She rode in silence for a time, then said, the words rushed together, ‘I’m frightened, chala.’ Tavi blinked and stared over his shoulder. She shrugged. ‘What fool would not be? What if I lose you? What if you lose me?’ She swallowed. ‘Death is real. It could take either of us, or both. I cannot think of living without you. Or of you without me.’ Tavi sighed and leaned back slightly against her. He felt her arms tighten around his waist. ‘That isn’t going to happen,’ he told her. ‘It’s going to be all right’ ‘Fool,’ Kitai scoffed gently. ‘You do not know that.’ ‘Sometimes you don’t know the
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