fix: read the story out loud and fixed things

chapters/chapter-01.md

@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@ access: private
 
 Karin yawned as she hopped off the back of the wagon. Her breath fogged around her as she limped away and let the others off behind her. Her hip protested her landing and she rubbed it as she glared around her.
 
-There were four wagons pulled into a circle. Two of the younger Rat Hunters were stacking up wood for a long fire. A third was using his magic to start a flame with his fingertip. Others were setting up a stall for the paymaster; every time someone got in line to try being first, they were volunteered for some duty.
+There were four wagons pulled into a circle. Two of the younger Rat Hunters were stacking up wood for a long night of fire. A third was using his magic to start the fire in the cooking pit. Others were setting up a stall for the paymaster; every time someone got in line to try being the first, they were volunteered for some duty.
 
-Roal, one of the other warriors, came up with two large steaming mugs. "I could have sworn there were only dicks in the wagon with you."
+Roal, one of the senior of hunters, came up with two large steaming mugs. "I could have sworn there were only dicks in the wagon with you."
 
 She stared at him for a moment, then grabbed one of the mugs. "Dicks?"
 
-It took a moment for the scent of tea to penetrate the fog of waking up and realize he was referencing her sore hip. "You know me, I have no interest in a dick between my legs. No, Maril's damn boots fell out of the netting, and I was too cold to move. Spent the entire night with those steel toes digging into my hip and my tits crushed against one of the crates."
+It took a moment for the scent of tea to penetrate the fog of waking up and realize he was referencing her sore hip. "You know me, I have no interest in a cock between my legs. No, Maril's damn boots fell out of the netting, and I was too cold to move. Spent the entire night with those steel toes digging into my hip and my tits crushed against one of the crates."
 
 Roal patted her shoulder and then grinned. "Want me to rub anything?"
 
@@ -28,17 +28,17 @@ He smirked.
 
 Peach, it was a sly phrase for the women who were untouched by the brutal life of a mercenary. They were soft, beautiful, and lovely to touch. More importantly, peaches were lovers of women like Karin.
 
-Roal had a fondness for the same type of beauty, though they were apples if they preferred men over women. They both had bonded over their shared appreciation of the female form and made a point of not competing with each other in the days they had between jobs.
+Roal had a fondness for the same type of beauty, though they were called apples if they preferred men over women. They both had bonded over their shared appreciation of the female form and made a point of not competing with each other in the days they had between jobs.
 
-"The city council is going to open the door after they verify that we aren't going to bring any weapons inside. Apparently San Graif prides itself in being a just and noble city with a high moral caliber." Roal rolled his eyes.
+"The city council is going to open the gates after they verify that we aren't going to bring any weapons inside. Apparently San Graif prides itself in being a just and noble city with a high moral caliber." Roal rolled his eyes.
 
-She gulped down some of the tea in her mug. As it burned down her throat, she smiled. Being unarmed wasn't a concern for her. "So, you're saying there are a lot of ripe lovelies in there desperate to have a little fun?"
+She gulped down some of the tea in her mug. As it burned down her throat, she smiled back. Being unarmed wasn't a concern for her. "So, you're saying there are a lot of ripe lovelies in there desperate to have a little fun?"
 
 "By the Divine Couple's blessing, I hope so. It also means if we're going to have fun, we need to stay away from these assholes." He gestured to the rest of the Rat Hunters. "The guards are going to be stuck on them like those damn leeches."
 
 "Which ones? There have been so many."
 
-"The big glowing ones that went for the eyeballs." He barked out a laugh. "Remember when I had to use both hands to get the one out of your gut wound?"
+"The big glowing ones that went for the eyeballs." He barked out a laugh. "Remember when I had to use both hands to get the one out of your gut?"
 
 She shuddered. "Oh, I hate those things. I also hate that you accepted that job."
 

chapters/chapter-02.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ access: private
 
 > Everyone had a touch of magic in their blood, though most are limited to only a single talent or ability. --- *Limitations of the Crystal Techniques*
 
-A night of sleeping in a comfortable bed had done wonders to ease Karin's aches and exhaustion but she knew the nightmare would resume as soon as she passed out again. A month of comfort wasn't enough to erase her horrors. To get through the next night, she decided to prepare like she was about to enter a monster's nest and went shopping.
+A night of sleeping in a comfortable bed had done wonders to ease Karin's aches but she knew the nightmare would resume as soon as she passed out again. A month of comfort wasn't enough to erase her horrors. To get through the next night, she decided to prepare like she was about to enter a monster's nest and went shopping.
 
