"You wicked man, I knew you wanted to share my bed." She playfully swung at his face. "But I won't let you have your way."

  "So you'd condemn me to a chair?" Tyler grumbled.

  "Never," she flashed him a radiant smile. "We'll sleep right here under the stars. And if sleep eludes us, we can count them together."

  "As you wish, my lady," he said dryly. "But do cover yourself first."

  "I think not." She pouted with wicked delight. "I want to test your resolve. Besides, the fire keeps me warm enough."

  "You take such pleasure in defying men, don't you?"

  "Not by design," her voice grew soft. "But every woman carries a spark of rebellion in her heart, expressed in her own way."

  Tyler's thoughts turned suddenly to his sister, another woman who had dared to defy men. Her fate had been cruel.

  He caught her murmuring to herself. "What are you doing?"

  "Counting stars," she said, pointing skyward with childlike wonder. "Elves believe the dead become stars. I'm searching for my parents. Look," she indicated two bright points of light, "there's Mother, and there's Father."

  "How can you be sure?"

  "Woman's intuition!" She stuck out her tongue impishly. "Fine, I'm guessing. Don't you dare laugh."

  But he couldn't help himself. They dissolved into laughter and playful banter.

  At length, silence fell. Teresa remained as she was, now deep in slumber. Treni too had drifted off, her small breasts rising and falling in peaceful rhythm.

  Tyler gazed at an unnamed star and closed his eyes.

  (Sister, if you've become a star, surely you're the brightest in the heavens.)

  Candlelight wavered uncertainly. The chamber was dark, not merely from poor light but from the blackened walls themselves. She sat beside the bed, staring vacantly at the vineyard beyond the window. (Three months now, isn't it?)Her mind drifted to Tyler's departure for war, and she had sat thus until deep night without marking time's passage. Cold bacon and black bread lay forgotten on the wooden table; she had no appetite.

  Cherry Wynlers caressed her slightly swollen belly. "You're three months along too, little one," she smiled tenderly. "I haven't chosen your name yet. That's for your father and me to decide when he returns, isn't it? He doesn't even know you exist." She patted her belly, humming The Dream of Spring Dawn. "Pray your father comes home safe, won't you, little one?"

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Silence answered. This once-proud palace, half-charred by flames, stood empty of life. Had Duke Tyler Wynlers not sworn fealty to the Godma army that day, he and his wife might have joined the corpses in the streets. Cherry Hall's father, Marquis Mes, had served as warning enough. He'd sworn to resist until his last breath - and so he had, dying last of all his line. Cherry, betrothed to Tyler in childhood, had survived through that connection alone.

  Nobility to commonfolk in the space of a heartbeat. The young couple were left this fire-scarred Wynlers Palace and a modest vineyard. The servants had fled, none wishing to remain. Better to curry favor with the Godma newcomers than serve fallen masters. Besides, the Wynlers could barely afford their vineyard workers, let alone household staff.

  (Perhaps some fresh air would do me good.) She draped a worn fur coat over her shoulders and made for the side door. The evening breeze kissed her face, drawing forth a smile.

  Cherry settled on the doorstep, savoring the night wind's gentle caress. Soon she found herself lost in the star-strewn sky. Occasional meteors blazed across the heavens, each one reminding her of Tyler.

  (Tyler, if you were a shooting star, you'd outshine them all.)

  Blood pooled steadily.

  He lay face-down in the mud, aware of nothing but searing agony.

  A wolf sniffed at his head while a giant bat swung lazily from a thick branch above.

  As death approached, he recalled what had brought him here. He remembered mocking those young noble knights, remembered the sweet relief of emptying his bladder.

  He died.

  No - in his final moment, he clung to the memory of life's greatest pleasure.

  That half-roasted duck.

  The east began to pale, but darkness still held sway. Teresa curled around Carl in sleep. Treni slumbered deeply, but Tyler remained wakeful. He might have counted stars until dawn, but footsteps drew his attention.

  "Captain," he sat up in greeting.

  Devalosfang gestured for silence, but too late. Treni stirred and woke. "Captain Devalosfang," she scrambled to her feet, rubbing sleep from her eyes. "I'll wake my sister..."

  "Leave her be, miss," the captain halted her. "I need only speak with Lord Tyler-" His gaze fixed on her intently. "What is it? Is something amiss with my face, my lord?"

  "There is something amiss, but not with your face," he indicated the whip marks on her body. "Who did this?"

  "Oh, these? They're..." She hurriedly tugged down her camisole.

  "Don't tell me you scratched yourself or tripped over a rock. Tell me the truth. Who did this?" Devalosfang's order lashed out like a whip.

  "Lord Milankai," her sister answered, sitting up while covering Carl's ears. "He punished us for failing to please Lord Misslanfin."

  "Misslanfin?!" The captain's fury blazed. "Everyone knows Misslanfin's impotent!" He spat in disgust. "Milankai clearly sought excuse to harm you. And with such brutality!" Teresa pressed Carl's ears tighter. "I'll have his apology now."

  The younger sister clutched his arm in terror. "Please, my lord, I beg you. Better to let it lie. He's a lord, we're mere camp whores. If he apologizes, we'll never escape the whispers. We couldn't show our faces here again." Her voice broke. "They're just surface wounds, nothing grave. Please don't trouble yourself over us."

  "She speaks truth, Captain Devalosfang," Tyler said, gently pulling Treni's hand from the captain's arm. (If this spreads, it could mean their deaths.) "Just keep them from Lord Milankai's path. Since they're not badly hurt, best leave it be. Let women settle women's affairs." (Though I doubt they can escape Milankai's reach.)

  "Hmph, women's affairs?" Devalosfang sneered. "Such negligence gets people killed. Stay with Tyler and Carl - Milankai should think twice then. Or if you prefer, both sisters could keep company with me."