Porcupine Ridge They managed to rob the New Sheoth palace vaults? Curious.

Oh.

Anathema softened some, stepping closer; anxiety frayed her nerves all at once as Hex neared weeping, something she'd never known how to soothe. The old clicking of her childhood resurfaced in these moments. She struggled to stifle herself, but she couldn't, and clicked rapidly as she moved slowly toward him.

If he retreated from her, she wouldn't press.

Me too, Her voice was quiet, flat as it always was when she spoke of her family. Not the kind of sickness you can see. Diseases of the mind - quiet, so you never know it until they -

Ana swallowed hard.

Well, my sister isn't sick, anyway. Just me. Disease doesn't always spread. It doesn't always kill. Sometimes it just hurts.