 Two hours of cool air, warm sun, and window shopping netted her three bottles of rotgut, a few sets of clean underwear, and a new repair kit for her leather armor.
 
@@ -16,9 +16,9 @@ She smiled and tried not to think about the nightmares.
 
 Karin came around a corner and spotted a dense crowd in front of a store. Instantly, she grew wary and tightened her grip on her shopping bag.
 
-With a second look, she realized the group wasn't unruly. Almost everyone was sitting on metal chairs and benches. A few were reading books. Others had their faces uplifted and their eyes closed. No one crowded the store entrance and there was a clear path for her to walk through them.
+With a second look, she realized the group wasn't unruly. Almost everyone was sitting on chairs and benches. A few were reading books. Others had their faces uplifted and their eyes closed. No one crowded the store entrance and there was a clear path for her to walk through them.
 
-With her muscles tensed, she made her way through the narrow path. She looked curiously at the store as she passed but it was just a bakery and a small restaurant. Nothing looked remarkable about it at all except that it was packed with customers sitting at tables.
+With her muscles tensed, she made her way along the narrow path. She looked curiously at the store as she passed but it was just a bakery and a small restaurant. Nothing looked remarkable about it at all except that it was packed with customers sitting at tables.
 
 Karin slowed with curiosity.
 
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ Then she heard the sweetest song drifting through the open door. It was a popula
 
 The woman's voice wrapped around her, tugging on her heart and dredging up a swarm of memories of previous lovers that left her gasping. There were many of them since she had become a Rat Hunter and most had ended in sweet partings. More than a few begged her to stay and the song reminded her of the longing she heard in their voices.
 
-A tear ran down her cheek. She glanced around but only an old woman sitting near her watched her. The others were lost in their own thoughts with glistening eyes and the occasional sniff. With a blush, she turned and peered around for a seat to keep listening but they were all occupied.
+A tear ran down her cheek. She glanced around but only an old woman sitting near her was watching. The others were lost in their own thoughts with glistening eyes and the occasional sniff. With a blush, she turned and peered around for a seat to keep listening but they were all occupied.
 
-The old woman pointed toward the store front with a knitting needle. "A spot opened up in there, Love."
+The old woman pointed toward the restaurant with a knitting needle. "A spot opened up in there, Love."
 
 Karin turned and saw a couple getting up from a table. She said thanks to the old woman and headed inside, slipping into the abandoned bench before anyone else could take it.
 
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ Feeling guilty, she looked around as she stuck her bags underneath the table. He
 
 The young woman singing was beautiful with bright eyes and a slender build. She had a few streaks of flour across her cheeks and a dusting caught her short, dark hair. Her smile was brilliant as she delivered a plate of food while still singing.
 
-"Oh, fuck me, Mother of Divinity," whispered Karin to herself. If there was a archetype for her ideal peach, it was the woman bending over the edge of the table while singing brilliantly.
+"Oh, fuck me, Mother of Divinity," whispered Karin to herself. If there was a archetype for her ideal peach, it was the woman bending over the edge of the table while singing.
 
 Karin stared with desire and rapt attention until the song ended.
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ The singer stood in the center and smiled, her teeth brilliant in the light. She
 
 When the sound faded, she turned and headed toward a kitchen.
 
-An older man with similar hair color and nose stuck his head over a counter that separated the dining area from the kitchen. "Pay attention and do your damn job! New customer on twenty!"
+An older man with similar hair color and nose shape stuck his head over a counter that separated the dining area from the kitchen. "Pay attention and do your damn job! New customer on twenty!"
 
 The young woman turned and looked straight at Karin. She smile broadly and Karin noticed a dimple on her cheek. Heading over, she brushed her hands on her hips.
 
