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A dutiful letter froer than usual, enclosed another written on fine onionskin paper I forced myself to read my sister’s s I could send her froet into town Her list was quite specific and occupied two pages of her letter Beads, in certain colors, sizes, and quantities Lace, no more than one inch wide, in white, ecru, and the palest blue I could find, in quantities of at least three yards each Buttons shaped like berries, cherries, apples, acorns, or birds, but not like dogs or cats, please At least twelve of each, and if they came in two sizes, an additional four in the s notions, there followed a list of drawing pencils and then several nibs she would like to have I had to smile at her cheerful avarice I suspected she well knew that I would do et her so my head, I refolded her letter and turned my attention to the packet of fine paper within it A drop of cri to seal it, the delicate ier I tried to leave it intact as I opened it and failed utterly It cracked into red crues, a fine dust of brown flakes cascaded froirl has sent him snuff!" Kort exclaimed in a about I was alreadyhandwriting The fallen fragine that she had sent es of endearments and loneliness and anticipation before I solved the arden These are the largest and brightest blooms I have ever rased, and I have presed them carefully for you so that they held their colors Some people fancy that pansies have little faces If these ones do, then each one holds a kiss for you, for I have plased them there myself!"

I smiled "She has sent me pressed flowers," I said to Kort

"Oh, posies for her sweetheart!" he , and I felt irl aited for me I slit the other side of the envelope and spread it open carefully, looking for my keepsake But all I found was brown dust that dribbled out to float on the air before settling onto the floor I looked at it in dis"

Kort raised one eyebrow "How long ago did she send them to you? Has the letter been delayed?"

I checked the date "Actually, it’s traveled quite rapidly It has taken only ten days to reach me"

He shook his head ata bit of a joke with you, Nevare Nothing decays that fast Now your dilemma: do you thank her for her pretty posies, or ask her why she sent you a thimbleful of compost?"

Others of my schoolmates had overheard now Rory had coh with, "I’ you to see how honest you are, brother!"

I brushed the fine debris froely I resisted the urge to stare at it andto miss ourto fail our inspection if you don’t sweep up your ‘flowers’!" Spink added heartlessly

I did as Spink advised, and then hastily washedI had convinced myself that it was silly to think nificance to it at all It ard to write to Carsina and tell her that her gift had arrived in the form of dust, but I was determined to be ever honest with her I read her letter over several ti each phrase in nature before I slipped it under ht I fell asleep determined to dream of my future bride, but if I dreamed at all, I did not recall it

CHAPTER 13

Bessom Gord

I entered my third month at the Academy with the expectation that my life would now settle into a predictable pattern Initiation was behind us, and I had survived the first culling The shock of that experience was followed by a period of glooroup of young , and all of us seeet on with our schooling My e, and I definitely excelled incourse Whenever Carsina visited ed to send me a warm note I enjoyed my friends, and my proble and the fact that I was growing again and ht Winter was on our doorstep There were bright blue days of snapping cold interspersed with gray skies and icy rain Our fireside studies see For a brief time, all was peaceful in my life