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"Be gentle," Colvin warned, carrying the tray over

Pasqua took Lia’s good hand with both of hers "Look at you, child" She swept part of her hair back and caressed her cheek "When that filthy h you were breathing So much blood and injury I do not think I can bear to let you out of ry? Can I feed you?"

"Just the broth," Siara said "Anything stronger she may not be able to handle Broth first How is your pain, Lia? Do you need more valerianum to help you sleep?"

Lia shook her head violently "No, I do not want to sleep" She looked at Colvin, her heart aching with the thought of hi

"You need rest," Siara said "But even more, you need friends with you Should we move you to the kitchen? There are many ant to see you"

Lia wanted to see everyone, but she also wanted to be alone with Colvin Maybe her conflict showed on her face, for she saw hi your side until dawn" He touched Pasqua’s shoulder deferentially "With your perly and then nodded

Lia sighed, her thoughts painful She nodded at hiently scooped Lia into his arms Even the slow and tender motion made her wince with pain, but she clenched her jaw to keep froh her nose as he started to walk The kitchen was a short distance and Siara Healer led the way to pull open the doors while Pasqua folloith the tray Lia rested her head against Colvin’s cheek as he tried not to jostle her The pale sky was turning black outside, the sht- the borders, keeping the of protection had settled over the Abbey All was calreeted her and she blinked with the light and the rush of voices and sounds Pasqua’s bed had been installed beneath the awning of the loft and barrels and chests and baskets had been relocated elsewhere in the roo on a bucket with a tray of sa the dessert into hissoul He s even faster now that Pasqua had returned Colvin crossed the tiles to the bed and helped set her down after Sowe turned the sheet and stacked up the pillows

Sowe took her hand, s warmly and then kissed her Edmon was her shadow His face was drawn and pale He had the look of a slight fever about him and he moved with a visible wince

"I am surprised to see you on your feet so soon, Ed him a look of compassion

"Not as surprised as I am Sowe could have been a healer instead of a cook Blue woad is an ah the skin around the wound is a little blue, but the bleeding stopped at least And I will have a lovely scar where Dieyre stabbedthe story of how I got it"

Lia sighed, seeing the flash of old humor in his eyes "You are lucky to be alive"

His eyes becaiveyou like this Seeing what you have suffered I can bear rievesto say…"

Sowe gave him a bashful look and prompted him, "How you survived How Marciana saved you"

"Ah, there it is It is a short story Do not worry – I will not , but I wanted you to know When you and Colvin left on the boat, Dieyre wasted no time and drew his sword and said he would take Ciana with hih I should not have been I was a fool thinking I could stop hi to stop me, but I am rash, as you know He disarmed me with hardly any effort, a fact which still wounds estured to his torso with a wince, "and then smashed his fist intoto run h and murder me Colvin had told me that in the Bearden Muir when the sheriff’s men attacked him, that you stood in the way Well, Marciana protected me with her own body and spoke so earnestly with Dieyre that she talked his teo with him peacefully if he did not slay me I could see he was tempted His eyes toldand ht I would just bleed to death Ciana honored her part and rode off with Dieyre Iinto my wound and lurch on the road The Medium saved me then, for I found a horse – one of the strays fro black Beautiful animal I do not kno I ate and was carried here" He reached out and stroked Sowe’s hair absently