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ Karin's stomach rumbled even as she felt a heat fluttering between her legs. "Do
 
 "I'm sorry, peaches are out of season but we do have apple and pumpkin pies." Her cheerful voice never changed.
 
-Mildly disappointed, Karin ordered a sandwich and a slice of pumpkin pie with heavy cream. She would have preferred if Lilian had answered with a sultry response. That would have meant that Karin had a chance of company that night; that would push the nightmares away. However, the young woman's response didn't mean no; not everyone used the same hints and clues to make their desires known.
+Mildly disappointed, Karin ordered a sandwich and a slice of pumpkin pie with heavy cream. She would have preferred if Lilian had answered with a sultry response. That would have meant that Karin had a chance of company that night; the afterglow of sex always pushed the nightmares away. However, the young woman's response didn't mean no; not everyone used the same hints and clues to make their desires known.
 
 No matter what, Karin could still enjoy the view and the fantasy that the young woman had said there were peaches on the menu. She smiled to herself and leaned back.
 
-Lilian went around the room, gathering orders, then headed over to a large bowl with little strips of paper. Pulling out one with her left hand, she peered at it. With a smile, she rested her hand on an older man's shoulder. "It's your favorite, Bil. 'The Ballad of Lost Waters.'"
+Lilian went around the room, gathering orders, then headed over to a large bowl with little strips of paper. Pulling one out with her left hand, she peered at it. With a smile, she rested her hand on an older man's shoulder. "It's your favorite, Bil. 'The Ballad of Lost Waters.'"
 
 The older man sighed and patted her hand.
 
@@ -78,6 +78,6 @@ She had heard the song too many times on fruitless nights and didn't care for th
 
 Then Lilian started to sing.
 
-Every sour opinion of the ballad faded away with the intense emotions rising up inside Karin. Like the previous song, it managed to dredge up memories that Karin had long forgotten. With a gasp, she closed her eyes and lost herself remembering the days when her grandmother had died.
+Every sour opinion of the ballad faded away with the intense emotions rising up inside Karin. Like the previous song, it managed to dredge up memories that Karin had long forgotten. With a gasp, she closed her eyes and lost herself remembering the days when her grandmother had died and the night she left her husband.
 
 There was no doubt, Karin had to come back to this place.

chapters/chapter-03.md

@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ access: private
 
 > The rich are the truest evil in the world but culture acts as their armor against accountability. --- *The River Queen Sacrifice* (Act 3, Scene 9)
 
-Karin sat down in her now customary seat at Lilard's. After three days, no one questioned her presence. It was early morning, but the bakery had been open for hours while they baked the breads, sweets, and breakfast pies. The rich storm of smells surrounded her and she smiled.
+Karin sat down in her now customary seat at Lilard's. After three days, no one questioned her presence. It was early morning, but the bakery had been open for hours while they set out breads, sweets, and breakfast pies. The rich storm of smells surrounded her and she smiled. It reminded her of a previous life, back when she cooked herself.
 
-"Good morning, Kar," Lilian said as she brought over a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie. The usual cheerful tone was gone, leaving behind a subdued tone that Karin had never heard.
+"Good morning, Kar," Lilian said as she brought over a cup of tea and a slice of apple pie. The usual cheerful tone was gone, leaving behind a subdued sound that Karin had never heard.
 
 "What's wrong?"
 
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ Lilian's eyes were red. She parted her perfect lips to say something but then sh
 
 "Yes?" Karin said warily.
 
-Lilian smiled but it was forced.
+Lilian smiled but it was obviously forced.
 
 As Karin watched Lilian walk away, she frowned. It was obvious that the young woman had either a bad night or a worse morning. Her gaze drifted to the opening between the rooms. Steam and smells poured across the counter, adding to the atmosphere of the nearly empty dining room. On the other side, she heard Lilian's father speaking in an excited voice.
 
 Lilian wrote up Karin's order and stuck it on a wooden spike for the back. "Order up," she said quietly.
 
-Turning around, the dark-haired beauty sighed before scanning the room. Her gaze stopped on the jar that contained the song requests. Glancing up at the rest of the room, she reached over and pulled it off the counter before stowing it out of sight.
+Turning around, the dark-haired beauty sighed before scanning the room. Her gaze stopped on the bowl that contained the song requests. Glancing up at the rest of the room, she reached over and pulled it off the counter before stowing it out of sight.
 
