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Roger dug in the waistband of his ragged breeches and brought out a strand of thread, gri a double knot "It was eight days past the day that they took e"

"And a week, at least, froain, not sure whether I felt disappointment or relief "We’d never ," Ja blue spruce, its needles wet and dripping "When we came, that tree was cased in ice" He looked atmay be easier; we may make better time--or not"

"Or not" I shookmeans mud And in to slon, accepting it "No, it’s too late, too risky She’ll have to stay"

Jaer, over the fire

"He doesn’t," he said

Roger looked at hian, then firmed his jaw and started over "I do You don’t think I’d leave her? And my child?"

I opened

"No," I said sharply "No We have to tell him Brianna will Better he should kno If it makes a difference to him, then it’s better he knows before he sees her"

Jaether, but he nodded

"Aye," he said "Tell hier’s dark hair was loose, rising around his head in the evening wind He looked more alive than he had since we had found him, alarmed and excited at once I bit the bullet

"It e for a rabbed me by the arms, so suddenly that I yelped with alarm

"What do yousnake He caught Roger a short, sharp blow under the chin that loosened his grip and sent hiround

"She hter to her own devices, she was raped," he said roughly "Two days past the time ye lay with her So lared down at Roger

"So D’yeto clear it, and got slowly back to his feet

"Raped Who? Where?"

"In Wilton A man named Stephen Bonnet He--"

"Bonnet?" It was only too clear froer’s expression that the name was familiar He stared wildly from me to Jamie and back "Brianna was raped by Stephen Bonnet?"

"So I said" Suddenly all the rage Jae broke loose He seized Roger by the throat and slammed him into a tree trunk

"And where were you when it was done, ye coward? She was angry with ye, and so ye ran away and left her! If ye thought yefirst?"

I grabbed Jao of hier, shaken and al

"I didn’t leave because we argued! I left to find this!" He snatched a handful of his loose breeches, and ripped at the cloth A spark of green brightness glowed in the palet that, to see her safe back through the stones! Do you knohere I went to get it, who I got it fro to coe; he wasn’t where I expected him to be; I had to ride up and down the coast to find hiemstone So was I

"I shipped with Stephen Bonnet, fro a little calmer "He is a--a--"

"I ken what he is" Ja his trance "But what he also er a long, cold look "So I’o back to her, and live with her, knowing that it’s likely Bonnet’s child she bears? For if ye canna do it--then say so now, for I swear, if ye come to her and treat her badly…I will kill ye without a second thought"

"For God’s sake!" I burst out "Give him a moment to think, Jamie! Can’t you see that he hasn’t had a chance even to take it in, yet?"

Roger’s fist closed tight over the jewel, then opened I could hear hied

"I don’t know," he said "I don’t know!"

Jaer had dropped it He flung it hard between Roger’s feet

"Then go!" he said "Take yon cursed stone and find your wicked circle Get ye gone--for hter doesna need a coward!"

He had not yet unsaddled the horses; he seized his saddlebags and heaved them across the horse’s back He untied both his horse and mine, and mounted in one fluid er He was staring up at Jaht as the e his eyes off Jamie "If I can--then I’ll co to me; they moved smoothly, without my direction I walked to my horse, put my foot in the stirrup, and was up

When I looked back, even the light of the fire had disappeared There was nothing behind us but the dark

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THREE-THIRDS OF A GHOST