"Hope is at times all people have," she said agreeably. "But those who look, or listen, too hard will not see what is in front of them already." Hild had no true gift, she knew, but neither did Coifi, the priest of the great temple, and Hild could always bend the king's ear towards her and away from him.

She nodded in contentment as he finished the drink.

"You will live," she announced. "A while longer."