she approved of the stoic demeanour which met her hard words, and her eyes flashed with something like interest. there was no need to shed blood today, though she might have been amused to hear tousaint's interpretation of what raiding meant to the ridge. wealth was in flesh. and her own eyes shone at the suggestion that it was the raiders who might be killed, an answering light between women who were used to having their orders unquestioned.

"help us to finish building," muskrat offered after a moment; she released the tension of the second and gestured to the first pillar. "want seven. can have three."

with their combined efforts, this no-wolf's-land might hold their marks together, entwined, a spell for a warmer spring.

but muskrat had learned not to trust. her stare remained upon viskani, neither yielding nor offering more threat. what was said had been said, an oath between them.