Words Like Coins

by Robin Hobb

  Mirrifen paused at the door. “You’re a hedge-witch, aren’t you?”

  The pecksie considered it. “Stupid words. Pecksie not a hedge, not a witch. Pecksie a charm-maker.”

  She could not bring herself to ask. “I always wanted to be a charm-maker.”

  The pecksie narrowed her green eyes. “Will you bind me to teach you?”

  Mirrifen shook her head. “No. Never again. Words are too dangerous to bind anyone with them.”

  “I teach, then.” A small smile of approval bent her cat’s mouth. “You learning already.”