Chapter Twenty-Eight
BLESSINGS
“Going out to help Casco? Of course I’m going out to help Casco!” Malena snapped. “Stupid kalla! Are you going to repeat that too? Stupid kalla? Stupid, stupid?”
With a stricken cry, Sari bolted from the tent.
Andel stood up. “Malena! How could you!”
The tall Maatu rounded on her with an icy green glare.
Huldar stepped forward. “Apologize, Maatu, and be quick about it!”
Malena’s gaze wavered. Her eyes flooded with tears.
Andel’s outrage softened. “Malena?”
“I’m so horrible!” she sobbed, then she too raced from the tent. “Sari! Sari, I’m sorry …”
Andel and Huldar looked at each other.
“What’s gotten into her?” Tam asked.
“Half the Host by now,” Arko murmured snidely.
“I’ll have a chat with her,” Huldar said. “Maybe the strain of isolation’s gettin
