Page 80 (1/2)

"Redehtfully "He wanted to confess He kneould not be forgiven for his criained a sense of order," Kitai said "Of peace He creates a solid Reals he has done" Kitai reached into a pocket and tossed hile of chitin as long as his ss have changed, my Aleran The vord are here, and they will kill us all It is madness to labor on their behalf" She moved forward and put a hand on his arm "And he has saved your life, chala For that, I aed back down, staring at the deck

Kitai moved quietly to sit down on the bunk beside him She put her wrist to his forehead Her skin felt pleasantly cool

"You have a fever, chala," she said quietly "You've been holding the weathercrafting too long"

Tavi gritted his teeth "Have to Won't be "

"You told me that Sextus did this," she said "Pushed hih it cost hi its First Lord" She slid her hand down his arhted of him You said it was foolish"

"He did it for weeks on end," Tavi said

"But not continually," she countered "Only at night, during his meditations"

"It doesn'tit back with spring co on I just have to hold it for a few ainsay hi Fidelias's life"

"No," Kitai said "He is there because he wanted to be there You are wasting his death"

He frowned at her for asunk in "Ah," he said

"He should be given the choice," Kitai said "If nothing else, you owe hiently "I think," he said, "you ht"

Tavi walked carefully over the ice to the execution party They were gathering up their tools and preparing to return to the ship As he approached, they saluted

"Leave us," Tavi said The ain and hurried to return to the ship

There were a nu froht sadistic Which one was used was uish the authorities felt the offender had earned Many were designed to contain and circu talents

For Fidelias, they had used steel wire

He hung upon the crossed spars, his feet dangling two feet above the ground His arms had been bound to the outthrust arms of the cross with dozens of circles of steel wire More wire bound his waist to the trunk of the cross Thatsuspended fro He was dressed only in his tunic His armor, weapons, and helmet had been taken from him

Fidelias was obviously in pain, his face pale His eyes and cheeks looked sunken, and the grey in his hair and stubbled face was more prominent than at any other time Tavi had seen him

He looked old

And weary

Tavi stopped in front of the cross and stared up at him for a moment

Fidelias o You should catch up to the fleet before the next stop"