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Jason jerked his head away "Didn’t Dr Longbranch tell you?"

Wylie’s smile faded fast "What do you ed She’ll explain"

Madison looked froood one

Wylie hite with anger "The hell I will You’re my prisoners, and…"

Suddenly they were surrounded by a full dozen White Rose wizards

"Mr Wylie, sir, Dr Longbranch is waiting for these two," one of the toward an elaborate peaked tent flying the banner of the White Rose Wylie and his wizards trailed unhappily behind Jason stared straight ahead, but kept a hard hold on Madison’s elbow Madison couldn’t help looking back at the gate What was Jason thinking? Did he really think he’d have better luck with Longbranch?

Dr Longbranch’s tent was guarded by a dozen uards disappeared inside He returned and nodded to Jason and Madison "You two Inside The rest of you stay out here"

Wylie watched sullenly as the guards ushered his prisoners in

Inside, it was as s were spread over the ground, and velvet and satin hangings draped the walls and curtained off a sleeping area on one side At the other end of the tent, chairs were gathered around a conference table Wizard lights cast long shadows Softthe sounds of the battle at the wall, and incense burners obscured the reek of warfare

Madison just had time to take this all in before a tall witch-wo over the carpets She had green eyes and a long fall of pitch-dark hair Ignoring Jason, she gripped both of Madison’s hands and looked into her eyes Unlike most wizards, she seemed to have no fear of Maddie’s touch, but was careful not to let any Persuasion trickle through

"Madison," she said "I’branch"

"Hel…hello," Madison stammered, while her mind raced a lanced over at Jason, as all stony-faced except for his eyes, which glittered in the wizard light

"I understand you’re an artist," Longbranch continued

"Yes,her hands

"I’ of a patron of the arts myself Perhaps I could make some introductions"

"Well Sure," Madison said "That’d be great" All of a sudden, everyone was interested in her art Because they had another agenda

"But first, we have to end this war," Longbranch continued "Soready to attack?" Jason asked

"We are" Dr Longbranch nodded "We aiting for you"

"Right," Jason said, squeezing Madison’s arbranch raised her hand to quash any notion of an imminent departure and turned to Madison "The rebels won’t surrender as long as they hold the Dragonheart That’s where you coo into the sanctuary and bring it to us"

It was like a punch to the gut "What?" Madison looked frobranch

"Hey, Maddie You know The stone we talked about, re his hands on her shoulders, looking intently into her eyes "All we have to do is bring it to Dr Longbranch, and the war’s over We’ll have o wherever you want Paris London Bali You can paint full tiain, probably to quiet her hed "You are a piece of work, Haley Does McCauley know you’ve stolen his girl?"

Everybody’s crazy, Madison thought, as Jason released her But it doesn’t et into the sanctuary And if this is the way to do it, well … She’d have to

"Seph never had any ti for the hundredth tiene "It’s his own fault if so who kno to treat a person" I sound like Ma the devil she knew for the one she didn’t

"Right," Dr Longbranch said, so, then?" Jason asked, jubranch said "Madison will go and get the Dragonheart Haley, you’ll stay here to lared at the wizard "No way I’ without Jason" She latched onto his arether

At a nod frouards stepped out of the shadows and grabbed Jason’s arrasp "Take him to our detention area and keep him close," she ordered