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Evvy awoke on a saddle She lolled against soed his horse with another She looked up and back Jiirl?" he asked

"I’ry I ith Riverdancer"

"There will be food when you’re settled at First Circle," he said "I have tea"

"Tea’s good," she said, and fell asleep again

The next tih a plaster-walled corridor "Rosethorn? Briar? Luvo?" she asked

Someone poked the back of her head "Nice of you to ask" Briar was being helped along by one of Jimut’s friends He was ashen under the deeper bronze tan he had picked up during their travels "Where did you go to?"

"I orking on stones," Evvy said "Rosethorn and Luvo?"

"Luvo’s co" Jie enough for all three of them There was another bed behind a screen Briar’s co," Rosethorn mumbled "The wounded …"

"The city is full of healers Most are in better shape than you, and you e," Jimut said He set Evvy on her side of the bed she would share with Rosethorn Nearby was a small table with bowls of barley flour mixed with butter tea and dried cheese He handed a bowl and spoon to Evvy She began to eat, looking at Rosethorn with silent apology for not waiting To her shock Rosethorn reached over and rubbed the top of her head

"You’re sure we aren’t needed?" Briar asked as Jimut carried a bowl over to him He pointed to Rosethorn "She’ll fuss and fret even if she isn’t strong enough to crawl" He ate a spoonful, then set his bowl on the floor, put the spoon in it, and curled up on the bed He was asleep instantly Jiled to stand

Ji care of hiers at the door in a beckoning gesture A girl ore the undyed robe of a novice in the eastern Circle temples came in and bowed very low to Rosethorn She placed her hands on the shoulder ties of Rosethorn’s aran to undo them "Gods all bless me," Jimut continued as he worked on Briar, "how many of my friends have you and Briar cared for all this time? You saved my prince’s life, too I think you have earned some rest, and you can’t even stand up, any of you What you did out there today -- I have never seen anything like that, ever None of us have" He laid the armor on the floor of Briar’s side of the rooered through the door carrying Luvo "Where -- where will you go, old one?" he panted