Northstar Vale sand willow

bartholomew spoke of blessings.

he spoke of the women who had no husbands. he called them astray.

tamar did not know the word. but his words of promise; yes; that she knew. and she flushed before him with a trembling relief. ruenna. towhee. aquene. all mothers.

"i am afraid my time will never come," she told the man. she spoke plainly, as he had done.