rh.royalassassin-µÚ50²¿·Ö
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
l¡¡at¡¡his¡¡feet¡£¡¡They¡¡grunted¡¡as¡¡they¡¡shuffled£»¡¡rocking¡¡on¡¡their¡¡feet£»¡¡watching¡¡me¡£¡¡No¡¡one¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡be¡¡the¡¡first¡¡to¡¡attack¡£¡¡They¡¡knew¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡knife£»¡¡whoever¡¡went¡¡first¡¡would¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡blade¡£¡¡I¡¡took¡¡a¡¡step¡¡or¡¡two¡¡toward¡¡an¡¡opening¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ring¡£¡¡They¡¡shifted¡¡to¡¡block¡¡my¡¡escape¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡want£¿¡¨¡¡I¡¡roared¡¡at¡¡them¡£¡¡I¡¡spun¡¡around£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡look¡¡at¡¡each¡¡of¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡locked¡¡eyes¡¡with¡¡one¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡less¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡than¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡Cub's¡£¡¡No¡¡clean¡¡wildness£»¡¡only¡¡the¡¡misery¡¡of¡¡physical¡¡disfort¡¡and¡¡want¡£¡¡I¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡him¡¡and¡¡he¡¡blinked¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Meat¡£¡¨¡¡He¡¡grunted¡¡as¡¡if¡¡I¡¡had¡¡wrung¡¡the¡¡word¡¡from¡¡him¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡meat£»¡¡no¡¡food¡¡at¡¡all¡£¡¡You'll¡¡get¡¡nothing¡¡from¡¡me¡¡but¡¡a¡¡fight£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨You£»¡¨¡¡huffed¡¡another£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡parody¡¡of¡¡laughter¡£¡¡Mirthless£»¡¡heartless¡£¡¡¡¨Meat£¡¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡paused¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡too¡¡long£»¡¡looked¡¡too¡¡long¡¡at¡¡one£»¡¡for¡¡another¡¡sprang¡¡suddenly¡¡to¡¡my¡¡back¡£¡¡He¡¡flung¡¡his¡¡arms¡¡around¡¡me£»¡¡pinning¡¡one¡¡of¡¡my¡¡arms£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡suddenly£»¡¡horribly£»¡¡his¡¡teeth¡¡sank¡¡into¡¡my¡¡flesh¡¡where¡¡my¡¡neck¡¡met¡¡my¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡Meat¡£¡¡Me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡horror¡¡beyond¡¡thought¡¡engulfed¡¡me¡¡and¡¡I¡¡fought¡£¡¡I¡¡fought¡¡just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡had¡¡the¡¡first¡¡time¡¡I¡¡had¡¡battled¡¡Forged¡¡ones£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡mindless¡¡brutality¡¡that¡¡rivaled¡¡their¡¡own¡£¡¡The¡¡elements¡¡were¡¡my¡¡only¡¡ally£»¡¡for¡¡they¡¡were¡¡ravaged¡¡by¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡privation¡£¡¡Their¡¡hands¡¡were¡¡clumsy¡¡with¡¡cold£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡we¡¡were¡¡all¡¡powered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡frenzy¡¡for¡¡survival£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡mine¡¡was¡¡new¡¡and¡¡strong¡¡within¡¡me¡¡while¡¡theirs¡¡had¡¡been¡¡worn¡¡down¡¡by¡¡the¡¡brutality¡¡of¡¡their¡¡current¡¡existence¡£¡¡I¡¡left¡¡flesh¡¡in¡¡the¡¡mouth¡¡of¡¡that¡¡first¡¡attacker£»¡¡but¡¡tear¡¡myself¡¡free¡¡I¡¡did¡£¡¡That¡¡I¡¡recall¡£¡¡The¡¡rest¡¡is¡¡not¡¡so¡¡clear¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡put¡¡it¡¡in¡¡order¡£¡¡I¡¡broke¡¡off¡¡my¡¡knife¡¡in¡¡the¡¡young¡¡one's¡¡ribs¡£¡¡I¡¡recall¡¡a¡¡thumb¡¡gouging¡¡into¡¡my¡¡eye£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡snap¡¡when¡¡I¡¡dislocated¡¡it¡¡from¡¡its¡¡socket¡£¡¡Locked¡¡in¡¡a¡¡struggle¡¡with¡¡one£»¡¡another¡¡pounded¡¡me¡¡across¡¡the¡¡shoulders¡¡with¡¡his¡¡stick£»¡¡until¡¡I¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡turn¡¡his¡¡mate¡¡to¡¡meet¡¡the¡¡blow¡£¡¡I¡¡don't¡¡recall¡¡that¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡the¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡that¡¡pounding£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡torn¡¡flesh¡¡at¡¡my¡¡neck¡¡seemed¡¡but¡¡a¡¡warm¡¡spot¡¡where¡¡blood¡¡flowed¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡damage¡¡to¡¡myself£»¡¡no¡¡daunting¡¡of¡¡my¡¡desire¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡them¡¡all¡£¡¡I¡¡could¡¡not¡¡win¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡too¡¡many¡£¡¡The¡¡young¡¡one¡¡was¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow£»¡¡coughing¡¡blood£»¡¡but¡¡one¡¡was¡¡throttling¡¡me¡¡while¡¡the¡¡other¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡jerk¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡free¡¡from¡¡its¡¡entanglement¡¡in¡¡my¡¡flesh¡¡and¡¡sleeve¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡kicking¡¡and¡¡flailing£»¡¡trying¡¡uselessly¡¡to¡¡inflict¡¡any¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡damage¡¡on¡¡my¡¡attackers¡¡while¡¡the¡¡edges¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡grew¡¡black¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sky¡¡began¡¡to¡¡spin¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Brother£¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡came£»¡¡slashing¡¡teeth¡¡and¡¡weight¡¡hitting¡¡our¡¡tangled¡¡struggle¡¡like¡¡a¡¡battering¡¡ram¡£¡¡We¡¡all¡¡went¡¡down¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡then£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡impact¡¡loosened¡¡the¡¡Forged¡¡one's¡¡grip¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡I¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡whistle¡¡of¡¡air¡¡into¡¡my¡¡lungs¡£¡¡My¡¡head¡¡cleared£»¡¡and¡¡suddenly¡¡I¡¡had¡¡heart¡¡to¡¡fight¡¡again£»¡¡to¡¡ignore¡¡pain¡¡and¡¡damage£»¡¡to¡¡fight£¡¡¡I¡¡swear¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡myself£»¡¡face¡¡purpled¡¡from¡¡strangling£»¡¡the¡¡rich¡¡blood¡¡streaming¡¡and¡¡soaking¡¡and¡¡the¡¡smell¡¡so¡¡maddening¡£¡¡I¡¡bared¡¡my¡¡teeth¡£¡¡Then¡¡Cub¡¡bore¡¡the¡¡one¡¡down¡¡and¡¡away¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡He¡¡attacked¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡speed¡¡no¡¡man¡¡could¡¡match£»¡¡slashing¡¡and¡¡snapping¡¡and¡¡leaping¡¡clear¡¡before¡¡the¡¡grasping¡¡hands¡¡could¡¡seize¡¡his¡¡coat¡£¡¡He¡¡darted¡¡back¡¡in¡¡suddenly¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡know¡¡that¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡when¡¡Cub's¡¡jaws¡¡closed¡¡in¡¡his¡¡throat¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡death¡¡rattle¡¡in¡¡my¡¡own¡¡jaws¡¡and¡¡the¡¡swift¡¡spurting¡¡blood¡¡that¡¡drenched¡¡my¡¡muzzle¡¡and¡¡flowed¡¡out¡¡over¡¡my¡¡jowls¡£¡¡I¡¡shook¡¡my¡¡head£»¡¡my¡¡teeth¡¡tearing¡¡flesh£»¡¡setting¡¡all¡¡the¡¡life¡¡loose¡¡to¡¡run¡¡free¡¡down¡¡his¡¡stinking¡¡garments¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡was¡¡a¡¡time¡¡of¡¡nothing¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow£»¡¡back¡¡against¡¡a¡¡tree¡£¡¡Cub¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡not¡¡far¡¡from¡¡me¡£¡¡His¡¡forepaws¡¡were¡¡dappled¡¡with¡¡blood¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡licking¡¡his¡¡legs¡¡clean£»¡¡a¡¡careful£»¡¡slow£»¡¡thorough¡¡licking¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡lifted¡¡my¡¡sleeve¡¡to¡¡my¡¡mouth¡¡and¡¡chin¡£¡¡I¡¡wiped¡¡away¡¡blood¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡not¡¡mine¡£¡¡I¡¡knelt¡¡suddenly¡¡forward¡¡in¡¡the¡¡snow£»¡¡to¡¡spit¡¡out¡¡beard¡¡hairs£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡vomit£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡even¡¡the¡¡acid¡¡taste¡¡of¡¡my¡¡bile¡¡could¡¡cleanse¡¡the¡¡dead¡¡man's¡¡flesh¡¡and¡¡blood¡¡from¡¡my¡¡mouth¡£¡¡I¡¡glanced¡¡at¡¡his¡¡body£»¡¡looked¡¡away¡£¡¡His¡¡throat¡¡was¡¡torn¡¡out¡£¡¡For¡¡a¡¡terrible¡¡instant¡¡I¡¡could¡¡recall¡¡how¡¡I¡¡had¡¡chewed¡¡down£»¡¡the¡¡tendons¡¡of¡¡his¡¡throat¡¡taut¡¡against¡¡my¡¡teeth¡£¡¡I¡¡shut¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡tight¡£¡¡I¡¡sat¡¡very¡¡still¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Cold¡¡nose¡¡against¡¡my¡¡cheek¡£¡¡I¡¡opened¡¡my¡¡eyes¡£¡¡He¡¡sat¡¡beside¡¡me£»¡¡regarding¡¡me¡£¡¡Cub¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Nighteyes£»¡¡he¡¡corrected¡¡me¡£¡¡My¡¡mother¡named¡¡me¡¡Nighteyes¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡last¡¡of¡¡my¡¡litter¡¡to¡¡get¡¡my¡¡eyes¡¡open¡£¡¡He¡¡snuffed£»¡¡then¡¡sneezed¡¡suddenly¡£¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡around¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fallen¡¡men¡£¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡his¡¡gaze¡¡unwillingly¡£¡¡My¡¡knife¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡young¡¡one£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡died¡¡quickly¡£¡¡The¡¡other¡¡two¡¡¡£¡£¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡killed¡¡faster£»¡¡Nighteyes¡¡observed¡¡quietly¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡the¡¡teeth¡¡of¡¡a¡¡cow¡£¡¡You¡¡did¡¡well£»¡¡for¡¡your¡¡kind¡£¡¡He¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡himself¡£¡¡Blood£»¡¡both¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡warm£»¡¡spattered¡¡my¡¡face¡£¡¡I¡¡gasped¡¡and¡¡wiped¡¡it¡¡away£»¡¡then¡¡realized¡¡the¡¡significance¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You're¡¡bleeding¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡are¡¡you¡£¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡out¡¡of¡¡you¡¡to¡¡put¡¡it¡¡in¡¡me¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Let¡¡me¡¡look¡¡at¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Why£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡question¡¡hung¡¡between¡¡us¡¡in¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡air¡£¡¡Night¡¡was¡¡about¡¡to¡¡find¡¡us¡£¡¡Overhead¡¡the¡¡tree¡¡branches¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡black¡¡against¡¡the¡¡evening¡¡sky¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡need¡¡the¡¡light¡¡to¡¡see¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡even¡¡need¡¡to¡¡see¡¡him¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡need¡¡to¡¡see¡¡your¡¡ear¡¡to¡¡know¡¡it¡¡is¡¡part¡¡of¡¡you£¿¡¡As¡¡useless¡¡to¡¡deny¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡my¡¡flesh¡¡was¡¡mine¡¡as¡¡to¡¡deny¡¡Nighteyes¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡are¡¡brothers¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡pack£»¡¡I¡¡conceded¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Are¡¡we£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡a¡¡reaching£»¡¡a¡¡groping£»¡¡a¡¡tugging¡¡for¡¡my¡¡attention¡£¡¡I¡¡let¡¡myself¡¡recall¡¡that¡¡I¡¡had¡¡felt¡¡this