Page 10 of The Crown's Awakening

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“How do you know Nyara doesn’t have powers?” I asked.

He glanced at me. “Does she?”

“I don’t think so,” I said. “It’s never come up.”

“I only met her once when we were younger,” he said. “I never saw any to speak of.”

It felt strange hearing him speak about their past, like a world I thought was separate from his was not.

My thoughts turned back to the ship. If they tracked power, then?—

The pieces started to fit, slow and unwelcome.

“So you separated everyone.”

“Yes.”

“Those without it go below,” I said, following the thought. “So they can get away.”

“If we send the signal, they leave immediately,” he said. “They have a chance.”

“And you?”

“We stay.”

I looked at him properly then. He looked like shit. Not just tired. Worse than that. Drained in a way that didn’t come from lack of sleep.

“When did this happen?”

“Yesterday.”

I frowned. “Yesterday?”

“I told you,” he said. “While I was feeding you.”

I stared at him. “I don’t remember that.”

“I know.”

I watched him, waiting for more, but none came.

“There’s no healer,” I said again.

“No,” he replied. “But there is a weaver. He’ll be here tonight.”

I frowned. “What is a weaver?”

“A man who uses what we have instead of herbs and tools,” he said. “He’ll open the wound, clean it properly, and push the infection out.”

My stomach tightened.

“He’ll hold it open while he works,” he went on. “Then close it again when he’s done. You’ll be able to walk after.”

“Walk,” I repeated.

“If we’re attacked, you’ll need to.”

“And my fever?”

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