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“No! No! No! She can’t be! Why? Why would the Mother bless her with a child, and then take them both?”

Thonolan was pacing furiously within the confines of the dwelling he had shared with Jeta one fist into the other hand Jondalar stood by helplessly, unable to offer more than the comfort of his presence Most could not offer that et away

“Jondalar, why her? Why would the Mother take her? She had so little, she suffered through so much Was it so much to ask? A child? Someone of her own flesh and blood?”

“I don’t know, Thonolan Not even a zelandoni could answer you”

“Why like that? With such pain?” Thonolan stopped in front of his brother, appealing to hi I could see it in her eyes Why did she have to die?”

“No one knohy the Mother gives life, and then takes it back”

“The Mother! The Mother! She doesn’t care Jetamio honored Her, I honored Her What did it matter? She took Jetaain

“Jondalar …” Roshario called fro to come in

Jondalar stepped out “What is it?”

“Shamud cut in to take the baby, after she …” Roshario blinked back a tear “He thought he ht be able to save the baby—sometimes that ork It was too late, but it was a boy I don’t know if you want to tell him or not”

“Thank you, Roshario”

He could see she had been grieving Jetahter Roshario had raised her, cared for her through a paralyzing illness and a long recovery, and had been with her fro end of her ill-fated labor Suddenly Thonolan pushed past the toward the pathway around the wall

“I don’t think now is the ti after his brother

“Where are you going?” he asked, catching up to him

“I’ I never should have stopped I haven’t reached the end of my Journey”

“You can’t leave now,” Jondalar said, putting a restraining hand on his ared it off violently

“Why not? What’s to keep me here?” Thonolan sobbed

Jondalar stopped hiain, spun hirief that he hardly recognized him The pain was so deep, it burned his own soul There had been times when he had envied Thonolan’s joy in his love for Jeta at the defect in his character that prevented hi such love Was it worth it? Was the love worth this anguish? This bitter desolation?

“Can you leave Jetamio and her son to be buried without you?”

“Her son? How do you knoas a son?”

“Shaht save at least the baby It was too late”

“I don’t want to see the son that killed her”