With a last, deep breath I straighten my clothes, smooth my hair.
Rose!
The voice makes me jump. Never have I heard him here, in the world. My mind is playing tricks on me, I’m so very tired …
I look back towards the lake.
There is a small, squarish shape sitting on the path, just where it levels out. A dark package, tied with plain string.
I whirl around completely, trying to remain calm, trying to scour the trees without appearing to. What might he be plotting, what kind of ambush? The last sane part of my mind says leave it be, think on the price you will pay.
Never you, Rose. Never you.
I dash forward, seizing the parcel as I spin about and race back up the rise, nearly tripping in my haste, cursing my heavy clogs, my thick skirts. Even after I cross back into the noise, I keep
