Refugees stayed beneath the shelter wall through the night, keeping their records apart while children slept near the clean carts.
Ash sat beside the dead guardian with his Ringlet dim, while the demon child remained behind the Watcher and studied camp through a gap in her cloak.
The Watcher kept her attention on the fire and said, "She will come forward when the distance belongs to her."
Toven brought a pot of broth from the nearest cart and replied, "The families have enough for one more bowl, even if our guest doesn't trust us."
The Watcher looked at the pot and answered, "Set it on the stone, then step back until she decides whether food is an offer or another test."
Toven placed a wooden cup beside the stone and returned to the cart without looking toward the child.
Ash held his Ringlet and thought, 'A first choice needs room around it, because fear grows whenever every witness waits for an answer.'
