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out of the way. He knocked his large shoulder into the wall behind them. The tools rattled as they fell onto the ground and echoed in the small space.
    “Where are you going?”
    “To get bandages and salve for his wound.”
    She’d need something else as well. Because of Galius’ lack of attention to Mr. Walker, he could be suffering from infection by now. Pril hurried toward her vardo. She ignored the pain as it vibrated up her side. She grabbed a needle, thread, cloth, bucket and her herbs. She tossed a peppermint leaf into her mouth and waited for the minty taste to coat her insides. She often used the leaf to stop her stomach from convulsing as she mended bloody wounds.
     
    “That lamp is not going to be bright enough,” Pril said to Galius. “You will need to light another.”
    Mr. Walker lay sleeping on his side. She inspected the wound. The blood had stopped flowing and had dried in a mess of matted hair. She dunked the cloth into the water and gently dabbed the cut, pulling the blood from his scalp. Mr. Walker didn’t move, and she worried infection had set in. To be sure, she placed cattail on the wound once it was cleaned. Taking the thread she dipped it into a bottle of whiskey before she threaded the needle. She poked it through the scalp at the back of his head and sewed up the torn skin. Still Mr. Walker did not stir.
    “Where is the beeswax?” she asked.
    Galius handed it to her. She opened the jar of wax and herbs. She scooped some of the thick salve onto her fingers and covered Mr. Walker’s wound. She placed her palm over the wound, feeling the energy flow into her mind and heart. She pushed it into her fingers and whispered, “Mend thee now whilst one day past. Heal thy wound, ever last.”
    The wax would keep infection out, and the herbs would kill any contagion wanting to start, but the spell would fix it all.
    “What in hell?”
    She jumped and dropped the jar of wax onto the floor. “Mr. Walker, we are here to help you.” She glanced at Galius. Did he hear her say the spell?
    He rolled onto his back, eyes narrowed, lips grim and unchallenging. “I find that hard to believe.”
    “It is true. We mean you no harm.”
    He lifted his arms until the chains tightened.
    “My apologies.”
    “Bullshit.”
    She was silent.
    “Where are my dagger and horse?”
    “Your horse grazes with ours,” she said.
    “And the dagger?”
    “It will be given to you soon,” she said.
    He scowled.
    “Why am I tied to this bloody bed?”
    Galius stepped forward.
    She raised her hand to stop him.
    “Sir, you fell from my vardo and hit your head.”
    He spat onto the floor and turned a pointed glare toward her.
    “Yet, you feel it necessary to chain me?”
    “You will be released as soon as you tell us why you’ve come.”
    “To hear of the days ahead of course.” He smirked, and she knew he was mocking her.
    “We both know that is not the truth.”
    “You damn gypsies know nothing of truth. You make a living from lies.”
    “It will suit you best to answer the questions instead of handing out insults,” Galius said.
    “And you best hope I don’t get free from these chains.”
    Galius growled.
    “What is your given name, Mr. Walker?” she asked.
    He tried to sit up, the chains clinked, and she felt sorry for him. There was no need to keep him tied down.
    “Brother, release him.”
    “Not until he speaks of why he’s come.”
    “Kade. My name is Kade Walker.”
    “Why have you come, Kade?” Pril asked.
    “To hear my bloody future. Why is that so hard to understand? You have people coming from all over the damn place to hear their past or present. Why am I any different?”
    She sucked in a breath and let it out in a loud whoosh.
    “You did not want to know the days ahead of you, sir. You came for another reason.”
    “If you are so sure, then what is the other reason?”
    “I do not know.”
    He pulled at the chains, shaking the bed, and winced when his head came down onto the