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.Besides, I could not abide the pity in their eyes.It was not hard to tell that she and others were bound for the Tower of Magic and the healing.Becausecircles could be proof against magic, their robes had been specially woven of coarse cloth, with snagsand dropped threads.No sash closed them; instead, square buttons or short ties were used, with hardknots and no loops.Sleeves were slashed from shoulder to wrist and none of those wandering northwestwore jewelry.Rings, bracelets, and necklaces had circles and had to be eschewed.More noticeable than the robes, however, had been the effort to disguise the circles in their faces.Blackcrosses slashed diagonally over both her eyes, and another in red decorated her mouth.Some peopleclipped their nostrils closed and stuffed cloth in their ears, but Nirati thought that an unnecessaryprecaution.Drawing closer to the dome, she entered a bizarre realm where merchants had set up small booths orsold things from the backs of wagons.Circles abounded, large and small, from the tiny talismans manywore daily to hoops large enough to circle the waist.One man offered crystal disks through which thingscould be watched safely, while others touted potions and unguents that would ward folks from magic, ordo for them immediately what the magic might do later.One man offered to store money for those whohad come with purses laden with circular coins.She doubted he or his wagon would be there after theceremony, but she admired his boldness.He lost most of his business to another man who, with hammer and anvil, just squared coins up for asliver from each one.In a few places knots of hale and hearty individuals pointed and laughed at the sick and injured shamblingforward. Good luck, old One-leg, or Not enough magic in the world to heal you, they d call, thendissolve into laughter.One stepped along with a lame man leaning on a crutch, mocking his limp.Niratihoped the man would be healed, then come back and beat his tormentor silly.If any of them recognized her, they probably wondered what she needed healed.It wasn t obvious, butshe needed the greatest healing of all.Nirati had no talent and while everyone told her she just had yet todiscover it, she had long since lost the ability to believe them.Even Majiata had a talent, and hersquandering it angered Nirati.Even as poor with plants as Majiata was, she could have been more helpwith Keles care than Nirati.Nirati snarled and refused to let herself sink into self-pity.She had done what she could.She d sat withKeles while he slept, softly reading to him from the tales of Amenis Dukao.He d always enjoyed thestories when he was a child all three of them had and he d slept easier as she read.Her attending himlet her mother get sleep, and that, too, was a blessing.But Nirati would have given an arm to be able todo more.A blush rose to her face as she came into the area around Xingnakun and saw a young boy with awithered left arm.At least I have an arm to give.Someone she took as his father crouched beside him at the edge of the first stone circle surrounding thedome.The man tousled the boy s hair. Dunos, you know I can t go in with you, but you ll find mewaiting here for you.Don t be afraid. I m not really, Father. The tremble in the boy s voice undercut his reply.Nirati walked toward them and bowed. Peace of the Festival to you both.Might I ask a favor?The man rose, then bowed, and his son joined him. Peace with you as well, my lady.What would youhave of us?She smiled at the father, then pointed at the vast and empty courtyard around the dome. It is distant yetto Xingnakun, and I worry about being able to make it without an escort.Might I be so bold as to askyour son to accompany me?The man nodded, then wiped a smudge of black on his son s cheek, keeping an eye line crisp. Dunoswould be pleased to accompany you.The boy nodded and Nirati took his hand in hers. Thank you.I shall have him lead me back here.I amNirati. This is Dunos and I am Alait.I will find you here.Thank you. Bye, Father.Nirati and the boy crossed the courtyard.A granite circle broke the line of the cobbles every hundredyards.Black at the outside, then grey and white, the circles warned people to stay away.Whereas theother streets and courts in the capital teemed with people, Xingnakun s courtyard remained empty savefor the broken wandering toward it.In the midst of a Festival full of joy and hope, the hopeless anddesperate trickled in slowly.Dunos looked up at her. Why are you going to be healed, my lady? You look okay. Not all of us have visible injuries. Are you talking woman stuff? That s what my mother calls it before she tells me to go help my father.Nirati smiled. Perhaps.I just hope I bear my trouble as well as you do.Dunos nodded, then let his withered arm swing forward. Once I get this healed up, I m going to be aswordsman. That s a fine ambition.A little tremor ran through his hand. Have you seen Kaerinus before?She shook her head. You can only do this once, Dunos. She d heard from many that the omen of theyears combined with a spike in the cyclical magic activity promised much from this ritual.It was thoughtthat if a dead body could walk into Xingnakun this year, Kaerinus might even cure it. Why do you ask, Dunos?The boy shrugged. Well, it s not that I m afraid, you know, but I have heard stories.He was with PrinceNelesquin in Ixyll.He s the last of the vanyesh.He lived through the Cataclysm.He s really old and he sa monster. I ve heard all those things, too. She gently pulled him in front of her as they started up one of thenarrow ramps leading to an entryway.The entrances were all circles, unbroken, with a low lip so one hadto step over them.Though she had never seen it herself, she had heard stories of magical energy gutteringout of these holes during the ceremony.He stepped in first, then held her hand as she crossed. I think, Dunos, that he might be a monster, but ifhe is willing to heal peo-ple, he is not entirely bad.The boy nodded, then looked back again. For the healing, you re not going to have to get naked ornothing, are you?She smiled. No. Okay.I ll have to take my robe off, so he can see my arm. Okay.They strode through the tunnel and paused at the top of the steep stairs.Back in Imperial times the areacloser to the earthen circle would have been reserved for the nobility.Dunos tugged her toward the left,preparatory to climbing up to the higher reaches where the poorer people gravitated, but she shook herhead. We ll go down and get closer. But my father said You re my escort, remember? She winked at him. We ll get closer so we get a good healing.Nirati started down, intent on taking a place right at the circle s edge, but she stiffened.Majiata hadpreceded her and stood there, head high, black hair shining.Her robe, while poorly woven and cut, hadstill been made of silk.Not wishing to speak with her, but interested in watching her, Nirati chose a placeseveral rows back and directly behind.More people filed in and Dunos looked around, his eyes wide.He freed his hand from hers and wavedto a man.Nirati turned and looked at him, wondering why he had come since he looked no more injuredthan she was.He moved easily down and toward them from the row in front.Dunos smiled hugely
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