She knows a great deal, the language, the medicine. She knows she has native blood, but many felt that someone else should have been chosen by fate. Ajei did her best to reassure Dezba, but it was hard. She felt that she shouldn't have been chosen.

Dezba is still blushing and is looking at her feet. Purple Chucks. One of the few things to last through the centuries.

But Anne's question gets her to look up, surprised by the other girl's concern. "...it did at first. But I did it. Did it and did it and did it. Now, it's--it's more like an ache."