"His reputation precedes him even here. I'm not surprised." Dismayed, but not surprised. The fact that Kai knew what the brand represented told Nyra that she had not gone nearly far enough in her travels. She had already known that, but a small flicker of hope still burned in her chest. Someday she would reach a land that had never heard of the bastard. Maybe. If the bastard did not reach her first.

Huffing a soft, mirthless laugh she smoothed a hand over her hair and pulled it to the side to further hide her scars. "That makes two of us. It's not exactly a badge of honor," she said, watching him fuss with the fire. After he had finished she took a few steps closer, carefully maintaining a polite distance from him as she positioned herself with her back to the flames.

"Not hungry, no. I had something before I set out from the other side of town." It had not been much, but she was so use to eating the bare minimum that larger meals made her feel sick. The morning would no doubt see her hungry again, but she was satisfied for the night.