¡¡before¡¡and¡¡denied¡¡it¡£¡¡Now¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡£¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡him¡¡my¡¡focus£»¡¡my¡¡undivided¡¡attention¡£¡¡Nighteyes¡¡was¡¡there£»¡¡hide¡¡and¡¡tooth£»¡¡muscle¡¡and¡¡claw£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡avoid¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡thrust¡¡in¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡felt¡¡how¡¡it¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡between¡¡two¡¡big¡¡muscles¡¡there¡£¡¡He¡¡held¡¡his¡¡paw¡¡curled¡¡to¡¡his¡¡chest¡£¡¡I¡¡hesitated£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡hurt¡¡that¡¡I¡¡would¡¡hesitate¡£¡¡So¡¡I¡¡paused¡¡no¡¡longer£»¡¡but¡¡reached¡¡out¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡me¡£¡¡Trust¡¡is¡¡not¡¡trust¡¡until¡¡it¡¡is¡¡plete¡£¡¡So¡¡close¡¡were¡¡we£»¡¡I¡¡do¡¡not¡¡know¡¡which¡¡of¡¡us¡¡offered¡¡this¡¡thought¡£¡¡For¡¡an¡¡instant¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡double¡¡awareness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡world¡¡as¡¡Nighteyes'¡¡perceptions¡¡overlay¡¡my¡¡own£»¡¡his¡¡scenting¡¡of¡¡the¡¡bodies£»¡¡his¡¡hearing¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡of¡¡scavenger¡¡foxes¡¡already¡¡creeping¡¡closer£»¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡making¡¡no¡¡difficulty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fading¡¡light¡£¡¡Then¡¡the¡¡duality¡¡was¡¡gone£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡senses¡¡were¡¡mine£»¡¡and¡¡mine¡¡his¡£¡¡We¡¡were¡¡bonded¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Cold¡¡was¡¡settling£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡land¡¡and¡¡into¡¡my¡¡bones¡£¡¡We¡¡found¡¡my¡¡cloak£»¡¡clotted¡¡with¡¡frost£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡shook¡¡it¡¡out¡¡and¡¡put¡¡it¡¡on¡£¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡try¡¡to¡¡fasten¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡kept¡¡it¡¡wide¡¡away¡¡from¡¡where¡¡I¡¡had¡¡been¡¡bitten¡£¡¡I¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡drag¡¡my¡¡mittens¡¡on¡¡despite¡¡my¡¡injured¡¡forearm¡£¡¡¡¨We'd¡¡better¡¡go£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡¡softly¡£¡¡¡¨When¡¡we¡¡get¡¡home£»¡¡I'll¡¡see¡¡to¡¡cleaning¡¡and¡¡bandaging¡¡us¡£¡¡But¡¡first£»¡¡we'd¡¡better¡¡get¡¡there¡¡and¡¡get¡¡warm¡£¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡assent¡£¡¡He¡¡walked¡¡beside¡¡me¡¡as¡¡we¡¡went£»¡¡not¡¡behind¡¡me¡£¡¡He¡¡lifted¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡once£»¡¡to¡¡snuff¡¡deeply¡¡of¡¡the¡¡fresh¡¡air¡£¡¡A¡¡cold¡¡wind¡¡had¡¡e¡¡up¡£¡¡Snow¡¡began¡¡to¡¡fall¡£¡¡That¡¡was¡¡all¡£¡¡His¡¡nose¡¡brought¡¡me¡¡the¡¡knowledge¡¡that¡¡I¡¡need¡¡fear¡¡no¡¡more¡¡Forged¡¡ones¡£¡¡The¡¡air¡¡was¡¡clean¡¡save¡¡for¡¡the¡¡stench¡¡of¡¡those¡¡behind¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡even¡¡that¡¡was¡¡fading£»¡¡turning¡¡into¡¡carrion¡¡smell£»¡¡mingling¡¡with¡¡the¡¡scavenger¡¡foxes¡¡e¡¡to¡¡find¡¡them¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡were¡¡wrong£»¡¡he¡¡observed¡£¡¡Neither¡¡of¡¡us¡¡hunts¡¡very¡¡well¡¡alone¡£¡¡Sly¡¡amusement¡£¡¡Unless¡¡you¡¡thought¡¡you¡¡were¡¡doing¡¡well¡¡before¡¡I¡¡came¡¡along£¿
