It felt as if a terrible weight was sliding from her shoulders. She had done what she was hired to do. Well, most of it, anyway. She had brought the children back safely. If the village itself was about to perish, well, that was hardly Tira's fault, was it? She couldn't save the whole world. She walked to her horse and climbed into the saddle. The village owed her money, but that was all right. She had her bow and her sword, and a horse instead of a mule. She was fine. Half the village was looking at her. She saw a mix of expressions on their faces, fear and hope and a strange confidence, and it came to her that they expected her to do something. More than that, some of them expected whatever she did to work. Fools. She caught Tam's eye, and he raised an eyebrow, asking if he should get in the saddle as well. She gave her head a tiny shake and looked away. He had the same look of confidence as the more gullible of the villagers. He thought there was something that could be done. The west road beckoned.
