Chapter 24: Five on the Roof

The Pit had its sand raked and its gates open, and a honey cake stall stood where the herald's box used to be.

Ashgar leaned on the rail and watched forty kin children run across the arena, shrieking, chasing a leather ball.

"Not like that," he called. "Use your elbow. Elbow, little man. You'll live."

A boy of about seven took the ball on his elbow and scored.

"You taught them to fight," said Nimeriel, coming up beside him.

"I taught them to fall." He didn't look round. "They'll find the rest out for themselves."

On the wall at the far end of the sand, a new line was carved into the stone.

It was one name, small and deep, and the letters were still pale.

He had not told her he had done it.

She did not say she had seen.

She put her hand over his on the rail, and he turned his palm up and held it.

"My brother would have been out there with them," he said.

"He's there," said Nimeriel.

He looked at her for a long time.

Then he went down onto the sand with a honey cake in each hand, and forty children fell on him.

In the forge, Brannoch had stopped making collars.

He was making a swing.

It hung from the old chimney beam on two chains.

The seat was red Tree wood that he had sanded for three days.

He pushed a small girl on it with one huge hand.

"Higher," she said.

"It's high enough."

"Higher, Brannoch."

"All right."

He saw Nimeriel in the door, and the whole stern bear face went soft.