The tall, gaunt-faced woman stood in the centre of a circle of her peers, vigorously rubbing two sticks together. Holding Alva"s hand and with Bradan at her side, Melcorka watched as the friction generated by the rubbing caused one of the sticks to smoulder. The circle of women gave a small sound of appreciation as the stick-holder quickly placed the smouldering stick into a neat pile of wood shavings and blew gently. Smoke rose in a thin spiral, and then a flicker of flame leapt, died and revived to become a steady glow.
"What are these women doing?" Alva asked.
"They are making a need-fire," Bradan explained.
"If they need a fire, then why don"t they take one from one of the houses?" Alva asked.
"A need-fire is a sacred fire." Bradan was more patient than Melcorka would have been. "I
