“I’ll come with you,” Jentt offered.
“Might want to stay back,” Zera said. “Seeing Kreya is going to be a surprise on its own. Seeing you? ‘Hi, Stran, long time no see. I brought you a heart attack. Enjoy!’”
Jentt took Kreya’s hands. “She has a point. Can you do this?”
“It’s Stran.” He was an overgrown puppy dog. Of course she could handle him.
“I mean, can you try to break the news gently? About me. About Marso. About... well, what we suspect. Or maybe save that until later?”
“You think I can’t be diplomatic?” Kreya tried to sound offended, but she knew as well as Jentt did that diplomacy had never been one of her strengths. She’d try, though. She alwaystried. “I’ll be gentle.”
He kissed her forehead, as if to either agree with her or encourage her.
She left them comforting Marso and continued the rest of the way down the path to the farmhouse. From inside, she heard multiple voices, a baby’s cry, and a warm male laugh that boomed through the house and across the yard.
Stran,she thought.
Approaching the door, she knocked and waited.
She heard voices calling to one another, asking someone else to get the door, and then at last footsteps. The door was opened, and a petite woman in a leather apron, heavy boots, and an embroidered blouse stood in the doorway. She was smiling as bright as sunshine itself.
“May I help you?” the woman asked.
Kreya gawked at her.Thiswas Stran’s wife? It was clearly his house—nothing could have convinced her more than hearing that familiar laugh—but this was not the kind of person she’d expected him to marry.
Looking curiously at Kreya, the woman was, hands down, the loveliest person she’d ever seen. Luminous eyes, soft skin, fragile features. She reminded Kreya of a lily in sunshine, glowing with a delicate beauty. Except wearing work boots. “Stran marriedyou?” The words were out of Kreya’s mouth before she thought about how they’d sound.
The woman laughed, and even that was beautiful, like a waterfall in springtime. “Yes, Stran is my husband. Why is that a surprise?”
“Well, last time I saw him . . . He always looked like he’d been punched a few times. I can’t imagine age has improved that. You, on the other hand, look like you were carved by a master artisan.” She’d always pictured Stran with another warrior, a tough, battle-scarred, and sheathed-in-muscles battle-ax, not this flower. This young flower. She looked to be about twenty years younger than Stran.
Stran’s wife blushed prettily, and it occurred to Kreya belatedly that she shouldn’t have said that out loud.Not exactly diplomatic. I am out of practice with people,she thought. It was a good thing that she wasn’t planning on interacting with anyone but Jentt after this was over.
Suddenly, the woman gasped. “I know you! You’re his old commander!TheKreya of Vos! Oh my goodness, come in! Stran is going to be so excited to see you! I am so honored to meet you!” Raising her voice, she called, “Stran! Come see who’s here!”
“Honey, do you know where my spare boots are?” came Stran’s voice from within the house.
She frowned and even that was lovely. She had the kind of face creased with laugh lines; a frown looked like a novel expression on her. “Why not wear your regular boots?”
“Vivi has her dolls in them, and she says I shouldn’t wake them.” Stran came into the hallway and, seeing Kreya, halted. He looked exactly as she’d remembered: as wide as two men, with arm muscles as thick as her waist. He’d shaved his beard, and his hair had silvered. He boasted a few more wrinkles in his sun-worn face than she remembered, a few more laugh lines around his eyes. But he was unmistakably Stran. And if she hadn’t been sure, his nose still looked as if it had been pounded by multiple fists, which was in fact true.
His wife waved her hands as if presenting Kreya. “Look who came to visit!”
“Kreya? By the bones! It’s you!” Crossing the hall in two strides, Stran scooped her up, swung her in a circle, and sether down. Startled, she nearly missed hugging him back, but she managed a pat on his shoulders as she caught her balance again.
Stran spun with her to face his wife. “Amurra, did you arrange this? You are amazing! You didn’t even hint—”
Amurra laughed. “She surprised me too!”
Stran turned his attention back to Kreya. “This is fantastic! It’s amazing to see you!”
“Very glad to see you too,” Kreya said, and she meant it. She hadn’t been expecting such a joyful greeting. She’d braced herself for more accusations, like with Zera, or for the feeling of guilt, like with Marso, but Stran seemed honestly happy to see her.
I hope he feels the same once he knows why I’m here,Kreya thought.
Amurra poked Stran in the ribs. “Introduce me.”
Releasing Kreya, Stran wrapped his arm around Amurra and pulled her tight against his side. “My wife, Amurra. Meet Kreya, my commander.”
