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‘I’m sorry I should have looked for the book on ht flaers on his ive What a sweet, silent lie She took her hand away, and Dustfinger cleared his throat ‘You – you didn’t find it, did you?’ Not that it would make any difference now, but he had to know

Resa shook her head and shrugged her shoulders regretfully

‘That’s what I thought’ He sighed The silence was terrible, worse than a thousand voices ‘Tellcloser to her Please, he added in his thoughts Chasemy chest Take us somewhere else, somewhere better

Resa could do that She knew endless numbers of stories, just how she knew them she had never told him, but of course he knew He knew exactly who had once read her those stories, for he had recognised her face the instant he first saw her in Capricorn’s house After all, Silvertongue had shown hih

Resa took a piece of paper out of her inexhaustible pockets They contained er always carried the s with her: candle stumps, a few pebbles, soue, she called it Obviously none of these things had seeh to be taken away from her When Resa told one of her stories she soer had to finish it It went faster that way, and the story developed surprising twists and turns But this tih he had never needed one so badly

‘Who is the girl?’ wrote Resa

Of course Meggie Should he lie? Why not? But he didn’t, although he didn’t knohy not ‘She’s Silvertongue’s daughter – How old? – Twelve, I think’

It was the right answer He saw that in her eyes They were Meggie’s eyes Perhaps rather wearier

‘What does Silvertongue look like? I think you’ve asked me that before Well, he isn’t scarred like ht flickered on her face You know his face better than you knowto say so He’s taken a whole world from me, why shouldn’t I take his wife fro to her feet, she put her hand in the air above her head

‘Yes, he’s tall Taller than you, taller than me’ Why didn’t he lie to her? ‘Yes, he has dark hair, but I don’t want to talk about him now!’ He heard the petulance in his own voice ‘Please!’ Reaching for her hand, he drew her down beside hiht Basta’s left us is enough to see these wretched coffins but not to read letters’

She looked at hihts and uncover the words he didn’t say But Dustfinger could guard his face better than Silvertongue, much better He couldeyes What business was it of anyone else to knoas in his heart?