"Hello," the child sings. "Do you know my grandmother? I need to find her," and I shake my head, and the woman with golden hair tells her no, and bids them rest. She goes inside and comes out with a loaf of bread. I do not hear her speaking to anyone, and I think she is alone here--at best she may have a husband or brother who is out hunting. I think her hands are likely to be quite capably strong, and the red woman's as well, since I doubt that sword is entirely for fancy.

And surely there must be an axe about, for chopping wood.

I shake my head as the red woman speaks, drawing myself back to the conversation. "I and my babe were heading to my friends house," she says. "This little one caught up with me on the path," and she nods to the girl who I suppose is not her daughter after all.

"Do you travel these woods often?" I say, suddenly hopeful. "I have heard that there is a tower somewhere inside them, and that there I may be healed." I hold up my hand by way of explanation. "Or perhaps you would know?" I add, belatedly turning to the child.