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the black scarves and clothing they wore. “—and we’re going to save this village.”
    I stared at them. They were nothing more than a couple of ragged young people with fervent expressions and clenched fists. “And how exactly do you plan to rid the village of Farther soldiers again?”
    “Targeted acts of resistance,” Leon said. “Stealing food, damaging property, leaving ominous messages.”
    “Leaving ominous messages?” I couldn’t contain my derision. Were they stupid? “You think that will work against armed soldiers?”
    “You know what I mean. We’ll make it so unbearable for them to stay that the costs will begin to outweigh the benefits. If we aren’t worth occupying, then they’ll leave.”
    “Or retaliate,” I said.
    “It’s worth the risk.” Leon folded his arms. “Well?”
    I was silent, chewing over my words. Finally—“Why me?”
    He chuckled mirthlessly. “Like I said. You’ve got a reputation for being tough. And you have inroads that the rest of us don’t.”
    “Inroads?”
    Onna smirked. “You’ll be perfect for when we target the Mayor. You know his daughter. We can sneak you in their house. Maybe you can even go after her, too. I’m thinking public humiliation—”
    “Hold on.” I took a step back and drew in a quick breath. “What does Ann have to do with any of this?”
    “She’s related to the traitor scum,” she said. “So she’s guilty by association.”
    “You must be joking.” A flush crept up my cheeks, and heat pooled between my shoulder blades. “Ann doesn’t agree with what her father does. And she has no control over who her parents are any more than you can help being a Blacksmith.”
    “Save the pathos for someone who cares,” he sneered. “Ann Mayor has been hobnobbing with the Farther officers since they came here, along with her father. If you aren’t willing to teach her a lesson, then you’re out.”
    “All right,” I snapped. “Then I’m out.”
    They all stared at me. Leon opened his mouth, but didn’t say anything. Clearly they hadn’t expected me to say that.
    And clearly they didn’t know me at all.
    “Ann Mayor is my best friend.” I stabbed a finger at Leon. “She has nothing to do with the Farther occupation, and she has no control over her father’s actions, and I will not hold her responsible for the injustice that happens. And if any of you mess with her, you mess with me. Got it?”
    Leon’s eyebrows drew together in an angry slash above his nose. “I think you know the way back to the road.”
    “I think I do.” I pushed past Onna.
    “Wait,” Leon said sharply.
    I paused.
    “If you walk away from this now, then you’ve made an enemy.”
    “Then consider me your nemesis,” I growled.
    I stared at him until he looked away. I was too angry to speak, so I didn’t. I left him standing at the entrance to the alley as I headed for the Frost, and I didn’t look back.
     
     

THREE
     
     
    MY BLOOD WAS still simmering from the sting of Leon’s comments when I got home, so I shoved the fish and cornmeal at Ivy without a word and went to the barn to check the animals. I brushed the horses’ coats with short, hard strokes as their accusations ran through my head. Ann had no control over her father’s choices, and she wasn’t responsible for what had happened to the village. If people thought I was going to blame her for the Farther occupation, they were dead wrong.
    I finished with the horses and threw the brush into the tack bucket so hard a puff of dust plumed up where it hit. With a growl of frustration, I wheeled to check on the cow.
    And ran straight into Adam Brewer’s arms.
    “Brewer?” I jerked away and leaned against the stall door, rubbing my suddenly shaking arms. I hadn’t heard him enter. Was he unnaturally quiet, or had my anger so absorbed my attention that I’d grown careless? “You startled me.”
    His eyes flicked to mine. He was calm, composed, and unreadable as always, but I