were just closing when I heard the handle on the door turn. Someone was entering without knocking. I bolted upright at the impudence, the blood whooshing in my ears when the intruder revealed himself.
Wolfe.
He closed the