Chapter 6
For the remainder of that day and most of the next, a tense silence existed between Jahl and Brocknor. Jahl spent the night in the room set aside for him—a small annex off Brocknor’s room. It was barely large enough for its small bed and table, but Jahl sensed that when Brocknor got over his guilt, he wouldn’t be using it much.
To keep boredom at bay, he took to helping Mari, asking her for chores since he didn’t want to ask Brocknor for anything, even jobs.
“It gets better,” she said.
They were on their hands and knees, scrubbing the kitchen floor. Mari was naked, but for a makeshift turban, which kept her long, black hair out of the way.
“What does?” asked Jahl.
“The aching in your heart. In the pit of your stomach. In your spirit.” She dipped her brush into the bucket of
