“If you’re going home, it won’t be as a dýr.” He uncrossed his arms, going back to the horse. The blacksmith went back to his work and the pounding of iron on the forge rang out around us. “You don’t owe me anything.” I could hear the Riki down the path starting to move. “You saved my life. More than once. We’re even.” He glanced down at the ground and I waited for the words building behind his lips. “We’ll never be even.”

