rapidly toward them. Timothy pointed at it. “That’s the first bird I’ve seen since I’ve been here.”
“An eagle!” Angel clutched his forearm tightly. “Does it have a black underside?”
As it flew closer, the predator’s details became clear—long brown wings, white head and tail feathers, and a coal-black breast. “Its underbelly is black. It looks kind of strange.”
“Because it carries an altered one. Since he is out in the daylight, he must have come from a surprise attack somewhere.”
“Should you warn anyone?” Timothy asked. “Can someone chase him?”
As Angel watched the eagle, her grip on his arm loosened. “It’s too late. He is on his way to the basin of shadows.” She lowered her chin. “We will likely hear bad news very soon.”
A happy shout sounded from the forest. Candle and another boy clung to branches near the top of a tall spruce and waved down at them.
Angel waved back and yelled, “I will meet you here later!”
“I’ll watch for you!” came the wind-blown reply.
The fresh breeze forced Timothy’s hands back into his pockets. “Candle is a delightful young man,” he said, trying not to shiver.
“Yes, I know. He learned a great deal from his father in a short amount of time.”
“He mentioned that your husband died. May I ask what happened to him?”
Angel gave Timothy an inquisitive look. “My husband? I’m not familiar with that word.”
“Uh … your mate? Your man?”
Her eyebrows lifted. “Oh! My Adam.”
“My Adam? You mean his name was Adam?”
“His name was Dragon, because he was bold and fearless, but he was my Adam, and I was his Eve”—she interlocked her fingers“—man and woman joined together until death. But since he was killed in the last war and his spirit has passed beyond the Bridgelands, and since it is not wise to raise a son without the guidance of a father, our laws require me to seek another Adam, if possible, before three years have passed.”
Timothy shrugged his shoulders. “Well, it shouldn’t be hard for a beautiful woman like you to find one.” As soon as those words spilled out, he regretted them. Obviously she hadn’t remarried, and he was too ignorant about this place to know why.
She gazed at him. A hint of tears glistened in her eyes, and her face flushed pink. Turning quickly, she nodded toward the village. “The Prophet instructed me to bring you here as soon as you recovered your senses.”
“I’ve committed enough social errors to prove my senses aren’t quite up to snuff, but I’ll do my best.”
She repeated her inquisitive stare. “Snuff?”
“‘Up to snuff’ is an idiom. It means … um … ‘working normally.’”
“I understand,” she said, nodding. “Perhaps the Prophet can help you reach snuff. He is a wise and powerful man.”
Timothy stifled a laugh. “Then, please lead me to him.”
She turned to the dragon and whistled a few low notes, then a melodic warble. Grackle gave a short whistle in reply.
“He will wait for us.” Angel folded her hands at her waist and scanned Timothy from head to toe. “Your attire is suitable, but I perceive that your unfamiliarity with our customs will make people very curious.”
Timothy straightened and copied her suddenly formal manner. “I think that is wise to assume.”
“Then I will instruct you as the need arises.” Angel pressed her palms together in front of her chest. “This is our prayer posture. We must walk this way or the people will stop us.”
Timothy mimicked her position. “Like this?”
“Excellent.” She pointed toward a well-worn path in the woods. “Walk in front of me, and I will tell you which way to turn.”
Timothy headed toward the path, walking slowly to make sure Angel kept up. “Why would the people stop us?”
“They are friendly and will want to know all about you. Your pose is a polite request to allow you to proceed without distraction. They will smile and bow their heads as we pass, and we should do the same.”
“That should be easy enough.” Timothy followed the path through the increasingly dense forest until he came to a fork.
“To the right,” Angel said.
Timothy veered right and maintained his slow pace. “Wouldn’t it be easier for you to lead the way?”
“Easier? Yes. Proper? No.”
He kept his eyes focused ahead and his mouth closed. It probably wasn’t a good time to ask about gender roles. He would likely just stick his foot in his mouth again.
“We are coming into the village,” Angel said. “When we clear the tree line, walk on the right boundary of the road and double your