Nessa turned to the girl, speaking in the tongue of Eyvind’s people. “You have come into a forbidden place,” she said. “Perhaps you didn’t know that. Your people are not welcome on our land. Why have you come here? What do you want?”

“I heard—my lady heard—that there was a wise woman here,” the girl managed, her voice breathless with anxiety. “I only wanted—they say she can cast spells, make potions—I only wanted—”

“You need some help? A faithless lover, a cruel master? We do not provide such easy solutions here; we do not deal in quick remedies and instant cures.”

“They said—they said the wise woman…” The girl glanced at the cottage door; clanking noises from within told Nessa that Rona was setting water to heat in the iron pot. The smell of herbs wafted out on the cold air.

“Is she making a spell?” the girl whispered, eyes fearful.

“Quite possibly,” Nessa said. “Now listen to me. I too am a wise woman, and I have little time for this. Tell me plainly what you want. This is a women’s place, and you are a woman, though you are not of our kind. I will help you if I can.”

“She wants—I want—what you said, a faithless lover, something like that. A philter, a remedy, to make him turn back. That is what she asked me to say…” If this was supposed to be an attempt to disguise the nature of the request, it had failed miserably. This girl had no more subtlety than a chicken.

“This lover. Your sweetheart? Your husband?”

“Yes—no—I mean—”

Nessa regarded her a moment in silence. Whoever had set this on her had been less than fair to her. “I’m afraid I cannot help,” she said. “You see, if it were for yourself, I might be able to give you something to use, though I would warn against such charms. They are effective, certainly, yet in the long run they do more harm than good. But it’s clear to me what you want is not for yourself, but for another: your mistress, I assume. And unless I can see her and speak to her direct, I cannot provide what she needs. I’m sorry. You must go home empty-handed.”

“Oh, but—” The girl’s eyes were alarmed, her cheeks flushed with dismay. “Oh, but—”

“I’m sorry. That’s the way it is. And I would not advise the lady to come here herself. Our people are on the brink of war. It is not safe to travel so far away from home: not safe for her, nor for you. I am astonished she sent you out here all alone.”

The girl’s blue eyes were round and guileless. “Oh, but she didn’t—I mean, she came with me, but she wouldn’t come in here and ask—now I have to tell her no, and she’ll be cross with me.”

“I see,” Nessa said slowly, while her mind raced to Kinart and Ferach, one on each side of the women’s place, and the day already growing late. “Where is the lady now? Where does she wait for you?”