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Tyr sat back on his heels.How did you guess that?
Addy’s eyes rolled hard.Because she loves you, you fool. She wanted to help you. Did she tell you her big secret?
You mean... Nessa?
Addy blinked.I knew she was Nessa the day I met her.
What? How?
When you choose to be blind to the truth, you are.
Tyr grunted.How did you know?
I saw what you refused to. And then I asked her. She didn’t deny it.
Tyr didn’t know what to make of that.You talked to her about it?
Addy nodded.Can I have my potato back? And my knife?
He could berate himself later. It didn’t matter who had known what or when. He was beginning to realize how little most things mattered.I love you, Adeline. I have never been more sorry, or more wrong, in my life. Seeing you so sick...Tyr’s words caught.I owe Ana a debt I can never repay.
Adeline watched him without signing back, but her eyes softened.
Tyr gathered her hands in his and brought them to his cheek. He inhaled the scent of her, his baby sister, the one who had saved his life so many times when his heart had been heavy. Why had he never told her so?
He kissed her hands and released them so he could sign again.You are the sunshine on my darkest day. My best friend. I need you, Addy. I suppose I need you more than you’ve ever needed me—
Adeline leaped off the stool and threw herself into his arms, knocking them both back. He held her, laughing, until she pushed back onto her knees and signed,Do you want to know what I was hiding from you?
Tyr did, but he shook his head.No, it’s not important.
But it is, you dumb man. It is to me.Addy scampered to her feet and left the curing room. He followed her into the kitchen and found her climbing a shelf, her tongue wedged between her teeth as she slapped her hands around.
Need help?he signed.
The offended look she flashed him had him lifting his hands in surrender.
Her eyes brightened finally, and she jumped down. She held the papers in her hand, shaking them to get him to take them.
Tyr sifted through the stack and looked up.
I learned more Old Ilynglass, and I wanted to show you I was getting better.
Tyr tucked the papers under his arm and signed,How?
I re-read your old translations. Then I made a cipher, like the ones you make for yourself.
You made a cipher?His eyes filled with fresh tears.All by yourself?
Addy nodded.I wasn’t ready to show you. I wanted it to be perfect first.
Addy.Tyr’s cheeks puffed. He blew out a breath.This is incredible.
I know.
He laughed.I really am proud of you. You’re a far faster learner than I ever was. Father used to throw up his hands at me almost every day in exasperation.
He still does.
