Three steps rising to the door were rough-cut stone; the topmost adorned by a well-furred grey cat with upstanding ears, front legs tucked beneath white breast, eyes closed. Those strong ears twitched when Daav put his foot on the first step, and mint green eyes opened when he achieved the top. Apparently, he resembled neither dinner nor a threat, for the eyes closed again, the cat sighed and re-entered its rest.

There was a peg on the right side of the door, just above the latch, where a man entering the house would have a hard time missing it. Daav fetched the note out of his pocket and stood for a moment, holding it in his hand, head tipped, the back of his neck prickling.

He was, he was certain, being watched, and by something other than a cat.

"Yulie Shaper, good-day to you once more," he said, keeping his voice even. "Boss Korval thanks you for your care and accepts your offer. The note is here." He pressed the unfolded note gently over the peg. The paper broke and he slid it down until it seemed secure, absent a vigorous wind. He brought his hands to his sides, straining his senses, without, yet, turning around.

The watcher was behind him and to the right. He thought it might, indeed, be their skittish neighbor. If not...

Well, there was but one way to learn.

Daav turned on the step, keeping a careful eye out for the cat, which continued to drowse, as if all were as it should be. That was, he decided, comforting, and perhaps also a stroke in his favor. He looked out over the yard, carefully showing no particular interest in the large bush at the near right corner of the house.

"Boss Korval has asked me to walk the road between your land and ours, to determine what repairs may be needed," he told the yard pleasantly. "I will do my best to give you notice in advance of the arrival of work crews, so that you may gather the cats close in hand. The road work ought not to inconvenience you in any way."