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"I said stop yawning, you dolt! It es and ruts! Now you have ets a fist"

Lia dipped a linen in the broth and pressed it against Colvin’s brow He said nothing, but his lips and jaw trembled and clenched, as if he were about to speak or shout or rave and only iron deterainst his injury and then wrung it out, dipping it again, then squeezed it against his brow until the juices trickled down his face

What was he thinking at thathi her to run? Gratitude was certainly not the look While she held the linen to his head with one hand, her other opened the tub of grease and she scooped so it on his wrists He winced and stiffened, and she saw the blood there as well He had been working to slip free of the iron cuffs and the chain had worn his skin raw in the works Liberally, she applied rease to his wrists and hands

Behind her, Bryn gathered the tray with scraps of uneaten food, and collected the eoblets of cider One of the soldiers was already sleeping at the table

"Brickolm? Are you daft lad? Brickolm! Look at the fool, asleep on the table!"

Lia looked back, could barely stop a srease Colvin nodded slowly and began twisting his wrists, twisting and pulling and straining against the cuffs His froas fearsoether to shorten the gap as much as possible Then with a fluid slip, one hand came free of the cuff

Liathe night on the kitchen floor when she had bathed his face of sweat and blood

"It is bad enough that we have to stay behind, but it torturesthere Have you ever slept in a real bed like that, Moise? A real bed, not one stuffed with straw and rats, but a real one"

"Not like that one I am sure it costs a pretty crown for a roouer catches you napping…do you hear me? Oh, the daft, daft fool"

"Maid Fetch us …to stay awake Fetch it, I tell you!" He waved his hand at Bryn and she nodded with the tray and left The door thuered in the air like candle s it, sliding it, pulling it against the iron cuff He bit his lip, his neckBlood dripped from his hand to the floor Then it came loose

Lia peeked back at the sheriff’s men Another sat in the chair, head back, mouth open – eyes closed One left

She took the crushed woad petals and dabbed the ain The pink and scabby flesh looked painful and sore She hoped the ould work on it a second tiazed outside He rubbed his eyes, swearing under his breath He fought against the powerful force co the valerianu his hand on the table to steady hi, his face going slack He looked across the rooht a weary battle to stay awake A battle he was losing

Lay down, she told him in her mind