 A prickle of concern raced through Karin. After listening to the sweet tones of Lilian's singing, the relative silence felt like a knife against her ear.
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ Surprised, she lifted herself from her seat and peered into the back room.
 
 Tristoh was shaking hands with Lilian's father, the distinctive sharp point of his beard was unmistakable from a distance. He looked pleased with himself.
 
-Karin sat down heavily. "Shit."
+She sat down heavily. "Shit."
 
 There had to be a connection between Lilian's sullen mood and Tristoh's presence. She strained to listen to the conversations in the other room but it was too far away. She had to stew in her own thoughts until Lilian arrived to deliver her breakfast.
 
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@ Surprised, she looked up to see Lilian crying. "Oh, I'm sorry. What's wrong?"
 
 She pressed a hand over her mouth before she let out a choked sob. More tears ran down her cheeks as she looked around. Then, stammering, she dropped her notebook on Karin's table and rushed for the door.
 
-Karin turned to watch Lilian race across the front of the store and out of sight. She swore violently and rushed after her.
+Karin turned to watch Lilian race across the front of the store and out of sight. She swore violently and chased after her.
 
 It took her only a few seconds to catch up to the sobbing young woman in the alley. The short distance had left Lilian gasping for breath between her cries.
 
-Karin, on the other hand, had been spending a year fighting. She wasn't even winded as she stopped in front of Lilian. She gingerly reached up to take her hands but then hesitated before pulling back. "What did he do?"
+Karin, on the other hand, had spent the last year fighting. She wasn't even winded as she stopped in front of Lilian. She gingerly reached up to take her hands but then hesitated before pulling back. "What did he do?"
 
 Lilian looked up, her eyes shimmering with tears. "He offered to buy my hand in marriage a-and my dad accepted it!"
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ Tristoh was in the process of leaving out of the restaurant when she reached the
 
 She pointed a finger at his face. "What are you doing, Merchant?"
 
-A scowl etched across his face. "What are you doing here, Rat?" He reached up to rub the side of his shoulder where she once stabbed him.
+A scowl etched across his face. "I could say the same, Rat?" He reached up to rub the side of his shoulder where she once stabbed him.
 
 Behind Tristoh, Lilian's father stopped with a look of a surprise.
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ Tristoh looked around at the gathering crowds. "You should leave before there is
 
 "I won't let you steal this girl."
 
-"Why, just becuase you want her for yourself? Is she the peach pie you were hoping for?" Tristoh grinned and glanced to the side.
+"Why, just because you want her for yourself? Is she the peach pie you were hoping for?" Tristoh grinned and glanced to the gathering crowd.
 
 Karin blushed. She didn't need to look to know that Lilian had come up near her. Grinding her teeth, she shook her head.
 

chapters/chapter-04.md

@@ -18,19 +18,19 @@ What she didn't know is how. Would he put her on a stage and force her to sing?
 
 Karin pressed her lips tightly together.
 
-Tristoh's next step was to marry Lilian. The ceremony was in a few days. No one seemed to know what would happen after that but she couldn't imagine the rich man moving from his comfortable estates in Tarsan to a muddy town in Kormar. No, he was going to take Lilian away where she had no family, no friends, and no support. She would be helpless.
+Tristoh's next step would be to marry Lilian. The ceremony was in a few days. No one seemed to know what would happen after that but she couldn't imagine the rich man moving from his comfortable estates in Tarsan to a muddy town in Kormar. No, he was going to take Lilian away where she had no family, no friends, and no support. She would be helpless.
 
 With a shaking hand, Karin lifted the mug and sipped at the rotgut that had pooled in the bottom. It was warm and the acrid scents burned her eyes. She closed her eyes to focus on the burn as it ripped down her throat.
 
-She drained the glass before reaching out for the bottle to refill it. When she noticed it was empty, she abandoned the bottle and focused on her half-eaten dinner next to it, the bronze plate bright in the candlelight and a fork resting on the edge.
+She drained the glass before reaching out for the bottle to refill it. When she noticed it was empty, she abandoned the effort and focused on her half-eaten dinner next to it. Underneath the congealed foot was a bright bronze plate.
 
