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I lean over the shaft Gilded by laht, Coriander stares up into a darkness in which she cannot seedown in arope around the air shaft and slip on the harness, then rappel down the toather up the bundled clothing and the jug I lower it all down to Coriander Although it is a risk to have the rope tied around the air shaft, where soht see it from outside, I need to be able to show Coriander she has a way out in order to ensure her cooperation As I descend hand over hand down the narrow shaft,the bricks, a muffled cry drifts eerily out of the toitates me until I realize it is a newborn’s startled wail The baby’s cry ceases just as I reach the floor

Cook speaks in a voice of such cale "That’s right, Doly she suckles!"

"What happened up there?" Coriander’s gaze sears me I never understood that her blank servant’s expression hid so much dislike

"We have to keep quiet until Lord Kalliarkos returns He’s going to free your brother"

"I should just cli forward as if to dare me to forbid it

"You still can But I hope you ait and help et the others out"

She frowns at her hands, then glances into the central chamber "For Doma Kiya’s sake I will"

Maraya continues to support Mother against the stone bier She has rallied enough to beco at her breast

Cook now has the knife and is cutting the afterbirth into small pieces "Mistress, you then yourself"

"I’m too tired to eat," says Mother in a murmur that dies away as her eyes flutter closed

Maybe I gasp at this sign of her intense weakness Coriander touches me on the arm with a flash of unexpected compassion, then pulls back her hand and rubs it over her scalp I wonder who gave her the scars on her head

"How did my mother rescue you?" I ask

"That is not your story to know since you never bothered to ask before now" She sets the lamp beside the oracle’s chest and like a toh its contents