"You will likely have your hands full already, with planting and harvest," she tells him. "The village cooks communally during those times, in the central square. Those less physically able to do work in the fields cook for everyone.

She shapes the dough for this morning's bread, which will be used like a spoon to scoop up the vegetable and lentil mixture. "They will be glad for your help in the fields, very glad. We will need as many strong, healthy hands as we can get."

She grimaces for a moment, only a flicker. "And they would be short a man, without you." Akatan had many faults but he was young, strong, put in more than his fair share of work.