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The Painted Man opened his ry retort, but none cas to hih his defenses with ease What had he given the world? Would thousands of young ht?

"It’s honest word you’ve done what you always dreaet close to you again" She shook her head, and her face twisted A sob broke fro and running fro at the cobbles as people walked by They saw his tattooed face and the sight sparked animated conversation, but he hardly noticed For the second tiround would s hirips hat Mery had said, but there was nothing for it Was she right? Since the night his mother was cored, had he truly opened his heart to anyone? He knew the answer, and it lent weight to her accusations People gave him a wide berth as he walked, his painted flesh as s Only Leesha had tried to break through, and he had pushed even her away

After a tilanced up and realized he’d wandered instinctively back to Cob’s shop The fath to resist He felt empty inside Void Let Elissa rail and beat at him with her fists She could do no worse than had already been done

Elissa eeping the floor of the shop when he entered She was alone She looked up as the chi time, neither of them said a word

"Why didn’t you tell me they were married?" he asked finally It was petulant and la else to say

"You didn’t see fit to tell er in her voice, no accusation She spokewhat she’d eaten for breakfast

He nodded "I didn’t want you to seeaside her broo over to him She put a hand on his arm "Scarred? I’ve seen them before"

He turned from her, and she let her hand fall away "My scars are selfinflicted"

"We all have those," she said

"Mery took one look at ," he said

"I’ her arms around him

The Painted Man wanted to pull away, but that part of him melted away in her e the fa hi it flow out of him

After too short a time, Elissa pulled back "I want to see what you showed her"

He shook his head "I…"

"Hush," Elissa said softly, reaching into his hood to put a finger on his lips He tensed as her hands ca it down Fear ran through hined to it

Like Mery, Elissa’s eyes widened and she gasped, but she did not recoil She si it in

"I never used to appreciate wards," she said after a time "Before, they were just another tool, like a ha his face Her soft fingers traced the wards on his eyebrows, his jaw, his skull "It’s only noorking in this shop, that I see how very beautiful they can be Anything that protects our loved ones is beautiful"