Nettle & Bone

The dust-wife assigns Marra three impossible tasks. For the first task, Marra must spin thread from nettle wool. The wool stings her fingers, but she reminds herself that Kania’s pain outpaces hers. Resolved, Marra sacrifices her left hand to the wool, saving her right for the delicate work of threading the cord. Using a nettle thorn as an awl, she then sews the pieces of owl cloth together. As she works, she prays to the Lady of Grackles.

The timeline jumps forward to Marra returning with the bone dog. The dust-wife groans, seeing the second task completed. She wanted Marra to fail. The dust-wife asks again if Marra is sure she wants to kill Vorling. When Marra replies affirmatively, the dust-wife shows Marra moonlight in a clay jar and then declares the third task done. The old woman does not want to go on a quest with Marra, telling Marra it is a fool’s errand and they will probably both die. Nonetheless, she joins Marra, presenting herself as the weapon to use against Vorling.

It will take three days for the dust-wife to prepare for the journey.