She made to return his sword to him at last, but he pushed it back to her. ‘I love you,’ he told her. Tears burned her eyes and she wondered if the shock of everything was at last wearing off. ‘I love you, too.’ Her Warsword started for the castle, but he hesitated, half turning back to her. ‘You’re ready, you know.’ ‘Ready?’ ‘For the Great Rite. When you feel its call, you go. Drop everything and go. You will emerge a Warsword. The very best of us.’
