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Vaelin glanced at hi blithely up at the sky as if he hadn’t spoken Looking around at his bored, lounging co hian to drop the boys off after about three hours sailing, there was little ceremony to it, Sollis simply chose a boy at random and told him to jump over the side and swio

“See you back at the House, Dentos,” Vaelin encouraged him

Dentos, silent for once, sbow over his shoulder and vaulting over the rail into the river He swam to the bank quickly and paused to shake off the river water then disappeared into the trees with a brief wave Barkus was next, theatrically balancing atop the rail before perfor a back flip into the river A few boys clapped appreciatively Mikehl went next but not without some trepidation “I’ down at the dark waters of the river

“Then try to drown quietly,” Sollis said tipping him over the rail Mikehl e, it ith some relief they saw hi before he regained his coan to swi Vaelin’s wish of good luck with a nod before ju wordlessly over the rail Nortah followed hi his evident fear with some effort, he said to Sollis, “Master, if I don’t return I would like my father to know…”

“You don’t have a father, Sendahl Get in there”

Nortah bit back an angry retort and hauled hi in after a second’s hesitation

“Sorna, your turn”

Vaelin wondered if it was significant that he was last to go and would therefore have the longest distance to travel He went to the rail, his bowstring tight against his chest, pulling the strap on his quiver taut so it wouldn’t come adrift in the water He put both hands on the rail and prepared to vault over

“The others are not to be helped, Sorna,” Sollis told hi like this to the other boys “Get yourself back, let them worry about themselves”

Vaelin frowned, “Master?”

“You heard me Whatever happens, it’s their fate, not yours” He jerked his head at the river “On your way”

It was clear he would say nothinghi feet first into the water, enveloped instantly in the shocking coldness of it He fought a moment’s panic as his head went under then kicked for the surface, breaking into the air he dragged it into his lungs and struck out for the shore which suddenly seeled to his feet on the shingle bank the barges had passed hiht he saw Master Sollis still at the rail, staring after him, but couldn’t be sure

He unhitched his bow and ran the string through his forefinger and thu the water out Master Checkrin said a da He checked his arrows,sure the water hadn’t penetrated the waxed leather seal on the quiver and made sure his knife was still at his side He shook water fro only asouth but would soon wander off course when night came If he was to follow Caenis’s advice he would have to cli easily atterateful that the test took place in su to chill froht them that the best way to dry off without benefit of a fire was to run, the heat of the body would turn the water to stea he would need his energy in the hours to come He was soon embraced by the cool dark of the forest and found hi the shadows, a habit he had acquired during theMaster Hutril’s words came back to him: A smart enemy seeks the shadow and stays quiet Vaelin suppressed a shiver and ran on