As Lucia and her brother passed a bend in the road, they heard a slapping against the side of their wagon. As they slowed to see what happened, a woman in red practically danced toward the front of their cart. 

"Excuse me," She said in a lilting voice, "I was wondering if I could hitch a ride in your cart. I've been walking for days and my legs are worn." She looked imploringly at them, her woven metal bracelet glinting in the sunlight as she shook her wrist. She smiled sweetly at the boy up front. "You wouldn't make me walk all the way to the city, would you?" She adjusted the strap of a small traveling bag to fit more comfortably on her shoulder, still smiling.