[Folwren]

Eostre's answer had been sharp enough. So, the woman didn't like small talk. Simple, mindless matters discussed between strangers. . .she didn't want that?

'What do you want?' Eostre asked immediately afterwards, having pulled her horse to Parith's speed.

That question was very close to ringing in Athwen's head, too, but in a different manner and with a different meaning. Well, she was blunt, that was certain. And tactless. But Athwen figured that she could be just the same if she wanted.

'To see why you were riding alone, and to talk to you to get to know you. If we're riding far together, it would probably be a good idea to get to know everybody. How old are you, and why did you come?' She had to have some reason. Athwen had already guessed that a woman like this wouldn't leave her home with a group of evident strangers if she didn't have to, or if she didn't have some extreme reason to go.