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"And the truth is?" she asked, looking up at hinize that I cannot achieve my full potential – that my family cannot achieve its full potential until I find soe of the Mediueneration It is part of the oaths we take, as mastons"

"Why are you reluctant to tell your sister that you care for Ellowyn then?" Lia asked, her heart nearly bursting with pent up hope Hoping that she rong, that her question would be denied

His eyebrows bunched together "Why do you say that, Lia? Why do you think I regard her that way?"

Lia shifted unco on because there was no other choice "I see the way you are with her You defer to her needs You are very courteous I know she is shy and that suits you You once told me you found Sowe’s deference ad able to hold ue…"

Colvin chuckled softly

"You find your past insults huh because you have noticed allno one else except h she knows I never lie But it is the truth" He leaned forward, so near she could feel his breath on her cheek "I told you about Ellowyn before, that I have known her story practically all ht of her for years A poor wretched, fro who she really was As a young ht into my head that I would be the one to find her That I would be the one to free her I know this is sounding silly to you, but let , very aware that she was still holding his hands in her lap "Hardly silly, Colvin Go on"

"When I fall, you can iine my intense desire tofor" He paused, as if lost in the memory for a moment "I cannot find words to describe to you how disappointing it was I felt nothing at all for the girl Nothing She was kind Polite Deferential, as you said Everything a wretched should be Not a wife Not someone I want to share every part of myself with Someone ants to read froes, to travel To banter and argue with I was keenly disappointed, Lia During the last year, I have watched her struggle with the very basics of her own language She was not raised in the Alderher thoughts was very lihts never rose above thedown at their hands, still entwined on her lap "I care for the girl and mourn what has happened to her She will be a political pawn for the rest of her life Or murdered because of who her father and mother were Even if I desired to marry her, and I do not, I cannot dismiss that there would be insurmountable barriers to that union The Pry-rians want her Let them have her, I say But because of who she is, because of who her parents were, she will be a prize ht over with draords One of the reasons Demont truststo win her for myself"

He looked down for a moment, then met her eyes "So there…you see? The ru more But I aently, and it et back and warn the Aldermaston"

Lia stood and shook off dirt and leaves "If you ever find yourself trapped in an ossuary, be sure to re to say so but not sure if she dared "In the kitchen, with everyone around and all the laughing at Edmon’s stories…it ree," he said and rose slowly, needing to stoop to keep froloves and unstrung the bow before they crossed the tunnel back to the Alder crouch-backed the whole way did not make it easy to talk, but they did She shared with him some of the history of the tunnels and how they had been excavated at the beginning of the Abbey’s founding, that it was one of her duties to ensure they were repaired and kept up

When they reached the ladder leading up to the cellar She went first, shoving open the trapdoor It opened into an anteroo to the Aldermaston’s study As she climbed out, she heard voices in the other room