The vineyard stood nearly empty as dusk painted the sky in fading hues. Most workers had departed hours ago, leaving only Avril hunched over baskets of damaged grapes mixed with good grapes. It was the overseer's punishment for her after she had claimed she was the one who mixed the grapes. Lyra stood in a corner, watching her for a while, wondering if she should go help her or not. Would Avril want her help? Would she be hostile to her? Despite the strange flutters in her abdomen and the pounding behind her temples, she decided to approach Avril and help; after all, the punishment was originally meant to be hers. She could not leave the young lady alone to finish up.
Avril's head snapped up at the sound of Lyra's collar bell, which always announced her. The lady was already looking wary from the events of the day. She did not set down the bunch of grapes in her hand, but her fingers paused their work.
