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"My mistake," Tavi said "Obviously"

"Obviously," Kitai replied with a rather sh not solely for the i her to continue

She folded her hands in her lap and frowned, as if gathering her words together before releasing them "This enemy is a threat to you as your others are not, chala"

"The vord?"

She nodded

"In ay?"

"They threaten to unmake who you are," she said quietly "Despair and fear are powerful foes They can change you into so like that last winter," he said "When ere trapped atop that Shuaran tower"

"It is no less true now," she said in a quiet voice "Res from me You have tried to, and I have respected your desire Until now"

He frowned at her, troubled

She slid her hand across the table, palm up His own hand covered it without the need for a conscious decision on his own part

"Talk to ed quietly

"There was always someone nearby on the ships Or else ere in lessons and" He shrugged "I I didn't want to burden you Or frighten you"

She nodded and spoke without rancor "Was it because you think I a? Or because you find me insufficiently brave?"

"Because I find you insufficiently" he faltered

"Capable?" she suggested "Helpful?"

" replaceable," he finished

Her eyebrows lifted at that She returned his earlier gesture, rolling her hand for him to continue

"I can't lose you," he said quietly "I can't And I'm not sure that I'm able to protect you I'm not sure anyone can"

Kitai stared at him for a ether, shook her head, and rose She walked around the table with that same severe expression on her face, but it wasn't until she was standing beside Tavi's chair that he realized that she was shaking with unreleased laughter

She insinuated herself onto his lap, lovely in the green grorapped her pale arentle laughter bubbled against his tongue as she did When she finally dreay, moments later, she put her fever-war down at hi "You idiot"