Anji watched him eat, those shocking green eyes not focused on anything and staring intently at everything all at once. She couldn’t believe she’d ever been that small. He was so skinny, a runt if she ever saw one, but cute as hell. She wished she could bring him along with her and Kit, but then her stomach sank at the thought of what waited at the end of whatever road this was. At least after she died there would still be one child in a safe, cozy place like this.

He doesn’t know how good he has it.

“Just don’t start up yourself,” Anji said. “It’ll make you stink.”

Berip wrinkled his nose and took another spoonful of stew. “Jared says I can’t race if I don’t maintain lung capacity.” He pronounced this last word as though he’d just learned it, slowly, with all of his mouth. “I’m gonna be the fastest there ever was.”

“You should see the races in Linura,” said Kit. “The champions would overtake anyone from Kiva in a single lap. Some of the best runners I’ve ever seen. A fair few of them are graduated to messengers in the king’s army.”

“Not faster than me,” Berip said, and Anji nearly cackled at the boy’s unshakable confidence. “Just wait, I’ll come to Linura and beat all those cows.” He grinned and slurped another mouthful, legs kicking out from under the table.

“I’m sure you will,” said Kit, rising from her chair. She stretched her arms out and shot Anji a look. “We need to be off.”

The door to the kitchen cracked open and Jared appeared again, the waft of fresh cadroot sifting into the room to join the scent of cloves and garlic. Anji found she liked the smell as much as Berip did.

“Storm’s coming in,” said Jared, brushing raindrops off his coat. He crossed to the stove and blew out the flames at a low simmer under the pot. “Make sure this is packed and sealed, Berip,” he said, clearing the counter of ingredients. Berip raised his bowl, drinking the last of the stew’s dregs.

Jared looked around at Kit. “Leaving already?”

“We’ve taken enough of your hospitality,” said Kit, not quite meeting Jared’s eye. Anji stood from her chair.

“Thanks very much for the food, Berip,” she said. The boy’s jaw hung open.

“You’re leaving? You just got here!”

“Yes, but we have to get to Linura,” said Kit. She locked eyes with Jared, but he just slid the iron closet door key across to her and busied himself at the island counter.

“Kit’s very busy with work, Berip,” he said, then looked around with mock severity. “We can detail the kitchen today.”

Berip groaned into his bowl. “We did that last week! How much cleaner could this place possibly get?”