 Annoyed at Lilian's struggle, she set down her glass on the table and picked up the plate. It was fortunate for her that the inn had metal plates. With a tap, she emptied the contents into the garbage can by the bed before bringing the plate to her lap.
 
-With a smile, she thought about the serving trays at the bakery. As she did, she felt the edge warp as the bevel flattened into a sharp blade. She didn't need any pressure or even to touch it, metal sharpened with her thoughts. Absently, she ran her finger and enjoyed the makeshift blade. She continued to sharpen the edge until the entire rim was lethal. Karin continued to focus on it as she sharpened it even further, honing the edge to the point where the bronze itself couldn't get any narrower.
+With a smile, she thought about the serving trays at the bakery. As she did, she felt the edge warp as the bevel flattened into a sharp blade. She didn't need any pressure or even to touch it, metal sharpened with her thoughts. Absently, she ran her finger and enjoyed the makeshift blade. She continued to sharpen the edge until the entire rim was lethal. Karin continued to focus on it as she honed it even further, narrowing the edge until it was a sharp as the metal was capable of becoming.
 
-"Fucking asshole," she muttered. Gripping the plate carefully, she drew back and threw the plate at the wall with all her might.
+"Fucking asshole," she muttered. Gripping the plate carefully, she drew back and threw it at the wall with all her might.
 
-The bronze disk plunged deep into the plaster and wood; with a blade so sharp, it didn't need much strength to bury it but the impact would dull it instantly. The plate vibrated from the impact.
+The bronze disk plunged deep into the plaster and wood; with a blade so sharp, it didn't need much strength to bury it but the impact would dull it instantly. The bronze vibrated from the impact.
 
 She smiled as she listened to the ringing. Her ability to sharpen blades in the middle of the fight made her a valuable member of the Rat Hunters. Without her, the armored beasts they fought would dull or nick the blades in only a few strikes.
 

chapters/chapter-05.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ access: private
 
 > The tradition of the bride price has not caught on among most of the more egalitarian of countries. --- Richol dea Lamaster, *The Tarsan Influence*
 
-Karin moved stiffly as she came around the corner toward Lilard's. Her leather armor, repaired and prepred for battle, creaked with each step. No doubt that Tristoh expected her to come back.
+Karin moved stiffly as she came around the corner toward Lilard's. Her leather armor, repaired and prepared for battle, creaked with each step. No doubt that Tristoh expected her to come back.
 
 Her ex-husband always said she was predictable.
 
@@ -18,17 +18,17 @@ Karin slowed to a stop near her.
 
 "Looking for Lil?" asked the old woman. Her eyes were narrow as she glared at the glass window, to Karin, and then back to the bakery.
 
-Head already throbbing from her hangover, Karin took a moment to process the unexpected question. She nodded. "Yes."
+Head already throbbing from her liquid courage, Karin took a moment to process the unexpected question. She nodded. "Yes."
 
 "She's in the back."
 
 Karin turned to face the woman.
 
-The old woman bent over and dug in her knitting bag. When she sat back, she held up an impressively large knife in a sheath. There was a name carved into the side of the sheath, "Sindil Lilard". Flipping it over, she held it hilt-first to Karin. "Need a weapon?" she asked cheerfully.
+The old woman bent over and dug in her knitting bag. When she sat back, she held up an impressively large knife in a sheath. There was a name carved into the side, "Sindil Lilard". Flipping it over, she held it hilt-first to Karin. "Need a weapon?" she asked cheerfully.
 
 "W-What?" Karin couldn't help but smile. She peeked into the opening of the bag to see if there was another weapon, but didn't see anything. The bag had the same name embroidered on the inside.
 
-"You obviously are going in with a plan," asked Sindil.
+"You obviously are going in with a plan," said Sindil.
 
 Karin shrugged. "Well, more of a vague idea. I was just going in to... make sure she knew she had an option."
 
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ Karin smirked.
 
 The older woman held up the knife again in a silent answer.
 
