There had been much change these past months with Beatriss’s people moving to Fenton and the Priest-king opening a shrinehouse in her old village of Sennington. Who would have believed contentment could come to the area after so much upheaval? ‘August and Abian are meeting us in Sennington for supper with blessed Barakah,’ Isaboe said to Beatriss. ‘Why don’t you join us?’ Beatriss’s smile was bittersweet. ‘Trevanion’s home tonight and Vestie does love our nights together, so perhaps another time.’ Finnikin could see his father from the window. ‘There are a lot of hardworking lads out there, Beatriss,’ he said, watching Perri and Trevanion working with the Fenton lot in the fields. The younger lads were full of vigour. Beatriss peered over his shoulder. ‘Well, the fact is that the lads do work hard, but not as much as when Trevanion’s home. Then every young man seems to break their back for his attention. As though he’s recruiting for the Guard.’ ‘And how is life with my father?’ he teased.
