`` hazard of the trade , '' he said without batting an eye . my breath slipped from me as , from around my hair , i saw a small figure in dark purple sitting cross-legged before me , a narrow staff as long as i was tall laying across its lap . how long have you lived with your uncle ? the family she 's with now is pretty good , but not all of them are good . bear turned back to face the register . i think you both need to hear the truth . '' 