together she and I made out to live. Then, in the spring, Major Lockwood summoned me to carry intelligence between the lines. And she came with me, asking at every camp the same strange question; and ever the soldiers laughed and plagued and courted her, offering food and fire and shelter — but not the answer to her question. And one day — the day you came to Poundridge-town — and she had sought for me through that wild storm — I met her by the house as I came from North Castle with news of horsemen riding in the rain.”

He leaned forward, looking at me steadily.

“Loskiel,” he said, “when first I heard your name from her, and that it was you who wanted Mayaro, suddenly it seemed to me that magic was being made. And — I myself gave her her answer —