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"Wait," I said "What’s left to cleanse?"

"Blood"

"But--"

She whippedpain across s When she moved to do my front side, I yelped more from surprise My skin was extra sensitive on my chest The seaweed sliced thin cuts and blood welled froh, the wounds felt irls released ris Lifting me off the floor, they carried me over to the tub Time to wash the blood off But why did they brace themselves for trouble?

They dunked le cut blazed Salt water! I struggled to sit up as the searing pain dug intofiro

The ache inskin This couldn’t be a part of the ritual I gathered ic to me, but released it back into the power blanket when ht up Acceptance was a part of this custo victio

I broke the surface sputtering and gasping for air The three girls wouldn’t lare, but Mother had no qualms

Her unflappable manner remained the same "You are clean," she said "Here" She handed me a white shift just like the one she wore "Get dressed"

"Undergar I pulled it on The dress dragged on the sand

Mother stepped to le piece of advice Obey Master Walsh He has a bad teine being whipped with leather and then subed in salt water on a daily basis for a season Master Walsh calls that pepper and salt, and that is just one of the punishments he hands out to those who upset him," Mother said "Your presence has caused us trouble See er at them

"Yes"

"I don’t want theirls pulled my hair up and wrapped it into a white scarf, Mother applied a colored paste tothe ceree so we stay out of trouble I don’t want uessed the reason Devlen had said I needed to be at the bonfire

"Yet you’ll allow your girls to marry Walsh when it’s their turn You’ll allow them to be his slaves You’ll allow the dia about it You’re not even a an in this place and a whole new fury burned inside hters than I ever will That is how Walsh is able to control all of you with so few arician And now this Galen is giving orders, and you" She jabbedand inexperienced and foolish How can he counter three icians?"

"He can’t That’s why he needs you" I surprised her Score one for the new girl

"I can’t--"

"Yes, you can Who is serving the claht?"

Confused, she cast about for the answer "One of the cooks…Miranda or Lilian"