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡wolf¡¡is¡¡not¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡hunt¡¡alone£»¡¨¡¡I¡¡told¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡for¡¡dignity¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡lolled¡¡his¡¡tongue¡¡at¡¡me¡£¡¡Don't¡¡fear£»¡¡little¡¡brother¡£¡¡I'll¡¡be¡¡here¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡continued¡¡walking¡¡through¡¡the¡¡crisp¡¡white¡¡snow¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stark¡¡black¡¡trees¡£¡¡Not¡¡much¡¡farther¡¡to¡¡home£»¡¡he¡¡forted¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡felt¡¡his¡¡strength¡¡mingling¡¡with¡¡mine¡¡as¡¡we¡¡limped¡¡on¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡noon¡¡when¡¡I¡¡presented¡¡myself¡¡at¡¡Verity's¡¡map¡room¡¡door¡£¡¡My¡¡forearm¡¡was¡¡snugly¡¡bandaged¡¡and¡¡invisible¡¡inside¡¡a¡¡voluminous¡¡sleeve¡£¡¡The¡¡wound¡¡itself¡¡was¡¡not¡¡that¡¡severe£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡painful¡£¡¡The¡¡bite¡¡between¡¡my¡¡shoulder¡¡and¡¡neck¡¡was¡¡not¡¡so¡¡easily¡¡concealed¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡lost¡¡flesh¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡had¡¡bled¡¡profusely¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡it¡¡with¡¡a¡¡looking¡¡glass¡¡the¡¡night¡¡before£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡sick¡£¡¡Cleaning¡¡it¡¡had¡¡made¡¡it¡¡bleed¡¡even¡¡more¡¡profusely£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡chunk¡¡of¡¡me¡¡gone¡£¡¡Well£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡Nighteyes¡¡had¡¡not¡¡intervened£»¡¡more¡¡of¡¡me¡¡would¡¡have¡¡followed¡¡that¡¡mouthful¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡explain¡¡how¡¡sickening¡¡I¡¡found¡¡that¡¡thought¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡get¡¡a¡¡dressing¡¡on¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡a¡¡very¡¡good¡¡one¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡pulled¡¡my¡¡shirt¡¡high¡¡and¡¡fastened¡¡it¡¡in¡¡place¡¡to¡¡conceal¡¡the¡¡bandaging¡£¡¡It¡¡chafed¡¡painfully¡¡against¡¡the¡¡wound£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡concealed¡¡it¡£¡¡Apprehensively£»¡¡I¡¡tapped¡¡on¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡clearing¡¡my¡¡throat¡¡as¡¡it¡¡opened¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Charim¡¡told¡¡me¡¡Verity¡¡was¡¡not¡¡there¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡a¡¡worry¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡I¡¡tried¡¡not¡¡to¡¡share¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¨He¡¡can't¡¡leave¡¡the¡¡boatbuilders¡¡to¡¡that¡¡work£»¡¡can¡¡he£¿¡¨
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Charim¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡to¡¡my¡¡banter¡£¡¡¡¨No¡£¡¡Up¡¡in¡¡his¡¡tower£»¡¨¡¡the¡¡old¡¡servant¡¡said¡¡shortly¡£¡¡I¡¡turned¡¡aside¡¡as¡¡he¡¡slowly¡¡shut¡¡the¡¡door¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Well£»¡¡Kettricken¡¡had¡¡told¡¡me¡¡as¡¡much¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡forget¡¡that¡¡part¡¡of¡¡our¡¡conversation¡£¡¡Dread¡¡crept¡¡through¡¡me¡¡as¡¡I¡¡sought¡¡the¡¡tower¡¡stairs¡£¡¡Verity¡¡had¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡be¡¡in¡¡this¡¡tower¡£¡¡This¡¡tower¡¡was¡¡where¡¡he¡¡Skilled¡¡from¡¡in¡¡summers£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡weather¡¡was¡¡fine¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Raiders¡¡harried¡¡our¡¡shores¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡reason¡¡to¡¡be¡¡up¡¡there¡¡in¡¡winter£»¡¡especially¡¡with¡¡the¡¡wind¡¡howling¡¡and¡¡the¡¡snow¡¡dropping¡¡as¡¡it¡¡was¡¡today¡£¡¡No¡¡reason¡¡save¡¡the¡¡t