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A little person was going to come into the world, and Tavi would be his father

Kitai's fingers stroked over his hand "Please tell "

"I' that that this changes things This changes everything"

"Yes," Kitai said in a very small voice

Tavi blinked, then seized both her hands in his "Not between you and e that"

She searched his eyes, blinked twice, and a tear rolled down each cheek before she re and closed her eyes

Tavi suddenly drew her hard against him so that he could put his arms around her "Don't," he said quietly "Don't you dare think you need to hide theainst his chest, and her slender arhtened on hi as he was, despite the difference in their sizes And she earing chain mail Very chilly chain ainst his chest for a time, and her tears, warmer than his ever were, made his skin damp

"I did not knohat you would do," she said a few"What you would think We didn't do things in the right order"

Tavi was silent for a longthought of as a bastard?"

"Of course," she said "I've seen Maxiiar Navaris became I've seen others who are who are outsiders Abused Because they are not legitiuilty of a crime I did not knohat to do"

Tavi was quiet for a time and stroked her hair with one hand Then he said, "There are two things we could do"

She s so that the child was not thought of as a bastard," he said

"How?"

"Oh, we lie, of course We getelse, and when the child is born we marvel that he - "

"Or she," Kitai interjected

"Or she must have come early"

"Will that not be found out? A truthfinder would realize that was a story immediately"

"Oh," Tavi said, "everyone would realize it was a story But no one would say anything about it It's what is called a 'polite fiction' aht be so, some remarks ed"

"Truly?"

"Happens all the tiainst the child Laughed at behind his back Used to taunt him - "

"Or her," Tavi interjected

"Or her," Kitai said "It will forever be a weakness that someone else will be able to exploit"

"That's up to the child, I daresay," Tavi said

Kitai considered that for a ht we do?"