They retired to the river of Tan-Chuy, with a prize which they made there, a small champan from China, which came from that kingdom to Hermosa Island to carry supplies and merchandise; in it was traveling a religious of St. Dominic, in the garb of a Sangley.

Deirdre’s mom never leaves her in the Grotto but also never leaves her side, and has the lipless and flinty-eyed look of a parent whose kid is preternaturally good at something.

Share-herding or purchase of small livestock are livelihood strategies within the reach of households headed by women, aided by children herders, but constraints including shortage of pasture and animal feed.

Even more disconcerning to the ninjas were the four-dozen black leather-clad men and women wearing masks and wielding sabres that now surrounded them.