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troubles are all I’ve ever known. But your bandits won’t be finding this pasture. I’m surprised you did.”
    â€œHow long have bandits been wandering up here? How can they feed themselves? How do you know they’re come from Walshow? How far is it to Walshow from here?”
    He snapped his fingers. Two more dogs appeared out of the grass. They were bigger than Nip and had massive muzzles and powerful chests. They loped over to sniff at her, then slipped away to resume their patrol. “You’re a reeve, aren’t you?” he asked. “We see them now and again, hunting around here.”
    â€œDo you? Where do they hail from?”
    He shrugged. It was obvious he was telling the truth and never thought once of lying to her. He didn’t even feel he needed to lie, he was that confident. “I don’t know. They keep to themselves, although it’s true that a time ortwo we’ve had a bit of help from them when packs of men came drifting down out of Walshow.”
    â€œThey’re not patrolling out of Gold Hall? Clan Hall hasn’t the resources. I suppose Argent Hall or Horn Hall might fly these parts. Don’t they oversee your assizes?”
    He looked at the ground, dense with the green growing breath of plants feeding on the early rains and the promise of a fresh year. It almost seemed that he darkened in aspect, pulled shadows over himself as he changed his mind about trusting her. He was hiding from her, flashes that pricked at her vision
    what if she knows?
    a snake winds through underbrush, tongue flicking
    keep a vessel as of clay about your thoughts, it is the only protection against the third eye
    She blinked back tears and realized he was not speaking.
    Fear makes you cold. Shivering, she clambered to her feet. Nip barked as the other dogs circled in. There were five dogs that she could now see, but three wagged their tails tentatively. None threatened her; they simply remained vigilant.
    â€œYou’re one of them, seeing into me,” he said in a hoarse voice. “You’re death. Have you come to kill me?”
    The speed of his transformation from pleasant companion to frightened lad shocked her. She took a step away from the ugly emotion she had roused in him. “What do you mean?”
    He scrambled to his feet and backed away, holding the lute as if it might shield him from attack. “She hides us, it’s all she can do against the others, for they have all become corrupt and soon their shadow will darken every heart. It’s just that the dogs didn’t bark at you. Why is that? What power do you have that can charm the dogs? Is it all for nothing, all that she has done for us to spare us?” Tears ran down his cheeks. He wept for what hisfolk had lost. And he continued backing away, angling so she had to turn to keep facing him.
    Desperately, she said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m seeking answers. I’m lost.”
    â€œThat’s what they all say. That’s what she warns us they will say, trying to get inside us, to get past the defenses she taught us to build. Nothing is safe. Nothing.”
    For so many years the protection had held. Now, in an instant, all had fallen, fallen. The shadow will grow, and in the end it will consume even those trying to hide from it.
    Marit swayed, struck by the hammer blow of his fear and grief. The sun cleared a cloud; its light forced her to raise a hand to spare her eyes. He had turned her, so the sun’s glamour blinded her.
    He whistled. The dogs bolted into action, rounding up the bleating sheep. He grabbed a pack that had lain concealed in the grass. Silver ribbons to mark the new year fluttered from the buckle of the pack where he had tied them. The Year of the Silver Deer followed the Year of the Black Eagle, only in that case why weren’t there only two ribbons tied to his pack, appropriate to the Deer? Why were there eight