Chapter Sixteen

Mai Zarian gave Wishbone one last piece of advice before sending him home.

"If Shieh Yeras does not ask for comfort," he said, "offer none. This may be your hardest lesson."

There were some things Wishbone knew would be needed. He asked Cook to make some broth and spent the rest of the dawn hour hauling water to the bath along with wood to heat the kettles.

Sir arrived shortly after dawn. He disappeared into the bath for a good hour, then went up to his room. He did not stop by the kitchen or speak to anyone. Wishbone took a deep breath and examined the bathroom. Sir had left behind some clothes not his own, in poor condition, and some fairly filthy bath water, which Wishbone let run down the drain.

The next morning, Terefar returned. Wishbone took note of how the wathara did not seem anxious. There was nothing Terefar could do to help, so he picked up his household duties again, tackling the grocery bills, laundry and other tasks that had been neglected in his absence.

When Sir still hadn't emerged that morning, Wishbone decided that waiting might not be quite so wise after all. Mai Zarian needn't know. Sir's door wasn't bolted, so Wishbone opened it.

The curtains were closed, so it was a little hard for Wishbone's human eyes to see. There was a dark lump under the blankets exactly in the middle of the bed. Wishbone fetched an armload of wood and...