Page 253 of Salt Between the Wolves

"May. I cannot prove it. I have never seen this before."

Her gaze drifted briefly toward Soren's chest.

"I hope I am wrong."

That frightened him more than certainty would have.

Kael took a step forward.

"Could it kill him?"

The healer did not answer immediately.

When she finally looked toward him, her expression had grown noticeably older.

"I don't know."

The silence that followed was answer enough.

"But if what I suspect is true... then yes."

Nobody spoke.

Even the fire seemed distant.

At last Varda turned back toward Soren.

"I warned you."

There was no accusation in her voice, only exhaustion.

"I know."

"You ignored me."

"I know."

"You kept trying to force something you did not understand."

For a long moment Soren said nothing.

Then he nodded once.

"Yes."

The admission settled heavily between them.

The healer watched him quietly.

"What are you going to do now?"

Soren looked toward the window, toward the darkening sky beyond Ironfang's walls, toward the war waiting for him, toward the woman who was no longer here, and toward the choice he could no longer make for her.

Finally he answered.

"Nothing."

The healer looked surprised.