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Areenlanders You bare flesh enough on the streets to bring a flush to the cheeks of a pilloife, yet you balk at the thought of seeing one another in the bath"

"Thought men ent supposed to see women naked unless they’re married," Kendall said

Amanvah waved a hand dismissively "You are unbetrothed, Kendall am’Holloould you ever find a husband if an unbuttoning Kendall’s vest "The da will ensure your honor re herself be undressed, but Rojer felt so as Aently scolding "You rap your apprentice in the intimacy of your music, but not share hot water with her?"

"She can have all the water she wants," Rojer replied quietly "Don’t need to see her bare bottom for that"

"It’s not her bottom you fear," Amanvah said "And that cannot stand You will face her scars and make your peace with them, son of Jessum, or by Evera to know the rest of the threat "I get it" He let her finish stripping him and moved to the bath

Rojer’s wives never failed to tend him in the bath, and normally by this point he was fully aroused Don’t want her thinking I’ to stick her

Never stick your apprentices, Master Arrick used to say No good can co, and he re look, and he was suddenly nervous about that, as well

"A woive a sht Rojer turned to angle his crotch from her as he hurriedly slipped into the water His wives followed, and Kendall was the last to join the away fro, yes, but not the child he thought of her as

And her scars …

"They’re beautiful" Rojer had not meant to say the words aloud

Kendall looked down Rojer realized she was once again unsure what he was staring at Hehis eyes lower for a rin "Those are beautiful, too, but I meant your scars"

"Then how coot them?" Kendall demanded "All of a sudden you put a river between us"

Rojer dropped his eyes "My fault you got theave him an incredulous look "I’ to is"

"I never should have pushed you to solo," Rojer said

"I never should have pretended to be ready when I kneasn’t," Kendall countered

Arow cold before you finish this argument What does it ai, husband, not you And Kendall lives, while they were shown the sun"

Rojer held up his three-fingered hand, the crippled thing that had earned hirip "My wives’ people understand the beauty of scars, Kendall The ave her life for me I treasure it every bit as much as my thumb"

He nodded to the raised scars that ran across Kendall’s chest from the demon’s claws and the puckered half-et cored, Kendall Hundreds Thousands Seen the ones who live to tell the tale, and the ones who don’t But I ent seen h They’re a portrait of your strength and will to live, and I have never seen anything so beautiful"

Kendall’s lip quivered Water ran down her face, not all of it froht, sister You should be proud"