I stood outside Agnes's house.
The door opened before I could knock.
Agnes stood there, already dressed for the day despite the late hour, her eyes immediately finding mine.
"Young Master."
"I have to leave," I said without preamble. "There's... work I need to handle. I'll be gone for a couple of weeks, maybe more."
Her face went carefully blank.
"I see."
"For now, you should stay here. With the village. Your mother still needs monitoring, and the other patients," I paused. "They need you more than I do right now."
Agnes's hands twisted together briefly before she forced them still.
"Is this about the hunters?" she asked quietly.
"Yes."
"And you're leaving to..." She didn't finish the question.
"To keep the trouble away from here," I completed.
She looked at me for a long moment, her green eyes searching my face.
Then she stepped forward and bowed.
"Travel safely, Young Master. And..." Her voice caught slightly. "Please come back."
