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The niece of Garen De flies swarmed around and around in Lia’sthe battle of Winterrowd Graciously, he had given credit for his victory to the Medium and forbidden anyone to boast of the battle where none of his soldiers had been killed Such a thing had never been heard of before Afterwards, he had seized custody of the young king and became Protector of the Reale and refused to swear ho hi between peace and civil war Some defied De and his ruthless acts It was a tottering pile of dishes that could co the Aldermaston had told her

"Finished," Sowe erly "The Alder to Muirwood Did you…?" She stopped, seeing their surprised faces "I guess you did not know that She is co’s ? Why?"

There was so"When I left, everything was its usual boring self Now look at it all I do not knohose side she is on, but I would guess she supports the side of her son Colvin would know, if he will speak to ht," she ize for screa "Lia, when they caht away That should please you The Earl of Forshee…Colvin…was very kind to ift You remember, for the time when I helped You did most of the work But he remembered his promise I wonder…I wonder if he ca to study here for the next year at least He is a er a learner"

Lia looked at her

"You know…to teach you hi in Lia’s heart nearly choked her

At dawn the next ear The water gushing fro hot, but Lia kept her loves and the wood ash soaps She cleaned the sap-stained hunter equiplove, quiver, scabbard – and then set them aside and bundled up the dary to be interrupted, she willed the Leering to stop The eyes of the Leering cooled and the water ceased flowing

The rounds were veiled Martin was always up before dawn, and she did not want to ather up her things as the lavenders approached, but the clutch of girls entered the roofed shelter before she could leave

Reo with her eyes that ly With her voice, she could cut as efficiently as a fruit knife "Look at your face, Lia," she said with a tiny s froht before Whitsunday too Hoful"

Lia hefted the basket and tried to walk past without answering, but the other lavenders unfolded like a wall, blocking her path They all had daggers for eyes and carried their wicker baskets in front of theh," Lia said iand looking revolted and delighted at the same time

"It is none of your concern Let me pass"

"Are you really so anxious to see the Alder you Treasa says the Earl of Norris-York is the prettiest man in the Hundred She has offered to help with his laundry and he accepted The brooding one said he will not, that he would only trust you"

"Me?" Lia asked, startled

"Not you, specifically," Reo to draw out inforirls would do it You are still the Alderly close to a leer

Lia’s cheeks went hot, but she controlled her ehteen now After Whitsunday, she would leave Muirwood and either marry the local blackser towns She was a beautiful girl – would no doubt find little difficulty convincing a boy to marry her But in Muirwood, and for most of her life, she had been seen as the most beautiful, the most desirable – until the last Whitsunday when Sowe had e and without saying a mean-spirited word to anyone The sudden attention had bolstered Sowe’s lacking confidence and her timidity shrank when she realized that boys would stuues just to bid her hello But unlike Reome, she had not used the situation to belittle others or set the lads fetching things for her orsore to Reo her soul