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game hens lay beside her.
    She smiled, reaching out for Kelmir and Vaith. Thank you, my brave hearts. Well done . Their pleasure at her praise swept over her as she passed her hands in a small circle over the fowl with a prayer of thanks to Troka for her generosity.
    Standing, she stretched the stiffness out of her arms and legs, then checked on Trad. He nickered as she rubbed behind his ears. The forest was alive with the evening song of warblers and a woodpecker hammered in the distance. Kelmir and Vaith were alert and watchful, but they gave no sense of concern. She stooped to pick up the game hens. Watch over Trad for me , she told them before heading toward the foresters’ cot.
    She stayed in the shadows and surveyed the quiet settlement. The entire holding consisted of one large building, a work shed, a rough stable, a few flat-roofed cottages and several sturdy lean-tos. The group of buildings sat clustered in a clearing, a narrow track leadng to the main cart road. A less than defensible position, and some of the buildings had been recently repaired. But then, with the outlanders having been expelled from Sedath, life had become more peaceful, if not necessarily more pleasant, thanks to Toril.
    Lights glimmered from the windows of the main hall, glowing in the gray evening light. The work shed and most of the cottages appeared silent and empty. Kira squared her shoulders and stepped out into the clearing between two of the outbuildings, intent on heading for the nearest cottage. Perhaps there would be someone inside with whom she could barter.
    A scuffling noise from the direction of the stable brought her to a halt. The buttery-yellow light of a small work lamp moved toward the open door, followed by a bulky shadow. Kira waited soundlessly, poised to dart back in amongst the trees.
    The shadow emerged from the stable, followed by a short stout man in a leather tunic, a lamp raised high over his head. His deep-set eyes were dark in his round face, which held a large full nose and square chin. His shoulders were broad, and he appeared to be nearly as wide as he was tall, with arms so long they would have reached below his knees had they been down at his sides.
    A bleating animal trailed after him, stumbling awkwardly and stretching its neck to reach something the man held behind his back. Kira smiled as she realized that the animal was a young goat and the man was not a man, but a gnome. An Uldast gnome most likely, she thought, as Uldast gnomes were known for their animal husbandry. The gnome was feeding the kid something from his hand as he walked, his rolling gait like that of a sailor fresh from the sea.
    He stopped suddenly, sniffing the air, and the kid caught up with him, butting him from behind with its head and causing him to rock forward onto the balls of his feet. He stiffened and steadied himself, eyes narrowing as they came to rest on the shadows where Kira stood.
    “What d’ye think yer doin’ over there?” he asked, his voice a deep rumbling bass. “Com’on out where one can see yer with a clean eye.”
    Kira stepped from between the buildings, holding her arms out from her sides, the game hens held tightly in one fist.
    “Who’re ye? Eh? And why’re ye skulkin’ in the gloom?” The gnome’s deep voice was gruff with suspicion.
    “I’m sorry, I didn’t intend to hide in the shadows as if I were spying,” Kira replied. “I’m only a traveler passing through these lands. I saw your holding and thought I might barter some fresh game for supplies. If there is anyone here who might be open to a trade, that is,” she spoke the words as politely as she could, keeping her arms outstretched and nodding at the dangling fowl.
    “So, ’tis an accident ye were hanging in the shadows betwixt and between rather than comin’ at us from the main road, eh?” He arched an eyebrow at her, his mouth held in a taut line.
    “Well, not precisely,” Kira said. “I was coming from the forest with these