“Wildly demonstrative bunch, you know, we patrollers,” Dag murmured in Fawn’s ear, his dry amusement flickering again.

“I can see that,” she murmured back, making his lip twitch.

Mari rubbed her forehead. “And the long tale, Dag? Do I even want to hear it?”

The grim look he gave her locked all her attention. “Yes,” he said. “As soon as may be. But in private. Then Miss Bluefield needs to rest.” He turned to Fawn. “Or do you want to rest up first?”

Fawn shook her head. “Talk first, please.”

Mari braced her hands on her trousered knees and rolled her shoulders. “Ah. All right.” She peered around, eyes narrowing. “My room?”

“That would do.”

She pushed to her feet. “Utau, you were up all night. You’re now off duty. Razi, get some food in you, then ride out to Tailor’s Point and let them know Dag’s been found. Or shown up, anyway.” The patrollers nodded and turned away.

Dad murmured to Fawn, “Bring your bedroll.”

Mari’s room proved to be on the third floor. Fawn found herself dizzy and shaky by the time she’d climbed the second flight of stairs, and she was grateful for Dag’s supporting hand. Mari led them into a narrower room than Saun’s, with only one bed, though otherwise similar right down to the messy pile of gear and saddlebags at the foot. Dag gestured for Fawn to lay her bedroll across the bed. Fawn untied the bindings and unrolled it; the contents clinked.

Mari’s brows rose. She picked up Dag’s ruptured hand harness and held it out like the sad carcass of some dead animal. “That took some doing. I see now why you didn’t bother to take your bow along. You still got your arm?”

“Just barely,” said Dag. “I need to get that thing restitched with stronger thread, this time.”

“I’d rethink that idea if I were you. Which do you want to have come apart first, you or it?”

Dag paused a moment, then said, “Ah. You have a point, there. Maybe I’ll get it fixed just the same.”

“Better.” Mari set the harness back down and picked up the makeshift linen bag and let it drift through her hand, feeling the contents shift within. Her expression grew sad, almost remote. “Kauneo’s heart’s knife, wasn’t it?”

Dag nodded shortly.

“I know how long you’ve kept it aside. This fate was worthy.”

Dag shook his head. “They’re all the same, really, I’ve come to believe.” He took a breath and advanced to the bed, motioning Fawn to sit.