Mending

Afena knelt in her cottage with the same apprehension she always felt before reading the runes. It was always a tricky thing to do. You could interpret them right, but have no idea of what they were trying to tell you, or you could interpret them wrong and suffer the consequences of your mistake before you could dodge the slap they were trying to warn you about.

It was dawning, and she should have known better than to think that Rudsis would be sleeping. The former guard walked into the cottage without caring to knock, and announced, "I'm ready to go."

Patiently, her back towards him, Afena exhaled through her mouth silently. "I'll be out in a little while."