Avalene looked up from her sewing to see Armand step through a gap in the willow branches. The smell of wood smoke came to her as if it had followed him. Her stomach rumbled in response. “Aye, a meal would be welcome, Armand. Thank you.” Armand opened his mouth as if he meant to say something more, but changed his mind at the last minute and let the branches fall back into place. Her gaze went to Rami as she heard Armand walk away. The boy looked terrified, just as he had every time one of the men came anywhere near them. She could not understand why, unless they had somehow mistreated him. It was also possible he was afraid of all men, since his last master had most definitely mistreated him. However, she did not recall seeing any fear in Rami toward Armand before his fall and he now looked at her, the woman he had all but run from, as if she could answer all his prayers. The child was exceedingly strange. Rami lay on her cloak with his bandaged head resting on her saddlebag. He had drowsed in and out of sleep all day, but now he was clear-eyed and alert.
