She nodded. “I saw it.”
The most indescribable expression passed across his face. “You saw it? How?”
“I was down in the wetlands when they set it loose.”
“You were in the barrens?”
She’d always hated that name for it.
“Yes. I go there for medical supplies. There’s a lot to forage, it’s—” She hesitated. “—it’s good in a pinch. Is there only one chimaera?”
Ferron refused to return to the matter at hand. “This is something you do often?”
“Well, it’s seasonal. There’s not much I can get during heavy flooding but—” Helena paused at Ferron’s stunned expression.
She sighed impatiently. “I mentioned that I do this every Saturnis and Martiday. I was out today getting some extra.”
“No…” Ferron said slowly, a dangerous edge to his voice. His posture was still casual, but his tone gave him aw
