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There was a pain in Lia’s heart at the mention of him "I did not see it happen," she said
"But you heard it" He sighed deeply "I did not think anything could kill that man I remember the first time I saw him It made an impression, I tell you"
"The Aldermaston in Pry-Ree called the creature a Fear Liath Colvin called it a grey-rank"
Seth hissed at the word "Ssssttt A grey-rank Of course Worse than a black bear Fast too, so I have heard I was surprised to learn he had died But a grey-rank could do it"
Lia turned to look at him "I also remember the first time I saw Martin In the kitchen"
He smirked "No, you do not remember the first tiht"
So chilled inside of her "What do you remember about it?"
"I remember it because Martin cried Never saw that old buzzard cry before It was not long after the fall of Pry-Ree That was sixteen years ago"
"But I am only fifteen," Lia said, confused
He looked at her "Really? I re tio"
"Why did Martin cry when he saw me?"
Seth looked back out at the lake "What do you know about hiht for afor the Aldermaston for years before I was abandoned here Pasqua told me that He had been in Muirwood for…I do not know…say four or five years before that?"
"I remember when he cauard The Pry-rian ruler’s guard They rode down froestow to Comoros but they stopped at Muirith their retinue All of the guardsirdle and bracers, like you wear A gladius instead of a long sword They all had bows as well Dangerous men, all of the conversations together They went into the Abbey too, for the Prince was a ed with fire The flood froan to fit together in herlike sculpted stones "I did not knoas part of the Prince’s guard" The Aldermaston had already told her the story of the Pry-rian prince who had come to Muirwood on the way to Comoros
"Yes But it was odd that he left Martin behind I uard, why stay behind at Muirhen yourwith his enemies in Comoros? I do not knohy it happened Only that Martin becaht an apprentice" His look darkened "A position which I felt should have been e instead? You delivered his es…"
"And carried his laundry to the lavenders, and fetched this and fetched that" His voice was thick with resento and what to do But Martin was free to roaone for days at a time and I could not wait until he returned When Jon was named as the apprentice, I was sick with envy It was the Aldermaston’s choice of course, and he kne ive it to e I could to befriend Martin He…he was like a father to ht ht Jon After he was chosen, I scorned hier, I would thrash hier" His eyes focused on nothing at all, lost in the s "But when he turned thirteen, I could not hurt his Martin taught hihts we used to have ended badly for me My best weapons ords Hoould spit thes That was so I could never do"
Lia listened with enormous interest "I never knew you tere rivals"
He shook his head "He never told Martin about what I did to his inside He adored Ailsa Cook, but he never told her She wasin the kitchen when you were little? She was taught by Pasqua and helped tend you and Sowe She was always good with babies" He sighed "I should have been as wise as Jon Ailsa was a good girl She was a friend to everyone But I loved one of the learners My one advantage of being the page was delivering es to the cloisters I was teased, of course Makes s they said tofor She and her friends sighed about Jon Every month he seemed to sproutto any of the girls I had always been a good talker If I were the hunter, if I were the one ore a gladius and leathers and roas would be better I believed that But I rong I was so hateful, so angry with the Alders Every snub was his fault Every hed "I will tell you the rest I already confessed to the Aldermaston When he asked me to be his hunter now, all these years later…well, you can ie But I need to have it out I have been carrying it so long"