“He’s wearing a long brown coat and has dark hair, going gray.”She looked in the direction I’d indicated and blanched.“Oh, boy!” she moane... in dismay at seeing him.I reached into my pocket and pulled out my phone, starting the recording app and figuring that our interrogation started now.“Do we pretend we don’t see him or go over and say hello?” I asked comfortingly.“Too late,” she said with a sigh. “He’s on his way over here.”I looked up and he was approaching, looking less and less. The thatch had been smoked with juniper to drive out the insects which sheltered within it and fresh lime wash had been applied to the walls; what had for so long been a war camp’s keep seemed again the seat of a king. Tonight, if the tribute of the vanquished - the greatest treasure they could offer - found acceptance they would no longer be a beaten people but the newest members of the confederacy forged by the high king over many years with blade and cunning tongue. Their captured. ’ Liesel was caught off guard. He spoke it as if he were looking at some little bauble, studying it, turning it over in his palm. She paused, and then replied, ‘That’s true. It was my grandmother’s name.’ ‘It’s a beautiful name.’ ‘Well, thank you.’ She paused and nervously, purposelessly rustled some papers. ‘Um, is this a good time?’ ‘Actually, I am a little busy right now. Is tomorrow too late for us to have a chat?’ Liesel expected to hear cows lowing or horses neighing or corn cracking in. Riya was thrilled inside at their banter and their easy friendship. She laughed with them as they tried to count up the number of times each one had beaten the other. She put her head back against the headrest and closed her eyes, drifting off into a light sleep.Something woke her, a feeling in her body and she opened her eyes. Rajesh’s hand rested on her arm, and his fingers were centimeters from her breast. He saw her open eyes and squeezed her arm lightly, then leaned towards her and kissed.