The Rope

Nessa returned to the town and asked for a boat. The boatkeeper refused until she told him the healer's name. Years earlier, that woman had saved his son. He gave Nessa a coil of rope and came with her. On the bank, they called across the water. Forest villagers answered. The boatkeeper tied one end to an ash tree; Nessa carried the other through the current. With the rope guiding the boat, they brought the medicine across. Nobody asked which side had burned the bridge.