“Like what?” I asked, wishing I had a notepad so I could take notes. I never had the best of memories, and now there were all sorts of new things being thrown at me that I just knew I’d forget.
Silence fell. The sun went behind a cloud, leaving me in the shade. The dogs sat up and whined. I shivered, feeling as if someone were walking over my grave. Even the birds stopped singing their happy songs.
“The price depends on the amount of time taken,” Mrs. Faa said slowly, her eyes on mine, but now unreadable. “Once, when I was very young and learning the way of things, I did not pay properly for time taken from a girl I met at a small country town. The next day, my favorite hair ribbons were gone. They were scarlet for good luck, and my papa had given them to me to wear on my wedding day. I
