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Rosethorn walked in, carrying three fat, leather-bound books She duh of relief "You’ll need these," she said breathlessly "To start with, anyway"

Briar read the lettering on the spine of the topmost book He was so tired it was hard to focus It took three trials before the title ic, Inherent and Retained

When he finally understood, he gaped at Rosethorn She had gone to fetch covered pots fro oven under the kitchen fire "I cleaned out the front rooht a pallet The cats can do their business in the backyard, and you get to clean it up," she added, looking at Evvy "Start earning your keep Dishes and bowls in that cupboard" She pointed, and went back to the kitchen

As Evvy brought out plates and bowls for the three of them, Briar sat heavily on a chair She had known Rosethorn had known, and she’d ," he called to Rosethorn, vexed

She eed from the kitchen, hands on hips "For all I knew, he would see it was ti gone bad I’ ive him the chance to act properly"

"He did," Evvy re to be a pig about it anyway"

Rosethorn sht take that attitude"

"So I guess I was the last to know," Briar grumbled

"Of course you are You’re alaled, and Briar rested his head on his hands

Not only ah at ht, contentedlyBriar and Evvy went to Princes’ Heights to fetch her cats Wearing racks that supported covered straw baskets, Briar and Evvy passed through the entrance to her part of the Heights, a black stone arch that some wit had named Sunrise Gate It opened onto a broad tunnel into the rock Briar looked around as Evvy led the way: he could see wood and stone shoring everywhere Part of the tunnel roof was covered by a wooden ceiling In places the wooden planks had fallen; heaps of stone and dirt lay under theed "They happen all the time Nobody thinks much about it"

Briar shuddered and decided he wouldn’t ask any more questions