[for a time he did not answer. if it is c-cursed, then we must cleanse the l-land, lestan said in the voice of one who was far away. but their silences mingled now, and stretched, and worsened. hours now to the edge of the rise, and night coming fast despite the ability of the pair to set a fast path. i r-remember that we set — bayleaf and parsley on the w-water, b-but i do not remember the old prayers, i am sad to say. traveling beside the river afforded lestan constant access to wet ground where chamomile grew, but a new fear of its consumption was growing. suppose it too was absorbing poison; suppose the medicine which steadied his tongue also stilled his spirit? this would be just one more thing over which kirain would worry; lestan surrendered its mention without another thought. he needed the chamomile and so continued its harvest. darkness falling. he sighed and glanced to his wife. shall we go on through the night or stop? she appeared stricken, heartbroken; his own soul ached and he placed an arm around her wintry shoulders in soundless understanding. this they could not change. they must only make do with what they knew, and each information must be collected with care. for now, however, grief; grief for how swiftly the beginning had seemed to become an end.]

for a time he did not answer. if it is c-cursed, then we must cleanse the l-land, lestan said in the voice of one who was far away. but their silences mingled now, and stretched, and worsened. hours now to the edge of the rise, and night coming fast despite the ability of the pair to set a fast path. i r-remember that we set — bayleaf and parsley on the w-water, b-but i do not remember the old prayers, i am sad to say.
traveling beside the river afforded lestan constant access to wet ground where chamomile grew, but a new fear of its consumption was growing. suppose it too was absorbing poison; suppose the medicine which steadied his tongue also stilled his spirit?
this would be just one more thing over which kirain would worry; lestan surrendered its mention without another thought. he needed the chamomile and so continued its harvest.
darkness falling. he sighed and glanced to his wife. shall we go on through the night or stop? she appeared stricken, heartbroken; his own soul ached and he placed an arm around her wintry shoulders in soundless understanding.
this they could not change.
they must only make do with what they knew, and each information must be collected with care. for now, however, grief; grief for how swiftly the beginning had seemed to become an end.