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Rosethorn sent Evvy to a nearby streairl returned to tell Briar, "You know that beggar fellow? He’s soaking his feet in the streaot the water upstream from him"

Briar and Rosethorn looked at each other "You could put hirowled "And keep hi fellow, thank you, no," the beggar said when Briar made his offer "I won’t bother anyone here"

"You won’t bother us It won’t be easy to see in the dark, and you’re off on your own We’resoup" Briar used the voice he called his "best wheedle" He could get things out of Rosethorn with that voice "My s with soup There will be haar, it seemed, was , slightly husky voice was gentle in the growing shadows "I will be fine Kanzan shower blessings on you and those kind wo his head

The night passed quietly When they woke, Briar returned to the streaone A bowl that looked just like one of their own sat under his tree, freshly cleaned Briar carried it back with the pot full of water

"I took him a little soup after you went to bed," Rosethorn said "That’s all"

Guards in imperial colors left the caravansary with the rest of the travelers thatThose who had ca for theates Briar, Rosethorn, and Evvy were near the end of that line with a pushy h ates and people began to streauard as he was about to ride onto the bridge

"Escaped prisoner," the man said, and yawned "As if he’d coet him," the merchant in front of Rosethorn said bitterly

Everyone e, where the thunder of the river beloned out the sound of their crossing

THE GORGE OF THE SNOW SERPENT RIVER

Company continued to thin as people scattered to other roads The land noas steep and hilly, with terrace farms on the slopes Beyond them were mountains By the map, Briar saw they were in a kind of funnel that would take them into the Snow Serpent Pass Evvy would have no cause to coh the Drihest mountains in the world

Briar kept a keen eye on the people around the at the stones beside the road The others were coe: an occasional priest on donkey-back, merchants on mules or horses followed by servants, peddlers, farar Two days after they had crossed the bridge, Briar saw the ain They overtook hi party left the road to cross the river The beggar was seated by the road, digging a stone out of the wrappings on his feet Successful, he rose and hobbled off, leaning on his tall staff