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Harl put his arirl," he whispered, gentling her hair "That hurt ently, and rocked her froirl," he said "You have yerself a good cry Get it all out"
And she did, clutching at him as she convulsed in sorrow, before she finally calmed
"Think you can an to return "Don’t want to have to do this again"
Renna nodded eagerly "I proirl," Harl said, and lifted her in his ar her into the house He put her in her own bed, andlunch and dinner to her on a board she could lay across her lap It was the first tiood and filling
"You sleep in toht as rain by afternoon"
Indeed, Renna did feel better the next day, and better still the day after that Harl did not coht, and he let her work at her own pace by day Ti back It was just as well, Renna thought
Soht in the outhouse, but she blocked theood daughter froain
CHAPTER 15
MARICK’S TALE
333 AR WINTER
THE CROWD HAD GATHERED at Leesha’s hut early in the evening, while the sky was still awash in lavender and orange At first it was just Darsy, Vika, and their apprentices, but then Gared and the other Cutters began to filter in, carrying their warded axes on their shoulders, and Erny and the rest of the Warders in the Hollow, along with their apprentices Rojer arrived soon after, and Benn the glassblower More and more came, until the yard was filled with onlookers, ht Soht tents to sleep in after the lesson
Many of the visitors shifted nervously as the sun set, but they trusted in Leesha and the strength of her wards Lanterns were lit to illu
A few round as full dark cas fled as soon as they solidified They had learned that atte more than simple forbiddance
Soon after, the Painted Man arrived, walking beside his giant stallion Slung over the horse’s back were the carcasses of several de a portion of the wardnet long enough for the Painted Man to bring the coreling bodies through The Cutters took over then, hauling the carcasses over to the stone table as the Warders reestablished the net
"That didn’t take you very long," Leesha told the Painted Man as he drew close
The ed "You wanted one of each breed It wasn’t exactly a challenge"
Leesha grinned and took up her warded scalpels "Rapt attention, all," she called loudly as she went to the wood demon and prepared to make the first incision "Class is in session"
There was a co for those who had remained at the hut The Cutters had left soon after Leesha’s lesson with the Painted Man at their lead, looking to reinforce their learning with practical application, but most others had stayed safe behind her wards until dawn
Leesha had her apprentices cook a great vat of porridge, and brewed tea by the cauldron They passed out the bowls andsleep froht
Rojer sat away fro his fiddle on the porch of Leesha’s hut
"It’s not like you to sit off by yourself," Leesha said, handing hiry," Rojer said, swirling his spoon in the porridge halfheartedly