Chapter 23: The Lantern Bridge

The bonesetter was a short square man with scarred hands, and he did not say good evening.

He looked at my braced knees on Doran's best table, and then at my face.

"It was done on purpose," he said. "Both of them. Whoever held that mallet knew where the bone was thinnest."

"I know."

"I have to break them again. Clean. Then I set them where they should have been, and you do not stand on them for months."

"Can they be mended?"

"Yes. If you can bear the breaking."

I looked at the ceiling.

I had borne it once on a dirt floor, with no one there.

"Do it," I said.

"Will you have a drink first? It helps."

"No."

"A strap in your teeth?"

"No." I turned my head. "Doran."

He was at my shoulder at once.

He had not left the room since I came in.

"My rule," I said. "I'm saying it. Hold my hand, and don't let go."

He took my right hand in both of his.

"I won't."

The bonesetter set his palms on my left knee.

"Breathe out," he said.

I breathed out.

The crack went through my whole body, white and total, and I heard a scream tear out of my throat that I did not know was mine.

Doran's hands tightened on my hand.

"I'm here," he said. "I'm here, Liora. Look at me."

I looked at him.

His gray eyes were wet.

The second knee went the same way.

Then there was darkness.

Afterwards came a long, steady ache, and it was the first honest pain I had had in three years.

"Both set," the bonesetter said, wiping his hands. "Clean breaks. She'll walk."

"She'll dance," Doran said.

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