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"But you said you did not…"

"I do not knohere it is But the day is not done yet I may be able to discover it"

He leaned forward "Can you? How?"

"If I can, I will find the way Here, some food for your supper" She handed hi it the whole tiet those apples? It is not even the season for Muirwood apples"

He looked over his shoulder "They were already there Saed "Season or not, the apples are good"

Lia went to the basket and knelt The fruit was round and firm, the skin pinkish, red, and yellow Just like the Cider Orchard Muirwood apples were fado the best ones," she said "Look at the skin If it looks a bit rough, a little worn, with little splotches – those have the sweetest flavor The ones that are perfect on the outside tend to be a bit s in life I always hunt for the best one before I take the first bite"

Gingerly, she lifted one out that had the telltale signs around the ste her eyes, she inhaled the scent Most apples just smelled like wood But a ripe Muirwood apple had a subtle scent She cherished the time when the harvest was done, when bushels were stored up in the loft and she could sleep a?" he asked her, his voice a bit amused

"You never just eat a Muirwood apple, Colvin Youis a bit odd – at first I thought they weren’t ripe until I tasted one"

She gave hily stern look "Never just eat them Slorious scent fill her again "Then you can eat it" She took a bite and it was tart and sweet at the same time, juicy and crisp "There are many ways to bake, boil, mash, spice, and fry them – but they are perfect alone" She relished the flavor, the texture in her , she looked up at him "It was a Muirwood apple that teave her an exasperated look, but did not reply His expression indicated that she was being discourteous again to the dead

She straightened and brushed some dirt off her dress while she enjoyed the fruit "I will see if I can learn the way to Winterrowd Watch for Sowe and I at sunrise at the wayerous anyway Daill give you a full day to ride to in farewell as he was eating ravenously fro back up the ancient steps To get back to the kitchen, she crossed the orchard It would be a while before the orchard filled with blosso been raised at the Abbey, she knew everything about them That apples each had five seeds, and if cut a certain way, they were shaped like a star They were useful insoup Lia knew dozens of ways of preparing the, Lia?" ca of oaks bordering the kitchen

She glanced back at Get "I have not been hiding anywhere"

He caught up with her and grabbed her arm "Hold a moment Where were you?"

She tried to yank her ar Soh she doubted it

"You are hurting ritted her teeth to keep back the pain

"Tell me where you were"

"Why does it matter where I was?"

He squeezed even harder which nearly lared at him "Because they say you knohere the wounded soldier is Is it true? Do you, Lia? The one the sheriff was looking for?"

She wanted to slap him across the face, but she dared not She had seen hi to scowl at him "Do not be a fool, Getman They already searched the kitchens Both of the into her arm even worse and she nearly ith pain "Stop it, Getman!"

"If they had found him, we all would have known Do not be a fool, Lia Do not think I am a fool The Alders that none of us do Is the Alder him?"