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Chapters (49)
  1. Given
  2. CONTENTS
  3. Dedication
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. Acknowledgments
  44. About the Author
  45. Copyright
  46. About the Publisher
  47. Backad 1
  48. Backad 2
  49. Backad 3

All at once Yenni found she just didn’t have the strength to hold her head up any longer. She let it fall back against the scratchy pillow.

“I see,” she all but whispered.

Augustin put his hands on his knees and rose to his feet, tsking his tongue again. “I can tell you two have been on a glorious tour of the hells tonight. I’ll let you get some rest then. A damn shame,” he muttered to himself again as he exited their hospice room.

“I’m sorry, Yenni,” Diedre said once Augustin had left. Yenni did not correct her about her name. Her friend had saved her from her own foolishness, after all. She could call her whatever she wanted, as far as Yenni was concerned.

“I’m the one who’s sorry,” she told her. “You were injured because of me.”

“Don’t act as if you wouldn’t do the same if our places were reversed. Is not long I know you for, Yenni, but I can tell you’re not one to leave back a friend.”

Yenni turned her head to look at Diedre, who lay beside her on another small cot. “Thank you,” she said. “I’m very glad we met.”

Diedre lay on her front, her head cradled on her arms, and she turned it to face Yenni. “Same.”

“I really need to find a way to stay at Prevan,” Yenni said sadly.

“But why? Write your folks for more funds and stay in the city.”

“No, I must do this on my own. My father . . . I do not want to disappoint him.”

“Ah,” said Diedre. “I know all about that. Typical Island parents, en? So easily disappointed. If mines only knew about me, Watch’Ahmighty.”

“You mean about your study of runelore?” Yenni asked sleepily.

“Oh. Yes, exactly.”

“Hmm, if they really knew runelore they would come around.” Yenni yawned. “I’m going to rest now. Sleep well, Diedre.”

“Call me Deedee. And good night, Yenni.”

17

Weysh’s mother kept up a stream of light, happy chatter, a valiant onslaught against the looming silence threatening to engulf the breakfast table. After a frustrating night of cruising the city, fairly straining his nostrils trying to sniff out Yenni’s robber, Weysh was able to locate Yenni’s stolen bag—discarded and empty on a quiet back street. Having failed Yenni once, he was determined to help her in whatever way he could, so he’d paid his family a morning visit. Now he took up his spot in their awkward milieu.