Fand heard the mourning dove coo to her mate. Beyond the Ruhe Mountains the full moon rose. It bathed the world in silvered light. In silent reverence Fand paid homage to the moon. Since she was a little girl, the moon had been her companion. Always, she missed her face when she hid and disappeared during her cycle. Ruefully, Fand wished she could disappear during her cycle. Still the Moon always returned. Always. That was something her cousin Sah-Zog would not be able to do. In two days he would be leaving home forever. She had not lived a single day of her life without him. He was her protector, teacher and best friend. Tears slipped from her pale blue eyes. How could she let him go? How? With her gaze fixed on the moon and her fingers wrapped around the silver dove pendant at her throat, she prayed, "Please, if there is some way to keep Zog home. Do it. I don't want him to go." An arc of rainbow light swirled from a distant star. The light danced across the face of the moon and then faded. Was it an omen? Fand whispered, "Please, let it be a good one."

From behind, strong arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her close, not Pyre, not now. She had been so absorbed in her prayer, she had not heard him sneak up on her. She hated it when he snuck up on her. Angrily, she jabbed him hard in the ribs. He grunted but didn't let go. "Keeper, Fand, why'd you do that?"

"I told you to stop grabbing me. Let me go." He held her fast. She rammed her heel down on his toes. He stifled a curse word, but did not let go.

He nuzzled her neck and softly said, "Blast you girl."

Fand had had enough. "I will call Zog."

Against her throat Pyre said, "Zog will not stop me from kissing my future wife."

"What?" Fand pushed hard against Pyre and managed to disentangle herself from him. She took several steps away from him.

In a low voice Pyre said, "Surely Fand, this is no surprise."

It was not. But she had had some wild hope that something would intervene. Someone. The Someone.

Pyre took a step toward her. "You know I have loved you my whole life."

Had he? To her it seemed his interest in her had began when she sprouted tits. Until then she had just been Zog's little tag along cousin. At least, that is how she chose to remember the past tonight.

He said, "It's all arranged, after harvest we will wed."

This must not happen. It could not happen. "No."

Pyre took another step toward her. "You love me Fand."

She did, but not the kind of love, he wanted. With emphasis she said, "As a friend."

The white light of the moon revealed his hurt expression. He whispered, "That is enough for me."

To her dismay, she knew he was telling the truth. She responded,"It is not for me."

"Please, give us time Fand. You will see. Your heart will change."

A breeze swirled around Fand and caused her black hair to fly. Pyre’s eyes widened. He took another step towards her. She shook her head and held up her hand. "No Pyre, it won't."

Pyre's voice trembled, "You don’t know that."

She did know it. She was sure of it. Ever so slightly, she raised her chin in defiance.

In a voice that broke, he said, "Zog told me to wait until he left to tell you that we would marry. Did I listen to him? Me and my damn pride. I wanted to prove to him you did love me after all. For once I wanted to be right." In that instant Fand felt the depth of his disappointment. Oh, why did he have to care about her like THAT? He backed away from her, turned and ran. He did not look back. She wanted to say, “I’m sorry,” only she didn’t. His pace was swift and he soon disappeared into the shadows.

A bit of Fand was sorry she had hurt him. Maybe more than a bit, but she would not admit that to herself. He was just Pyre. She was destined for more than being the wife of Pyre Holz. With all her heart, she believed someone was looking for her the way her father had looked for her mother. Someone was looking for her, wasn’t he? Troubled, she turned her attention back to the sky. The full moon had climbed higher. A cluster of heavy clouds scudded across its face and extinguished its silver light. Suddenly Fand felt afraid. Of what? More clouds were coming. A heaviness settled over her. She heard the dove coo again, her mate did not answer her call. In that moment the night lost all its enchantment. It was so dark now, too dark to be alone outside. She made her way through the orchard, passed the barn and entered their untidy yard. Light filtered through the open windows of the cottage. Her daub and waddle home was old and in need of repair. It tilted to the left. The thatched roof leaked. On silent feet, she crossed the yard.

Her cousin, Sah-Zog, met her at the front door. His hair, like hers was black. His blue eyes read hers. He shook his head. "You turned him down."

"Yes."

"You are a very foolish girl."

How many times had she been told this? "I am not." She frowned at him and went into the kitchen to wash the dishes. Zog followed her.

He leaned against the counter and asked, "How do you plan to tell Father?"

She had not thought of this. She should have.

The front door banged open and dumpy Uncle Wert staggered into the kitchen. He had been drinking. He smiled at Fand, and then beamed at his son. He looked around the kitchen. "Where is my future nephew?" When no one answered the smile left his face. His body tensed. His eyes turned to Fand. "I trust you had the good sense to accept Pyre's offer."

Afraid to speak, Fand shook her head.

Uncle Wert exploded, "Are you crazy? Do you think wealthy farmer's sons drop out of the sky everyday for the likes of you? You ungrateful little twit." His eyes focused on Zog. "I hold you responsible."

Zog mouthed, Me?

"Don't look innocent. You are the one who taught this girl to read. Put ideas in the her head she don't need." He turned his attention back to Fand and shouted, "I suppose you have been wasting your time reading your father's blasted love letters again. Dreaming about," his voice became shrill, "true love. If I'd know what they'd cost me I'd have burned those damn letters when I found them."

Fand said nothing. A hard knot formed in her stomach. Those letters were her only connection to her parents and the life they lived.

Uncle Wert continued his tirade, his face turned an unhealthy shade of purple. "True love didn't keep your parents alive and it won't put food in your belly or keep you warm this winter. But Pyre Holz can and will, by damn it."

"Father” Zog pleaded, "Please calm down, getting this angry isn't good for you."

Uncle Wert walked to the counter and slammed his palm on its surface. He glared up at Zog and said, "Calm down indeed. Calm down, the daft boy says. Oh, yes, I should be perfectly calm. After all, my niece has only refused to marry the wealthiest farmer's son in Tashe. Why? She wants a dream man. A flesh and blood man is what she needs and what she will have. I will talk to Rehn tomorrow and get this mess sorted.”

Zog put his hand on his father's shoulder and said, "Please, Father, calm down.”

Uncle Wert knocked his son's hand away. "You and your sudden concern. Aren't you the one leaving me in two days? You need a flesh and blood woman to make you forget that blasted Council. Celibacy, what rubbish." Uncle Wert's eyes narrowed. "Really you are worse than she is. Have you forgotten how the Council murdered your Uncle Petran?"

Through clenched teeth Zog said, "He wasn't murdered and you know it. He was executed for treason."

Uncle Wert frowned and said, "So says your precious Jerue. If your mother weren't already dead, knowing you were joining the Council that murdered her brother would kill her." Uncle Wert stepped away from the counter. He looked at Zog, and then at Fand. He shook his head. "I've done the best I could by you two. Idiots! I have raised idiots!" He turned toward the door. "I am going back to the Tavern."

After Uncle Wert banged the door behind him, Fand asked, "Do you think he meant what he said?"

"The part about us being idiots?" Zog smiled down at her. "Oh, yes I am certain of it."

"No not that part. Do you think he will force me to marry Pyre?"

"I hope he does."

"Why?"

Zog cupped her chin with his hand. He looked her in the eyes and said, "Little One, Pyre is a good man and he loves you. He would look after you. Which is something I won't be able to do much longer. Besides you know he will be faithful and he won't abuse you. A woman couldn't ask for more."

Fand jerked her chin out of his hand. "How would you like it if your future was settled without your consent?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "I suppose I wouldn't like it, but then, I wasn't cursed with being born female."