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"Fine," he said "You need help, and I’nore your need So I’ll try to find out , you’ll be dead before you figure it out"

I lowered estured, and I followed this moveround Amid dozens of black daisies that bobbed and swayed in the cool breeze, a single white-petaled flower stood utterly still It was not a daisy I had seen such a flower before: an altar-skirt rose, one of a rare variety bred in High North The white tower ofitself across theme and form

"This secret will hurt when it is finally revealed," he said

I nodded slowly,flower "Yes I can see that"

The hand on ht me by surprise, and I turned to see that Nsana’s er exasperated with"Sodeath, our parents’ madness, and I see someone has broken your heart recently, too"

I looked away at this "It’s no one Just a round between us and them When they break our hearts, it hurts the same as if the deed were done by one of our own" He cupped the back ofmy hair companionably, and I smiled weakly and tried not to sho much I really wanted a kiss instead "Ah,stupid, will you?"

"Nsana, I --"

He put a finger oveill?upidr my lips, and I fell silent

"Hush," hefor the touch of his lips, but they ca them: on my forehead When I blinked at hiod, not a stone," he said I flushed in shame He stroked my cheek "But I will love you always, Sieh"

I woke in the dark and cried , I did not reain, though not as much as before Only a couple of feet Nails, too, this ti to curl I begged scissors froet Hymn’s father to teach ot to be afraid of h when I cut myself and yelled out a very bad word Then he started to worry that I would cut myself and blow up the house sos are easy for anyone to guess I excused ht’s househ the main door She took me back out and showed me the servants’ door, an unobtrusive entrance at the house’s side, leading to its basement level It was a better door, quite frankly; I have always preferred back entrances Good for sneaking But h that I coh to co," she snapped

Inside, another servant greeted me and let me know that Ahad had left instructions in case of h the base rooh they had absorbed years’ worth of boredom, and a wide, square table on which sat an untouched platter of meats and fruits I barely noticed all this, however, for I had stopped, istered who sat at the room’s wide table with Ahad Nemmer

And Kitr And Eyem-sutah And Glee, the only s, sitting about a h the vortices of the outer sparkles Three of the five hatedwith Eyem-sutah The fifth had tried to eat ain, now that I was et done with me, that is I set raphed it clearly

"About time," said Ahad He nodded to the servant, who closed the door to leave us alone "Please, Sieh, sit down"

I did nothim more than ever I sh wi?ize="3">Inould have known better than to trust hih of mild annoyance, Ahad added, "None of us are stupid, Sieh Har Yeine’s and Nahadoth’s displeasure Do you honestly think ould do that?"