She got up before she could change her mind, and fetched the bundle from the chest where she’d hidden it after Severine disappeared.

  It felt like a lifetime ago. It was a gift from a different Runa to a different Severine—a Runa who thought the only thing she had to deal with was a fate drenched in blood looming over her shoulder, and a Severine who hadn’t decided Runa needed protecting. Because she never let anyone think she needed protecting. Not even herself.

  But it was still a gift. And maybe it was a better gift, now.

  Still.

  Now it came to the actual moment to hand it over, Runa would almost rather not be here to see Severine open it. What if she didn’t like it? What if it was too much? Too little? She’s always been shit at gifts. Giving and receiving.

  So maybe she wasn’t a different Runa after all.

  She cleared her throat. “Here.”

  She thrust the bundle at Severine.

  She should have planned this better. Found herself something to do with her hands. Maybe she could go and poke the fire? But Nobody was in there, and it didn’t like to be poked. Maybe—

  “Holy oats, Runa, where did you get this?”

  The dress unfolded like dusk falling. The bodice was a deep purple velvet. The skirt was slightly lighter, or grayer, or something. It looked good. Agetta had recommended the combination because they both looked so good with the sleeves.

  Silverweave that had lost its magic was still beautiful. The silk shimmered like moonlight on water.

  Runa shrugged. Her chest felt tight and… complicated. “Agetta gave me the cloth as thanks for saving the rest of the silverweave.”

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  “Oh, simple as that, huh?” Severine stared at the dress.

  “You said you missed wearing nice things when we saw everyone dressed up for market day.”

  “That was months ago.” She looked up and winced. “You’ve… been holding onto this since then?”

  “You ran off before I could give it to you.”

  “It’s beautiful. And it has big sleeves! I love big sleeves. But I’m sure I never told you that.”

  “Didn’t need to.” The feeling in Runa’s chest stayed complicated, but it loosened off a little.

  Severine’s smile started small, and grew until it lit up her entire face. “They’re impractical.”

  “Very.”

  “They always get in the way.”

  “Pick up dirt. Get stuck on things.”

  “But they’re so dramatic.” Her expression was radiant. “They swoosh! They billow! They—ooh, they have little ribbons on the cuff, so I can wear them tied or loose!”

  Runa grinned and leaned against the wall. “Agetta said they’re terribly unfashionable.”

  “I don’t care. I loved them when I was tiny and annoying, and I love them now that I’m big and annoying.” She sighed happily. “Ooh! Wait! I have something for you, as well!”

  She put the dress down on the bench as carefully as though the silk still had spiders attached to it, and hurried to her pack. Runa tensed.

  “Not—”

  “Here it is!” She plucked a small package from a pocket on the side of the pack. Holding it in both hands, she turned back to Runa. “I hope you don’t mind it—I mean, I don’t want you to think I only think of you as your job, or—I hope you like it.” She squeezed her eyes shut, took a deep breath, and tried again. “I hope you like it. The moment I left, I knew I shouldn’t have, and it was an asshole thing to do, and I couldn’t come home empty-handed. I knew I had to bring back something special.”

  “You brought yourself back,” Runa said absently, taking the package. “That’s enough.”

  Severine made a noise like a distant tea-kettle. “Oh. Well, I’ll just take that back—”

  Runa held it out of her reach. Her nostrils flared, and she lifted the package to her nose.

  It smelled of… something. Something new.

  She untied the little bow, and unfolded cotton to reveal a little wooden box. Inside, a handful of finger-sized sticks were nestled in waxed paper.

  Runa sniffed again. The sticks smelled sweet and nutty, earthy and floral and rich. She carefully scraped one fingernail across a twig and a curl of it came off, like wood shavings. She tasted it. The taste was the same as the smell—rich and sweet and delicious.

  “What is this?”

  Severine grinned. “Chocolate.”