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Caulder stared at me for a time and then said hoarsely, "You don’t look like you’ve been sick at all" There onder in his voice

"Well, I was" I stared at the boy who had done me such a monstrous injustice, who had roused such hatred in me, and felt only cold inside me I had feared I would loseat his wasted body and bloodshot eyes, I found that all I wanted was to be away from him I spoke brusquely "You wrote tofor o paler He turned to his bedside table and rued about in the mess there "I took your rock I’ive it back" And with that, he held it out to me I crossed the room in three strides He almost cowered away fro to take it I’d never seen one like it I only meant to find out what it was from my uncle He studies rocks and plants"

I looked at the rough stone with its coarse veins of crystal and recalled too well how I had co that reminded ht of Tree Woman and her world Well I was done with that now Epiny had said so, and although I did not want to believe her about anything else to do with her seances and spirits, I clung to that Tree Woer cast over me I was free of her I set the rock back on his table with a loud clack "Keep it I don’t want it anymore Was that the only reason you wanted me to come?" My words came out more coldly than I’d intended The memory of the tree woman was a chill one I had loved her I had hated her I had killed her

A tre ht he would crumple up and cry Then he ry voice, "I sent you that e because ot me drunk So he said I ize I do I apologize, Nevare Burvelle" He took a deep and ragged breath As I was still reeling from that revelation, he shook me further when he added in a whisper, "And I told hi up that fat cadet, and Lieutenant Tiber I apologize for that, too But even though my father made me send you that note, that isn’t anted you to co else I rew unco At last he said in a hoarse whisper, "Thank you for sending one on to that place I would have died" He suddenly hugged his arms around himself and started to shiver so violently that I could see it "I have tried to tell ry with me But I know…That is-" He halted his words and looked desperately around the roo became more pronounced "What is real? Is this place ive way around you and then we are someplace else? I think about that all the tiht My father and the doctor drug me to make me close my eyes, but that is not the same as sleep, is it?"

"Caulder Calm yourself You are safe"

"Am I? Are you? Do you think she couldn’t just reach out and snatch either of us back if she wished it?" He began to weep noisily

I stepped to the door to his rooht "Caulder is not feeling well!" I called out loudly "Could someone please come and take care of him?" I went back to his bedside and set a hand to his shoulder I felt nothing of warone now, Caulder Forever Calm down Someone will be here soon to take care of you"

"No!" Caulder wailed "No They’ll drug ain Nevare Please Don’t call thehter, and held his breath in an effort to stop his sobs

I heard a door open and close and then footfalls in the hall They see very slowly I scrabbled desperately for a way to distract hi an invalid into hysteria Aardly I asked, "Where will you be going now? To a fa question "My father is, and he’s taking ood now He hates er in dustballs A soldier son ill never be a soldier What use aain "He was furious that I stole this fro lad to have me and will adopt me so that he has a son to follow hireat courage, only a good mind I don’t think I even have that anymore"