A part of Samo had always believed his presence would only bring trouble. A part of him had not fought against going away because he had felt that he would only bring sorrow; that Elk Charm should not have to bear the burdens he carried. He had feared she would shy away from him, if she knew. And though she said he was not foolish, he knew he had been, and he gave her a watery smile.

Will of Elk Charm’s heart, too, to help him. Never a slave. Never again. His heart beat frantically at the thought—perhaps, perhaps, the mark on his face could be hidden, if not erased.

I would like that, Samo said hoarsely. I think it would give his spirit peace. They had never recovered the bodies of all their dead from the Sequani. There were too many; at best they would have been piled into a communal grave, at worst left to the birds. Anything of value would have been stripped from them.

I…accepted my place in life. I forgot how to be—a man. Not a thing. You give me hope, that I can learn to be one again. Perhaps, Samo thought, he could still have a future. A future with honour. A future where he could be worthy of Elk Charm.