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Lia watched as Colvin dipped his head and whispered to Ellowyn,subtly towards the bowl and offered spoon Ellowyn sment in the matter of whether she should taste it He served her himself Sowe and Bryn joined in, as did Pasqua

Marciana clung to Lia’s arm, as if she could not stand to be apart from her for a moment Subtly, she led Lia away from the others "So this is where you have lived your life," she said softly "I a a family, Lia I knoould But Muirwood is a beautiful Abbey I love it here already I was so excited to coether at last If there is anyone in the world he speaks hly of, I do not knoho it is" She stopped prattling, her eyes seeking out Lia’s "You ard him more than any other man You saved his life, Lia It was here, on these very stones that you tended him It was up there, in the loft, where you hid hi your perround is forbidden to learners, and I am a learner I knohat happened in the Bearden Muir I have told no one else, not even Ellowyn I shall keep your secret as you kept his when that cruel sheriff hunted him I must tell you how indebted I am to you" She patted Lia’s hands and then kissed the for that"

"I was not sure hoould feelyou," Lia answered, overwhelht, before the battle, that I ht have to find you and tell you of your brother’s death That would not have been a pleasant introduction It rateful to the Mediuree! Colvin did tell me that you are adept with the Medium Another secret I will keep hidden Poor Ellowyn – she is so frightened of it There was a Leering at the laundry where she served" Her eyes glittered wickedly "Colvin hates it when I call theouelle Why use a Dahomeyjan e are so far from that country? Soirls byclothes And you kno fear hairl I wish it had been you instead, Lia I would have loved being your companion, your friend while you learned But Ellowyn is a sweet girl You will like her She is shy, like Sowe But you will help me draw her out?"

"Of course You are not afraid? Of those who hate her Family?"

Her sood First, ood swordsman He trains every day, never satisfied with himself Secondly, Muirwood has two hunters instead of one And thirdly, one ofI have a sense for trouble before it happens It is true When I was a little girl, I was playing in the gardens Two shepherd boys orked our estate thought it would be silly if they tripped my ankles with their crooks Inup on ht the to er to hear the story This is dangerous, she thought Marciana can tell me stories of his childhood!

"He was all of twelve years old, but he acted like he was one and twenty He warned those shepherd boys He alarns first You like hearing stories about him? Good! There are many he would not want me to tell you And you must tell me your stories, Lia I want to hear them I want to know you better I am jealous of Sowe that she knows sointeresting Frohty child But you and I are alike, I think I hope we can be friends?"

"Lia! It is alone!" Pasqua said "Hurry over lasses, or you willall your attention when you are probably starving Come over and eat We have the Aldermaston’s permission to be with you"

Lia joined the others and Edallantly with a spoon for her "Ittorture for you to live in a kitchen like this with such an excellent cook And she has taught you all her secrets, has she?"

"It has been a year, but I have not forgotten the it It was always a favorite of hers "You should try her sambocade too, Edmon That willany promises to hiet his chance to taste it all If he can stop dancing, that is"