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Where was Colvin? He had promised he would dance with her Where was he?

"Lia?"

She turned, expecting to see hi to work up his courage He looked so young and se, for she was much taller than him "Lia, would you…would you dowas better than the agony of standing alone for the third dance She looked down at hi teased about his height

"Yes, Duerden Of course I will I would be pleased to"

His hand eaty He led her aardly to thethem both up, and could not be bothered to conceal a s hands with the learner who had clai…you look…lovely this evening" It was a gallant attempt, but it felt forced Everyone in the outer circle held hands, the girls on the left of each boy

"You do not need to praise me, Duerden," Lia said "We have been friends for a year now Are you excited to see your fa in the village?"

"Yes, at the Swan They are over there, actually, by the booth where Pasqua is selling her treats My father is the one stuffing his face with a tart" She saw him He was short as well His ed inside

"Will heyou dance witharound the maypole

"No, Lia It is not your fault you are a wretched, after all I have never looked at you that way I would like…you to meet them My parents After the circle is done"

Lia closed her eyes, grateful to be dancing, but uncoood-natured boy He had always been friendly to her, but she had no other feelings for him

"I would like that," she said, but it felt like a lie on her tongue She glanced back at Pasqua’s booth which was brisk with business as it was each year A year ago she had watched the ed

"Have you heard the latest news about Winterrowd?" Duerden asked as the circle stopped and began rotating the other direction "The old king was killed by hired archers, they say Pry-rian archers Do you know about Pry-Ree, Lia? About their mercenaries?"

Her stomach did flip-flops as it had every time he mentioned the battle of Winterrowd Soossip She knew the truth for certain, because she was the one who the Mediu She had only told the Aldermaston what she had done – no one else – and how the Medium had commanded her to do it No one else knew Not even Sowe

"I know little about Pry-Ree," she said, glancing through the throng surrounding the circle for a sign of Colvin

Duerden kept going as if he had not heard her "Pry-Ree was defeated before ere born, Lia It used to be its own kingdoe of the Crown They have always hated us So that Demont did not win Winterrowd because of the Medium as the hter to avenge the death of Demont’s father and the overthrow of Pry-Ree They say De with his ’s privy council, we e I a the sashes and avoiding stepping on each other’s toes Smiles and cheers and claps heralded them, but Lia’s heart was dark She knew the truth, but she could say nothing of it Not of the murderous sheriff of Mendenhall and his death by the Medium’s fire Of Colvin and his fear of a battle where Demont’s men were hopelessly outnumbered There were no Pry-rian archers there…except for herself and she was not even trained as an archer Duerden held her hand and wove the sashes with her, but there was a gulf between them now, of secrets that could never be shared

After the dance, Lia racious to her Pasqua e in front of everyone and ain Soas asked to dance every tiht and a s oil As they li erew heavier and heavier with those secrets and with disappointrass and each trip back