-Karin shook her head. A weapon would be nice, but that would make everything worse if she got caught. The city guard never responded well to armed hunters.
+Karin shook her head. A weapon would be nice, but that would make everything worse if she got caught. The city guard never responded well to obvious weapons.
 
 Tossing the knife back into her knitting bag, Sindil picked up her needles again. "Three of his men are at tables one, seven, and fifteen. Two on the right when you come in, the other is by the window behind you."
 
@@ -60,13 +60,13 @@ Jon, Lilian's father, looked up from where he was serving food. "You aren't want
 
 Karin glanced around, spotting Tristoh's three men sitting at different tables. They were all minions, armed with short swords and leather armor. As one, they turned toward her and dropped their hands to their weapons.
 
-She looked at the counter leading into the back room and then to him. "I just want to talk to Lilian."
+She looked at the counter leading into the kitchen and then to him. "I just want to talk to Lilian."
 
 Jon stepped toward the center of the room and held the metal tray with one hand at his side. "Get the hell out of my place. You aren't welcome here."
 
 Karin shook her head. On one of the tables nearest to the door, she spotted a metal pitcher. She reached over and grabbed it. Her energies flowed through her hand as she focused on the rim to sharpen it while she spoke. "I'm going to talk to her."
 
-"She's on her way out. You don't need to talk to her."
+"She's on her way out. You don't need to."
 
 "Your daughter is not something to sell. Tristoh is going to hurt her and you know it."
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ She missed. The pitcher rim caught caught the edge of the table and sheared off
 
 Before the hunk of wood hit the ground, Karin was attacked from the other side. The second warrior swung his sword down, the blade whistling through air.
 
-She jerked back, slipping on the water and ice. Desperate, she funneled her energies into the pitcher's edge again. The metal screeched as it was flattened and sharpened again. Heat radiated through the metal, burning her fingers. She threw all her weight into blocking the blow.
+She jerked back, slipping on the water and ice. Desperate, she funneled her energies into the pitcher's edge again. The metal screeched as it was rapidly flattened and sharpened again. Heat radiated through the metal and burned her fingers. She threw all her weight into blocking the blows.
 
 Karin managed to parry with the opening of the pitcher. The blade sliced into the brittle metal but her magic kept the edge long enough for it to gouge out a large hunk of the forged weapon.
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ His eyes almost popped out of his head. A low gurgle escaped his lips.
 
 She released the ruined pitcher to uppercut him. Her knuckles slammed into the bottom of his chin, throwing him back.
 
-Staggering to her feet, she stepped out of the puddle. She should have known better than make the fight worse by spilling water across the floor. Roal could never know.
+Staggering to her feet, she stepped out of the puddle. She should have known better than make the fight worse by spilling water across the floor. Roal could never know she had made such a beginner mistake.
 
 Jon gulped as he inched back.
 
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ She threw the tray at him. The metal edge sliced through his sword and armor to
 
 Karin pointed at him. "Sit," she commanded.
 
-His sword clattered to the ground as he sat.
+His ruined sword clattered to the ground as he sat.
 
 She slammed the door into the baking area. "Lil!"
 
@@ -152,13 +152,13 @@ Lilian smiled broadly. "I... I always dreamed of singing at the Harmony Opera. S
 
 Lilian looked nervous and pale. She looked around the stone hearths and ovens. "Just leave?"
 
-One of Tristoh's men thumped as he crawled up on the counter between the front and back rooms.
+One of Tristoh's men grunted as he crawled up on the counter between the front and back rooms.
 
-Karin spun, grabbed two trays, and threw one at each end of the heavy wooden beam over the counter. The sharpened rims easily cut through the wood on each side. One side caught on the angle and held but the other plummeted, crushing the man's hand against the counter.
+Karin spun and threw threw one tray at each end of the heavy wooden beam over the counter. The sharpened rims easily cut through the wood. One side caught on the angle and held but the other plummeted, crushing the man's hand against the counter.
 
 He screamed out in agony.
 
-She grabbed another tray.
+She threw another tray to finish the job.
 
 The rest of the beam collapsed.
 
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ The warrior looked up and then yanked back to avoid being crushed to death. His
 
 Karin grabbed another tray and kicked open the door between the two rooms.
 
