Bird stood, and Han said, “Can Bird stay?” Willo shook her head.

Perplexed and a little annoyed, Han said to Bird, “Wait outside, will you? This shouldn’t take too long.”

“I won’t wait forever, Hunts Bird,” Bird said, grinning at him. She swept out in a swish of skirts.

After everyone exited, Averill, Elena, Dancer, and Willo remained, all sitting around the hearth. Dancer looked as bewildered as Han.

Han began to feel apprehensive. Willo’s expression had bad news all over it. He didn’t know Averill and Elena very well, and he’d always been a little afraid of them. Maybe Willo was going to withdraw her offer to train him in healing. Or the elders were going to banish him because he’d continued to see Bird in defiance of Willo’s warning. Maybe Averill wanted to ask questions about the girlie he’d kidnapped at Southbridge Temple a lifetime ago. Or they could have found out about the amulet hidden under his sleeping bench.

Too many possibilities, all of them bad.

Just then the door to the lodge opened and Lucius Frowsley came in, which was possibly the most surprising thing that could have happened. Lucius traded with the clan, but Han had never seen him in any of their camps before.

The old man looked less derelict than usual. Although his breeches and shirt were worn, they were clean and finely made, and he’d made some attempt to put his hair and beard into order. His filmy eyes were clearer than usual, and he leaned on an elaborately carved walking stick. Han could have sworn he was sober.

That was frightening in itself.

Han rose from his bench. “Lucius? What are you doing here?”

“You’ll see soon enough, boy,” Lucius said. The old man seemed almost smug. Han took his arm and led him to one of the benches. Lucius sat down with the others.

Willo rose and stood at the center of the half-circle. She was obviously in charge of this rough assembly.

“Hunts Alone, I want to begin by asking your forgiveness,” Willo said.

Han stared at her for a long moment, temporarily speechless. “Why? What for? If you’re talking about Mam and Mari, that wasn’t your fault.”

“In a way it was,” Willo said, looking away from him and lacing her fingers together nervously. That was unlike her, because usually she was very straightforward. She just seemed to be having trouble spitting this story out.

“No,” he said. “It was my fault. I was the one who brought the Guard down on them. I should’ve just stayed away.” He didn’t mention the amulet. Dancer knew about it, and Lucius did, but neither of them knew what had happened after, or that he still had it.

Han was ashamed he’d kept it, ashamed he’d tried to sell it. That was the story he had trouble telling.