Chapter 5 Summary

When Kris leads Talia to the first Waystation, she starts a fire and heats water for their baths, bathing herself and fixing a meal while Kris tends to the animals. Realizing why Kris is dawdling, Talia chides him for thinking of her as a woman. As they approach the first village in their Sector, Talia is nervous because she has no idea what reception and requests await them. Additionally, her shields are unusually thin, but she fears that telling Kris will only reinforce his doubts about her. As they ride into the village, it seems that the entire population meets them to request the marriage of a young man and his pregnant betrothed. The villagers seem worried that the Heralds will object, but Kris takes the young couple aside, witnesses their vows and signs their marriage contract. Although the rest of the day...