-The door bounced off someone behind it.
+The door bounced off one of the warriors hiding behind it.
 
 She kicked it again as she entered the restaurant side of the building. To her relief, the man with his chest impaled by a tray was still alive but sitting down. The one that she punched in the balls wasn't visible, so she swung the tray hard and slammed it through the door.
 
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ The grandmother gestured with one gnarled finger at the window. "Run. I need to
 
 Lilian wiped the tears from her eyes and then headed for Karin. She held out her hand.
 
-Karin took the soft palm firmly. Together, they hurried in the opposite direction of the fleeing warrior. She didn't know where to go or how she was going to get Lilian there, but she had hope that something would turn up.
+Karin took the soft palm firmly. Together, they hurried in the opposite direction of the fleeing warrior. She didn't know where to go or how she was going to get Lilian there, but she had hoped that Roal would turn up. That's what he did.
 
 Three streets and two alleys of frantic running later, she came around a corner to find Roal sitting on a wagon with a horse already harnessed into place.
 

chapters/chapter-06.md

@@ -20,12 +20,14 @@ She smiled to herself. Just like his laughter, she had heard the icy tone before
 
 Warriors yanked her into a kneeling position.
 
-Karin blew a strand of her hair from her face as she looked up at Tristoh. He with his back to the bar next to the empty jar that used to have requests for Lilian. He looked annoyed, like she had stolen his toy.
+Karin blew a strand of her hair from her face as she looked up at Tristoh. He stood with his back to the bar next to the empty bowl that used to have requests for Lilian. He looked annoyed, like she had stolen his toy.
 
 There were others around her. She guessed it was the town elders, the ones who had opinions of monster hunters like herself. Among them were two uniformed men with the symbol of the city on their chests; probably the city guards.
 
 She looked around but didn't see anyone wearing justice robes. That meant this wasn't a trial, at least not yet.
 
+Karin also hoped to see Sindil, but she wasn't present either.
+
 Tristoh cleared his throat. "Where is she?"
 
 She blinked at him, giving him her best innocent look. "Who?"

chapters/chapter-07.md

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ access: private
 
 Karin groaned and leaned against the rough stone bricks of the jail cell. The cold seeped into the bruises along the side of her face, giving her some relief from the morning's beating. As the stone warmed up, she rolled to a cooler section until the throbbing subsided.
 
-With a sigh of relief, she sat back into her seat. It felt like every part of her hurt, but it was nothing compared to being kicked in the chest by that howling horse with claws or when the leeches were burrowed in her gut.
+With a sigh of relief, she sat back into her seat. It felt like every part of her hurt, but it was nothing compared to being kicked in the chest by that howling horse with claws or when the leeches had burrowed in her gut.
 
 The men Tristoh had bribed to beat her weren't seriously injuring her. That meant that he still had plans for her. Fortunately, San Graif wasn't large enough for dedicated justice so she had a few more days until her fate arrived.
 
@@ -46,11 +46,11 @@ The old woman caught her arm to walk with her. She was spry for her age but Kari
 
 Karin smiled at the image and rested her palm over the old woman's. "Thank you. Mind if I have that dagger now?"
 
-Sindil looked her over and grinned. "You look like you prefer a sword, right?"
+Sindil looked her over. "You look more like you prefer a sword, right? What kind?"
 
-"Yes? Short sword with a narrow hilt."
+"Short sword with a narrow hilt, but...."
 
-The old woman dug into her scorched knitting bag. She pulled out a coil of yarn and a pair of needles. "Hold on," she said as she handed the yarn to Karin.
+The old woman dug into her scorched knitting bag. She pulled out a coil of yarn and a pair of needles. "Hold this," she said as she handed the yarn to Karin.
 
 Amused and confused, Karin took it.
 
@@ -70,6 +70,6 @@ Karin made it two steps before the words registered. She inhaled sharply and loo
 
 The old woman grinned and squeezed Karin's arm. "Maybe after you save our city, I could make you one? The recipe is on the old side, but I'd bet you'd like a slice. I heard it's got a bit of bite."
 
-Karin stared in shock.
+Karin stared in shock and her smile returned.
 
 The old woman hefted her bloody knitting needles, gave a wink, and headed after Roal.