54
Some time later, Tarkyn felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. Wishing tiredly that people would leave him alone, he looked up to see who it was.
“Hello,” said Lapping Water, stroking his hair. “That was hard, wasn’t it?”
Tarkyn nodded his head morosely. “Yes, it was. Bloody hard. Injuring a helpless man…”
Lapping Water came around and sat down in front of him, a little distance away, with her back against another rock. After a moment, she said quietly, “Autumn Leaves is sorry for what he said.”
“Bloody Autumn Leaves can tell me that himself, if he is so contrite,” snapped Tarkyn. He waved his hand angrily, “Anyway, you all agreed with him.”
“You’re just angry because, once he pointed it out, you agreed with him too, didn’t you?” Lapping Water pushed her soft brown hair back off her
