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"Youme hit over the head," I told Conner "What’s the reward?"

Conner didn’t turn around to answer "Cooperate first, then we’ll talk reward"

Roden tossed his apple core from the cart He didn’t even have the decency to eat all of it

"You can untieto be that easy, but there was no har

Conner answered "Mrs Turbeldy warned o?"

"To church, of course To confess h, but Conner didn’t seem to find the same humor "I can starve that blasphemy out of you, boy"

I leanedto end any conversation involvingabout his devotion to the church, but I let it go None of it er

About an hour later, the wagon stopped in a small town I’d been to once before It was nah as small as it was, I’m not sure it deserved any name Gelvins was more like an outpost than a toith only a few shops on the street and a dozen pathetic excuses for homes Carthyan homes were normally well built and sturdy, but Gelvins was poor and its farms dry A sturdy home was a luxury few here could dream of, much less afford to build Most of these thin wooden structures looked like they would be finished in a stiff windstorn over the doorway identifying it as the Gelvins Charity Orphanage I knew this place I’d stayed here several o after Mrs Turbeldy temporarily kicked an to guard us As soon as Conner left, Cregan juet a quick drink in the tavern and that he’d personally kill any boy who tried to escape

"Another orphan?" Roden asked "Conner’s probably been to every orphanage in the country What could he possibly ith all of us?"

"You don’t know?" I asked

Lata for one particular boy, but I don’t knohy"

"He won’t wantof our horses nearly drowned him out "I’m sick"

"Maybe he will," I said "We don’t knohat he wants"

"I plan on being whatever he wants," Roden said "I’ot no future on the streets"

"Who is Bevin Conner?" I asked "Do either of you know anything about his, who runs the orphanage where Roden and I lived," Lata’s court"

"King Eckbert?" I shookhas no friends"

Latas that he was here as a service to the king"

"But what does that have to do with us?" I asked "A handful of orphaned boys?"

"He just wants one boy," Roden reminded us "The rest of us will be cast away as soon as we becos"

"Let me make it easier on you," I said to Roden "Untie me and I’ll be on my way That’s one less boy to contend with"

"I’ll do no such thing," Roden said "Do you think I want to be punished for your escape?"