The Raven Tower

by Ann Leckie

“Is only my snake, friend,” said the Xulahn. “Good snake. Nice snake. No worry.”

But I must admit, it seems odd to me. No one in the far north would sit naked outside the door of someone who had wronged them and expect any result besides hypothermia.

While I was thinking the sun set and rose again. “I’ve been thinking,” I said to Oissen, when he returned the next afternoon. “Yes, the Myriad had warned me you might do that.”