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Page 385

| He leaned down close to Sasha, supporting himself on either side of her with the palms of his hands. "What do you want to do, Sasha?" he asked softly. "It's entirely up to you." |

| Sasha exhaled a nervous breath as she gazed up into his troubled violet eyes. She knew the chances of his getting a loan were slim. If he was refused, what then of his self-respect? Could she even bear the thought of how such a rejection would make him feel? Her heart would be bleeding for him, for there would be nothing she could do, ever. |

| "Must I be forced to make such a decision alone?" she asked, pleading up at him with her eyes. "Ashton, that isn't fair. And can't we wait a few days before we do anything at all? We've been through so much." |

| "Sam's generosity can go just so far, Sasha," Ashton said sternly. He swung up away from her and drew on his fringed shirt. "And my pride can take just so much. The decision must be made now." He turned and gazed down at her, his jaw tight. "We have no other choice, Sasha. I hardly have enough coins in my pocket to feed us this one day, let alone tomorrow and all the tomorrows after that.'' |

| Swallowing hard, Sasha rose from the bed and began dressing, the stench of perspiration strong on her body and clothes. All of her clothes but what she wore had been burned in the fire; she did not even own a bar of soap with which to bathe herself! Things could not be much worse! |

| Fully clothed, her fingers untangling several witch's knots from her raven-black hair, Sasha turned to Ashton. "Do what you must, Ashton," she murmured. "I understand." |

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