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just make out the darker shapes of the towering pine trees beyond the field. Could the scent of the Svistra in her barn be keeping food from her neighbors’ tables, or were there really other Svistra out there?
    The desire to close her eyes overwhelmed her. I’m tired. In no condition to face a Svistra.
    The barn loomed before her. She felt a stab of guilt. Jaden hadn’t eaten since Oren took him supper the night before. With Oren sick and overnight guests, she hadn’t been able to risk leaving the tavern long enough to bring him food until now.
    Taking a deep breath, she opened the barn door, one hand hovering over the knives strapped to her waist. The familiar scent of fresh hay, manure and horse washed over her as she lingered in the doorway, waiting.
    After Jemima’s muffled greeting, the silence of the night continued into the barn except for the vague mewing of newborn kittens.
    “Selia,” Jaden whispered from the darkness of the stall.
    From the direction of his voice, the Svistra was still lying down. Not a question . How did he know it was me and not Oren? She remembered the hunting cat as she shut the barn door. Were all of his senses more acute than hers? “I’ve brought your food.”
    “Is Oren well?”
    “He’s caught a bit of a cold. Nothing serious, but I didn’t want him out in the rain.” She set the bucket on the floor outside the stall, then entered, and hung the lantern from a hook without taking her eyes from the Svistra. The bruises on his face had faded into a sickly yellow, a dull echo of his eyes.
    “Wise. Have you tried eucalyptus? It’s quite good for the lungs.”
    “I don’t need advice on how to take care of Oren.” Selia retrieved the stew from the bucket and re-entered the stall. She hadn’t tried it, actually. She used her mother’s mustard paste remedy, but perhaps eucalyptus would work.
    Jaden took the bowl. “And I suppose it’s useless to repeat myself, but I’ve very little else to do these days.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “Upon my honor, I won’t hurt Oren, or you. I owe you my life. That is a sacred debt.”
    “I didn’t know the Svistra had any honor.”
    “Of a sort.”
    Damn it, he’d taken her by surprise again. Why couldn’t he just behave the way she expected? Like an arrogant, bloodthirsty monster? Would that really make things easier? She ignored the thought. “I suppose we’ll both be repeating ourselves then. I don’t need, or want, your advice or your debt.”
    The Svistra inclined his head.
    She took a deep breath. If he could play at being polite, so could she. “How are your ribs?”
    “Healing, thank you.”
    “Are you still in pain?”
    His eyes smiled. “Only when I move.”
    “When do you think you’ll—”
    “A few days at most. I’ve been walking the length of the barn from time to time to build my strength.”
    Selia involuntarily took a step back, bumping into the stall door.
    “Don’t worry. I won’t let anyone see or hear me. I’ve no desire to commit suicide, and I assure you, as soon as I can make it past the river, I’ll be gone. As I said, there’s not much to do in between waiting for Oren to bring my food.”
    It was on the tip of her tongue to criticize him for being ungrateful but to her surprise she asked, “Do you read?”
    “Yes.” His head tilted.
    Had she surprised him? She reveled in an odd feeling of satisfaction to be on the giving end for a change. The Svistra had a knack for making her feel off-balance. “I have a few books.”
    A gleam entered the Svistra’s eye. “Do you? That is a treasure. You read then?”
    “My mother taught me.”
    The Svistra’s smile unnerved her.
    She needlessly adjusted the lantern. “I’ll bring you one if you like.”
    “Very much.”
    “I won’t let you have a lantern or a candle but…”
    “No, it’s okay. I understand. Wouldn’t want to attract attention.”
    She moved toward the stall door.
    “There are more and more soldiers around,