Lila looked at the marks for a long time. The wind moved across the pasture and carried the ordinary scents of sheep and turned earth. Under them the silverleaf and the faint bitter ghost of quiet-thorn still lingered.
"You're right," she said.
Retha blinked in confusion. She had clearly expected defense or delay.
Lila turned so her voice carried to the man and the children as well. "The posts will be guarded from tonight. Not by farm boys. By keep wolves who answer to me. Any new mark is to be left untouched and reported before the next meal. And when we find the hand that did this, the outer families will stand in the courtyard and see the sentence carried out. That is my word."
Retha studied her face. "Words are easy."
"Not mine. Watch what follows them," Lila said.
