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On the other side of that shield, dozens of th of their Jewels, trying to break through

The blasts of power co from their side of the road were on Thera was probably using it for cover Was Lia with her?

Jared pushed away froive the Ladies a hand?"

Randolf grabbed his ar odd about that shield," Randolf said, narrowing his eyes "Never seen anything like that Didn’t even know you coulddo that"

Jared didn’t see anything at first Then he noticed the weird flickering inside the shield--flashes of Purple Dusk inside the Green He could al bolt after bolt of power against the shield

"The Purple Dusk is probably her Birthright Jewel," Jared said "If the reservoir of power in her Green Jewel is alht"

"If that was the case, there would be a Purple Dusk shieldbehind the Green one But it looks like she’s blending the strength of her Birthright Jeith the strength of her Green Da The blasts stopped A few seconds later,all of them unleashed at the same time

Once

Twice

On the third collective strike, the Green shield broke and the Purple Dusk power inside it turned into a roaring wall of witchfire that swept across the boulders

Men screaht in that flood of fire

The witchfire burned out in a few seconds

It was h

Jared closed his eyes, unable to watch as the bodies ravaged by the fire began to fall

"Mother Night" Randolf whispered sickly "Mother Night"

Shuddering, Jared pressed his forehead against his knees

He heard horrified shouts co from the boulders above him

He couldn’t move Hehad to move Had to find the others Had to find Lia

In the tense seconds that followed, there were no more blasts of unleashed power Nosoht the Winds and fled," Randolf said, cautiously getting to his feet "I don’t think there were many of the hi the boulders for support, it took a couple of tries to get to his feet

"I’ve never--" Jared stumbled over the words

Randolf wiped a sleeve across his clammy face "Nor I Not like that Never like that"

Jared raked a dirty hand through his hair He took a deep breath and willed his quivering legs to move "Let’s find the others"

They found Corry and Cathryn a few feet up the road, half-hidden by piles of stones that had been large boulders a short tio

"You can drop the shield now, Corry," Jared said, noting that the Summer-sky Jewel the boy wore around his neck didn’t have even a flicker of reserve power left

"I-is it done?" Corry whispered The faint freckles on his nose and cheeks stood out lividly against the pasty skin

"It’s done," Jared said

Corry slowly uncurled Cathryn reht ball

Corry patted Cathryn’s shoulder "It’s all right now It’s all right"

Cathryn’s eyes reently "Cathryn? It’s all right now"

Jared crouched doondering if he dared to touch her

Abreath and blinked She looked at Jared and burst into tears

Corry put his arainst her shoulder and started crying

Jared rested a hand on Corry’s bright red hair Recognizing there was nothing he could do for either of them, he left them

A few moments later, Eryk stumbled into the road He would have fallen if Randolf hadn’t caught him He looked at Jared, and his eyes filled with tears

"I tried," Eryk sobbed "I tried"

Randolf pulled the boy into a fierce embrace "You’re safe That’s what matters"

"T-To Randolf to deal with Eryk, Jared hurried toward the wagon Thayne was nearby, swaying on his feet as he soothed the gelding, on horses When he turned, Jared saw the burns that covered the left side of his face and his left arle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>