Prequel - "The Sword of Truth Series"

"What do you got in the sack, dearie?"

Abby was watching a distant flock of whistling swans, graceful white specks against the dark soaring walls of the Keep, as they made their interminable journey past ramparts, bastions, towers and bridges lit by the low sun. The sinister spectre of the Keep had seemed to be staring back the whole of the day as Abby had waited. She turned to the hunched old woman in front of her.

"I'm sorry, did you ask me something?"

"I asked what you got in your sack."

As the woman peered up, she licked the tip of her tongue through the slot where a tooth was missing.

"Something precious?"

Abby clutched the burlap sack to herself as she shrank a little from the grinning woman.

"Just some of my things, that's all."