27
Under the weight of her gaze, Eva had trouble catching her breath. “I—I
didn’t mean to.”
“You cause much damage for someone without intention.”
“I just wanted to request Giancarlo’s return.”
A redbird flew across the clearing and landed on Nita’s shoulder. A
muscle twitched in her jaw. She turned abruptly and walked around the
edge of the clearing, trailing her hand over the tops of the wicker
baskets. The creatures inside jumped and called as she passed.
Each basket had been set upside down in the earth so that the tender
shoots had rooted and grown. Some of them had been there so long
that the original basket shape had been obscured by offshoots and
leaves. Eva turned in place to watch Nita walk. The cages held badgers,
ravens, beetles, foxes, and other animals she c