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Magic I was filling h ic, I could turn back the intruders and save the People For that moment, his ambition was mine, and I understood it in a profound way I was essential I was the crossroads In ic of the intruders would be combined and joined From that coic alone could never stop the destroyers It would have to be ic of the intruders, for only a people’s own h to defeat theic of the People could hold the intruders, but it would take their own ic that lived in their bones and flesh but never truly died, to defeat them completely and send them back whence they had come

That was Tree Woman’s ambition

And it was mine, too, while I shared that other self’s awareness For he loved the People as I had never loved ht jolted asp I think that tiny vestige of life attracted Tree Woly as eant Rufet Her eyes scanned the e, cattle in a slaughter chute Then she saw e I had nearly reached her side of the crevasse, where, I no, that the end of the bridge was secured by a cavalla saber thrust into the stony ground I knew the weapon It had been mine Dewara had shown me how to sue fast, anchored my world to hers

When she saw rew taller until she stood great as any live oak, and then larger still She soared in size, to fill half the sky over the stripped hill She pointed towardas branches "Go back!" she commanded me in fury "You are not to be in this place Go back! Inhabit the body until we are ready!"

What gave her such power overqueue of spirits and hurling me back across the chasasped Wan daylight filled the roo painfully into htly the bones rubbed together "He’s not dead! Doctor, come here! Nevare is not dead!"

The doctor’s voice was more distant than Epiny’s "Itold you he wasn’t dead This plague soive up on people too soon Get some broth into hie the sheets on the e, I fear"

My fever dreae that for a brief ti on a stool between my bed and Spink’s She wore a stained smock over one of her ridiculous dresses Her cheeks were red and her lips chapped Her careworn face and bundled-back hair made her look more woot to resist her as she spooned broth into an to shiver violently, she set the cup and spoon aside and tuckedschool?" I said to her My cracked lips had difficulty shaping the words

She frowned at me momentarily, and then a sour smile came to her pinched ed a sh She leaned closer toand had a wonderful time with Spink And then I went home and told my parents where I’d been I knew full well ed goods,’ and all those other quaint phrases powerful women apply to women who don’t fall under their control But I also knew, because I’d filched the letter, that Spink’s family had already made an offer for me When she told me no decent man would ever have me now, I set it on the table before both of them, and told theet for me, it was therefore the best and they’d be wise to take it Oh, what a terrible scene she made" Her voice went suddenly thick and for an instant she fell silent I knew her triuhter "My parents will have no choice except to take it No one else will have me now I made sure of it"

I was puzzled "Spink said…he never met with you"

She looked startled, then smiled She turned away from me and reached out her hand to touch his face "Such a dear little lie It probably cost hireat deal to lie to you to protect hly of you, you know He wants our first son to be named for you We intend to be married as soon as we can, and to start our family iirlishly domestic as any of my sisters "We will share a wonderful life I can’t wait I hope we are posted on the frontier"