She shook her head and sat down fully with her back against the door, but he noticed that her hand remained on the hilt of her blade. Her hair and clothing were soaked through, clinging to her skin. She reached into a satchel near her feet and handed him something small wrapped in parchment. “I brought you food. There’s water in here, too. Plus a sweater. It can get cold at night.”

She passed him the satchel and he pulled out the waterskin and the sweater, woven in forest green wool. It was finer than any clothing he’d ever owned, and his eyes darted up to hers, questioning.

“It was my father’s,” she said. “It won’t be missed.”

From the way she said it, Jaren assumed he was either dead or estranged. “Thank you. That’s very kind.” He was about to set the sweater on the floor next to him, taking care not to undo the neat folds, when he noticed that she was shivering.

“Maybe you should put it on,” he said, holding it out.

She shook her head, still trembling. “I’m fine.”

He wasn’t going to push her. He knew from experience with his sisters that if a woman was being stubborn, there was little he could do about it. “I don’t suppose there’s another boat available?”

“There’s only one as far as I know. I don’t even know where the boat you crossed over in went, and I don’t know how long it’s going to take me to find it. And once I do, I don’t know if I’ll be able to fix it. Even if I can, I don’t know how we’re going to get you out of here without anyone seeing.”

“You’re thinking of turning me in, aren’t you?” He tried to keep his eyes on hers, but they darted involuntarily to her blade. He didn’t ask if she was thinking of killing him, too. He wasn’t sure he wanted to know the answer.

She was silent for a moment, and when she did speak, her tone was grave. “I just want you to understand the reality of your situation. There’s a good possibility that you’ll have to stay here on Endla. At least until the lake freezes over, and that won’t be for a good six or seven months.”

Jaren swore under his breath. His family would have long since given up on him by then. They might not even stay in Bricklebury. “I can’t wait that long. I have to get back.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes until Leelo said, “I can bring you food and water. You won’t go hungry out here.”

“My leg...” He trailed off. There wasn’t anything to say, really.