The Goat corralled Anji into the camp, letting her collapse near the burned-out remnants of a cookfire at its center. She groaned with the release of tension in her limbs and watched the Goat ease himself onto the boulder near the tent, crossbow still trained on her chest.

“Alright, here’s the plan,” he said. “Ox and I are going to signal the Bear, and you’re going to sit quiet and keep to yourself. Try to run, and”—he patted the bow—“well, let’s assume you’re not a total moron.” He set the bow on the rock, its bolt still pointed at Anji, then folded over his boots and began untying the laces as the Ox ambled back into camp, water bucket sloshing in one massive hand, the fish already limp and gutted in the other. The Goat snorted a laugh. “Imagine, Rolandrian murdered by a simpleton. Wouldn’t that just be—”

“Stop your chiding, Goat,” the Ox said, setting the bucket down. She crouched and began tearing strips from the moss she’d also gathered, piling it into the cookfire’s ashes.

“Apologies,” the Goat said. With a grunt he yanked one of his boots off and tossed it aside. “Still, can’t believe she’s the one that did it.” He unlaced his other boot, which he pulled off and threw next to its twin. With a relieved sigh, he snatched up the crossbow again, long legs splayed before him. A gust of wind pushed the stench of his unshod feet into Anji’s nose, and she nearly gagged.

Tittering, the Goat gestured at Anji with the bow. “So. A laundress turned regicide. Won’t that make for a song. Who helped you with it then, eh? You couldn’t have done it on your own.”

“Tenets, Goat,” said the Ox with a tired sigh.

“Not used to fighting your own battles, I take it?” Anji said without thinking.

The Goat coughed a laugh, then shot to his feet with a snarl, one hand clapped to the hilt of the long dagger at his hip. He’d taken one step toward Anji when the Ox held up a hand, which stopped him in his tracks. “Peace, Goat,” she said, her voice even. “Our charge is tired. Remember yourself.” She gestured to the pair of dead rabbits dangling on the line near the horses. “Those coneys need stripping.”