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"Then why do you dress like one?" the girl demanded

"I ahten you"

"I’ to peek under his hood He took a step back, pulling the hood lower

"You’re being rude!" Elissa scolded her "Run along and play with your brother"

The girl took on a rebellious look, but Elissa stared her down and she darted back across the room to a worktable where a boy of perhaps five winters was stacking blocks ards painted on their sides The Painted Man saw Ragen in his young face, and felt a profound gladness for his ret that he would never know the boy, or the man he would become

Elissa looked abashed "I am sorry for that My husband, too, has scars he does not care for the world to see You’re a Messenger, then?"

The Painted Man nodded

"What can I help you with, today?" she asked "A new shield? Or perhaps repairing a portable circle?"

"Looking for a Warder named Cob," he said "I was told he owned this shop"

Elissa looked sad as she shook her head "Cob has been dead al harder than a demon’s blow "Taken by a cancer He left the shop to my husband and er I knew," the Painted Man said, reeling

"What Messenger?" Elissa pressed "What was his na No nareater the risk he would be discovered "Arlen of Tibbet’s Brook," he blurted, cursing himself as he did

Elissa’s eyes lit up "Tella hand on his arm "We were very close, once Where did you last see hie to hi the sudden desperation in her eyes, the Painted Man realized how deeply he had hurt her when he left And now, stupidly, he had given her false hope that she ain But the boy she kneas dead, body and soul Even if he took off his hood and told her the truth, she would not have hiive her the closure she needed

"Arlen spoke of you that night," he said, his decision made "You’re every bit as beautiful as he said"

Elissa smiled at the compliment, her eyes istered "What night?"

"The night I was scarred," he said "Crossing the Krasian Desert Arlen died, so that I asped, covering her nose and mouth with her hands Her eyes, moist a moment before with joy, now brimmed ater as her face screwed up in pain

"His last thoughts were of you," he said, "of his friends in Miln, his…family He wanted me to come here and tell you that"

Elissa barely heard him "Oh, Arlen!" she cried, and stu her to one of the workbenches and easing her down as she sobbed

"Mother!" Marya cried, rushing over "Mother, what’s wrong? Why are you crying?" She looked at the Painted Man, accusation in her eyes