Oksana talked with Assar for some time before his food arrived. She had insisted on feeding him herself. Despite his protest, he had allowed her to do so. She smiled as he ate. She was so relieved that he had survived! She had hidden it from everyone else in the clan, but she had spent all her waking hours thinking about him and praying he would wake.

Now that he was awake though, another worry was eating at her thoughts. His contract was done. He had succeeded and was owed his ...