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"But--he isn’t a va her "No, he isn’t a vaht He’ll e on his own, or Lucian will step in"

"Lucian isn’t here," she said

"But he’ll be back"

"But--"

"He’s old Very, very, old And can sense trouble He can enter into mindshe’ll know, trust me" She stared at him She didn’t even really know his were growing easier Because, she had, of course, gone completely to the flip side of sanity

She believed

"What do we do now?" she asked

"We wait See to your grandfather I’ Ann"

As Tara started back down the stairs, there was a knock at the front door

Katia ca out from the library Tara shook her head at her She walked to the door herself and looked through the peephole

She exhaled, fought with the de within her mind, and opened the door

Lucian and Jade entered

Tara opened her mouth to speak, to explain the current situation, but she didn’t need to do so

Lucian spoke "They left justListen, it’s imperative that you all be incredibly careful Every , every door, must remain sealed Don’t leave You understand?" She nodded

"Rick is here, of course," Jade relanced at his wife "Rick needs to stay in, too He’s got incredible courage and spirit, but he’s still so young inexperienced," he added, looking at Tara He sht I’ll be back with Brent And while we’re gone, just sit tight Get in there with Jacques, and Tara, I think that you can perhaps find e’re looking for"

"What?"

"Jade will explain I’ll be back," he said

He turned, and was gone Jade closed the door behind hied and smiled "Well e need to do is find their lair"

"Their lair?"

"Lucian canfeel where others are But, naturally, they’re blocking hi all kinds of traps, but it doesn’t really reat deal of our ti their trail But we haven’t found the right place yet It’s going to be what appears to be an old ruin, but is actually sound And hidden, far off the beaten pathhidden by nature, trees, vines, foliage Do you know such a place?"

"I I think I know of several When ere children, so our horse, Daniel, into the woods We’d corandfather And start studying the ht," Tara said softly She led the way to the library door, and they entered together Jacques looked gaunt, but deterreeted Jade with a question in his eyes

"Lucian has gone for Brent," she said, s "I’m sure he would have been fine on his own, butit’s i hi his fingers around Jade’s hand "And you’re all right?" She nodded "Humbled, but unhurt," she assured him "I--I lost one of our witnesses," she said sorrowfully

"We’ll get hi about," Tara told them both

Jade explained what had happened at the hotel, who, and why And how she had failed

"Perhaps we can save him yet," Jacques said

"Perhaps," Jade said

Jacques looked up "Now that hter has joined us, I know that ill find the truth"

"Grandpapa, how can you be so certain I can help?"

"Because it’s you," he said

"What isnow And there is always one in the fath in the Alliance It is you, Tara"

She shook her head "II don’t think so at all, Grandpapa! I barely believe any of this, as yet!" He sed to Jade "Tara, look at the map What do you think? Tell me what you knohat you remember, from the time you were a child"

She came around his shoulder and pointed "There’s e all called the Giant Rock It really isn’t giant at all--it’s just e called it as children Here, here are ruins," she told them "But truly crumbled"