He merely nudged the bowl of meat soup still steaming beside him toward her.
Saina cried for a while, then lifted her head, her eyes red.
"I'm fine."
"Mhm."
"It's just... thinking about leaving tomorrow, my mom..."
"Mhm."
Saina sniffed, reached out to take the bowl, and drank a mouthful.
The soup was still hot.
She took another sip.
In the distance, on the small path beyond the courtyard wall, Elena's figure stood beneath the moonlight for a moment.
She glanced at the two people by the woodshed door but did not come over.
Turning around, she beckoned to the guards.
"Fall back ten paces."
The guards did not ask why. They quietly retreated.
Elena turned and left as well, her footsteps light.
After Saina finished the soup, she set the bowl on the steps.
"What time are we leaving tomorrow?"
"At dawn."
"Fine."
She got to her feet, dusted the dirt from her skirt, and headed toward the main house.
After taking a few steps, she turned back.
"My mom made that soup. You wash the bowl."
Su Li watched her back disappear through the doorway, then lowered his gaze to the empty bowl.
He smiled.
He picked up the bowl and was about to rinse it by the well when something caught the corner of his eye.
Beyond the village, above the distant treetops.
Something skimmed over the trees. It was not moving fast, and the beat of its wings was steady and regular.
It did not enter the village. It merely circled once overhead, then changed direction and flew south.
Holding the bowl, Su Li stood where he was and watched that tiny speck vanish into the night.
At the first pale hint of dawn, Martha was already bustling about in the kitchen.
The stove fire