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"A woods-woman, are you?" asked Wenda of the one called Mara. This Mara was fair to behold compared with herself, Wenda knew. Little matter that.
"Aye," Mara smiled. "You?"
"To the north I spend my days," Wenda replied. "Our paths have crossed not. At least, not in any ways you might expect."
Mara raised an eyebrow at Wenda's mysterious utterance, but smiled and said, "Nay, I think we have never met before."
"Good the day to you," Wenda offered, and Mara answered in like manner.
With that, Wenda donned her furs and hood and went out to feed and run her reindeer. North she went and was soon lost to sight. When the sun had set and Wenda had not returned, those who remained at the Green Man Free House wondered at her going north, as well as her failure to come back. 'Maybe she does not plan to come back to the warmth of the Yule log,' some said. 'And maybe worse,' others murmured, their eyes tending toward the closed and barred door.
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