‘Althea.’ She turned to the bereft tone of his voice. Grag suddenly looked very boyish and young. He met her eyes bravely and did not try to hide his pain. ‘The offer stands. I’ll wait until you come back. Be my wife. I don’t care what you’ve done. I love you.’ She searched for true words she could say to him. ‘You have a kind heart, Grag Tenira,’ she said at last. ‘Fare well.’
