There were a lot of reasons why the Heart was special. There was, of course, the legendary history of the stone, how it had moved through generations, been held by some of the most important people in the realm.

And there was the story. About how Princess Amanda was wed under it. And how she lost her husband and the stone in one terrible raid.

Romantic notions, all of that.

Savage wasn't a romantic.

"Well," she said. "For one thing. When we were able to fence it, we were able to pay for enough food and blankets to comfort every refugee that came to Valeria from Beigor, after it was conquered."