“Save that for the Dining Hall,” he explained. “The seeds numb the tongue. It will make it easier for you to handle the spice. Perhaps you will have a full belly tonight at last.” I studied the center of the fruit. Small black seeds that glistened like obsidian gleamed back at me. “Is it a trick? Are they spicier than anything else I have tried? Will I find myself screaming? Will I beg for mercy?”
