Chapter Sixteen
I miss the wolves, their howling. The constant sense of them skulking in the trees, waiting for a moment of weakness to attack. I am able to wash my body and clothes in the hot pools without harassment. The forests here are silent. There isn’t enough food to go around to feed a pack. Fortunately for us, we have meat stripped from the horse’s flank, and a cauldron in which a stew now gently bubbles. It still needs more flavorings, though, as I am at pains to point out on my return.
“Go gather us some mushrooms and herbs,” Zlata tells Aleks, seeming to understand just from the looks I give her that I need to speak to her alone.
“What do I know of herbs?” he gripes, apparently aware we just want him out of the way for now. “f**k herbs. You want them, you find them.”
“Gathe
