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But at the instant which would have ie felt the brush of his warm lips and then cold air as he jerked back

"No,"he said"No" She could see the clash of fear and anger in his eyes, and she could see itsuddenly resolve itselfas the pain grew unbearableHe shuddered once, and then all the turiant hand It left only icy deter to help," Maggie said "I don’teven understand why you want to be this way, butyou can’t just squash everything down-"

"Listen," he said in a clipped, taut voice "Yousaid that in your drea you the sa now Go away anddon’t ever coain"

"Oh, fine" Maggie was tre herself withfrustration She’d had it; she’d finally reached thelimit of her patience with him There was so muchbitterness in his face, soto let anyone help

"I mean it And you don’t kno o You’re not justan escaped slave, you’re an escaped slave whoknows about the pass in the mountains The pen-alty for that is death"

"So kill to say and she knew it He was dangerous - andthe master of that blue fire He could do it at theturn of an eyelash But she was feeling stupid andreckless Her fists were clenched

"I’ you to leave," he said "And I’ll tellyou so else You wanted to knohat happened to your brother"

Maggie went still There was so differentabout him suddenly He looked like somebodyabout to strike a blow His body was tense and hiseyes were burning gold like twin flames

"Well, here it is," he said "Your brother is dead I killed hiie felt as if she’d been hit Shock spread through her body and left her tingling with adrenaline At the sas didn’t want to hold her up any longer

But she didn’t believe it She couldn’t believe it, not just like that

She opened her ed in a breathto speakand froze

Sogie couldn’t irl’s voice And it was close and co closer

Delos’s head whipped around to look at the entrance of the cave Then, before Maggie could say anything, he was

He took one step to the wall and blew out theflaed into darkness Maggie hadn’t realizedhow little light came from the entrance crack-alht is co dark

Oh, God, she thought Cady

I just walked off and left her there What’s ith ot all about her-1 didn’t eventhink

"Where are you going?" Delos whispered harshly

Maggie paused in mid rush and looked at himwildly Or looked towardhi but darkness against paler darkness

"To Cady," she said, distracted and frantic, clutching the water bag she’d grabbed "I left herdown there Anything could have happened bynow

o

"You can’t go outside," he said "That’s the hunting party I came with If they catch you I won’t beable to help-2’

I don’t care!" Maggie’s words tuainOh, God, I left her How could I do that?"

’It hasn’t been that long," he hissed iie realized that heht It seee, but actually every thing had happened quickly after that

"I still have to go," she said, a little more calmly"She’s sick And h her at the thought

"If they catch you, you’ll wish you were dead," he said distinctly Before Maggie could answer, hewas going on, his voice as brusque as ever "Stayhere Don’t coone"

She felt the movement of air and the brush ofcloth as he passed in front of her The light fromthe entrance crack was cut off briefly, and then shesaw hiray sky

Then she was alone

Maggie stood tensely for awas too loud She crept quietly to the entrance and crouched

And felt a jolt She could hear footsteps crunching on the broken slate outside Rightoutside Thena shadow seemed to fall across the crack and sheheard a voice

"Delos! What are you doing up here?"

It was a light, pleasant voice, the voice of a girl only a little older than Maggie Not a woDelos with a fa

But that wasn’t what gave her the bigjolt It wasthat she recognized the voice She knew it and shehated it

It was Sylvia

She’s here, Maggie thought And froh to getto know Delos OrOutside

Whatever the truth, it soht here, too But then-what? What had happened to hi that meant he had to disappear? Or had it been Sylvia’s plan fro?

Could Delos have really ?

I don’t believe it, Maggie thought fiercely, butthere was a pit of sick fear in her sto on in a roupbut thenthe blue fire We thought youhed briefly

"Well-we thought there h was like wind chimes

"I’m fine I used the fire for practice"

"Delos" Sylvia’s voice was gently reproving now,in a way that was almost flirtatious "You knowyou shouldn’t do that You’ll only do et better if youkeep using it"

"I know" Delos’s brusque tone was a sharp con

trast to Sylvia’s teasing "But that’s my business""I only hat’s best for you-"

"Let’s go I’

for us"

He doesn’t like her, Maggie thought All herwhinnying and prancing doesn’t fool him But Iwonder what she is to him?

What she really wanted at that moment was to dash out and confront Sylvia Grab her and shake her until she coughed up some answers

But she’d already tried that once-and it had gotten her thrown into slavery She gritted her teethand edged closer to the entrance crack It was dangerous and she knew it, but she wanted to seeSylvia

When she did, it was another shock Sylvia alore slinky tops and fashionable jeans, butthe outfit she had on noas completely e clothes were natural to her-and flattering

She earing a sea-green tunic that had longsleeves and fell to the ground Over that was another tunic, a shade paler, this one sleeveless andtied with a belt ereen and silver Her hair was loose in a fine shi mass, andshe had a falcon on her wrist

A real falcon With a little leather hood on itshead and leather ties with bells on its feet Maggie stared at it, fascinated despite herself

That whole fragile act Sylvia puts on, shethought But you have to be strong to hold up a big bird like that

"Oh, we don’t have to rush back just yet," Sylvia was saying, o a little farther This looks like anice path; we could explore it"

Cady, Maggie thought If they go to the end ofthe path, they’ll see her Sylvia will see her

She had just decided to jump out of the cavewhen Delos spoke

"I’ back now"