Mana's expression went from worried to confused. "Are ya' serious?"

"Either that or she has a tumor."

The worried expression returned. "A what?"

"It's nothing," Nite laughed. That joke was just a little too dark for a child. "Mono is going to be having puppies soon! That's exciting!"

Her excitement must have been contagious, because Mana finally put on a smile for the first time since she came. "I'm just so happy she's not gunna die! Praise Cirga!"

"I guess that's a good way to look at it." She patted Mana on the head affectionately and said, "Now, run along. I'm sure your mom wants you home for dinner."

The girl picked up her happy, waddling dog and put her back in the basket. "How much money ya' want? Cause ta' be honest, we don't got a lotta money."

"Um... I- Um..." Nite stuttered, taken aback by the child's bluntness. She put on the most reassuring smile she could muster. "Since I only looked at her, it'll be free. Now, when it's time for the puppies to be born, bring her to me and I'll help out. When that rolls around, the only payment I want is some of your mom's delicious soup. Is that a good deal?"

Mana nodded eagerly. "Sounds good to me! Oh!" She jumped in exclamation and knelt down to grab the second wicker basket she had brought along with her. "Missus Snells wanted me ta' give this to ya'! Stopped me as I was walkin' on the road ta' come down here, sayin' somethin' bout not wanting to have to come all the way out here again."

Nite blinked and tried to process the child's rapid fire way of speaking. She took the basket and removed the cloth that was covering it. Inside was a fresh loaf of fresh bread, steam still rising off of it. "Namanda wanted me to have this?"

"She said ya' got Mutt to shut up last night. Said that's yer payment." Mana gave her a little wave before running off the porch and down the path back to town. "Goodbye!" she hollered over her shoulder.

"Wait!" Nite ran after her, waving the basket in the air. "Don't you want this back?"

Mana ignored her, running down the path as fast as her little legs could carry her. The basket containing her dog was jostled around violently, causing Nite to cringe.

"Oh well," she sighed. With one final glance at the distant child, she went back into the house.

"Is that bread I smell?"

Nite jumped and almost dropped the basket. "Bickum! I thought you were sleeping!"

He chuckled and sat up on the bed. "I smelled food, so I woke up."

"You are controlled by your stomach." She walked to his bed and set the basket down on the ground. To ease his chronic back pain, she helped him prop himself with the few pillows he had. When she was done, she sat down next to him.

"It was nice of Namanda to pay you with food. I always knew she was a good person."

"I could have sworn just last month you said quite a few nasty words to her when she glared you in the village," she giggled, raising her eyebrow playfully. She took the loaf out of the basket and broke it in half.

He took his half of the bread. "People can change."

"Like you, when it comes to food?"

"Exactly. You are a fast learner."

They devoured the bread in silence. Nite had a feeling that tonight, this would be their only food for supper. That didn't bother her, because the warm, soft bread was more than enough to fill her stomach.

When she was done, Nite stood up and took the empty basket at her feet. If she wasn't going to give it back to Namanda then she was going to put it to good use. Her old medicine basket, where she stored her herbs and ointments, was falling apart. She began transferring over the objects. It didn't take long.

When she was done, she took the old, battered wicker basket and brought it to the table. She sat down and began pulling it apart.

"What are you doing?" Bickum questioned.

"I have no more use for this basket. I was going to use it as firewood."

"Good choice."

They drifted off into silence. The only sounds came from the occasional cricket and Nite pulling the wicker basket apart.

It was Bickum who finally asked the question that was on both their minds. "What did you think of the people in town?"

Nite grunted as she snapped the handle off the basket. "They were wearing military uniforms, but there were only a few of them. It wasn't an army, meaning I don't think we'll be going to war with the Kingdom of Avalease anytime soon. Though they might be on a mission to scout out possible routes to attack through. Whatever it is, I think it would be best to avoid them."

He nodded in agreement. "Your observation skills have improved. That was a good deduction. The only problem is, if they are traveling to Avalease, then there is a good chance we will have to bring them on the riverboat."

"Ugh." Nite dropped her head onto the table and mumbled, "I didn't think about that. Great."

"Regardless, we should not worry. As long as they pay us, we will be nice to them. Remember: we are polite to all customers."

She rolled her eyes and snapped off another piece of the basket. "Whatever you say. Just know that if they come with us, I'm bringing the pistol."

"That is understandable. All I ask of you is that you do not shoot anyone without proper cause."

"Deal."

Nite finished tearing the basket apart and gathered the pieces in her arms. She brought them over to the fire place. Glancing out the window, she saw that the sun was nearly gone. "Can I go ahead and light a fire?"

Bickum also looked out the window. "Yes, child. I think that would be a good idea. When you are done, could you also light me a candle?"

"Gladly." She took flint and steel from their position near the fireplace and struck them together. Like always, I took her a few tries. When the sparks finally caught, the twigs from the basket began to slowly burn. She added a few small logs for good measure.

When she was certain the fire was steady, Nite got up and fetched a candle from the dining table. She stuck it into the fire and let the flame catch.

"Here you go," she whispered to Bickum as she set it in his nightstand. "Do you plan to read?"

"You know me so well."

"Do you need me to get you a book?"

"If you wouldn't mind."

Nite nodded and whisked herself over to the bookshelf. It was placed worryingly close to the fireplace, but thankfully had yet to go up in flames.

"Do you want a certain book?"

"Any will do. I am not picky."

She grabbed the closest book to her and brought it back to Bickum.

He took it from her hands and read the title. "The Beginner's Guide to Gardening. This is perfect. It is so boring, it will put me to sleep right away."

"Good." Nite placed the covers over him and helped him fluff his pillows. "You need to get as much rest as possible." She gave him a kiss on the forehead.

"Goodnight, Stump," he told her affectionately.

Nite shut the open windows. "Goodnight." She climbed into bed.

Nite would have liked to read, but she was too tired to. Instead, she lay under her scratchy covers and stared at the thatched ceiling.

The thoughts in the back of her mind began to show themselves once again. If she was correct, then the danger, in the form of the strangers, was already in the village. That would be good, because then it would mean that no devastating natural disaster would happen. It would also be bad, because then it would mean that the strangers were more dangerous than she had anticipated.

And if they weren't the danger, then something even more dangerous was yet to come.

There came a series of hard knocks on the door, like someone was banging on it.

Nite bolted upright, instantly breaking into a cold sweat. No one ever came knocking this late unless it was an emergency.

Bickum, who was barely awake, looked worriedly at her as she jumped out of bed and rushed to the door.

She flung it open in a panic and was greeted by a terrifying sight.

The woman from earlier, the one who had broken up the fight, was standing just outside the door. The gun she had fired into the air then was now pointed directly at Nite's forehead. "Hello there."