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"TheWars" I softly let out ic of the sands was inherent in the lands down there, long ago i Wars when the sorcerers laid waste to vast swaths of forest and grassland, leaving only charred, burned desert in their wake Theit into a wild, dangerous place

"Yes, and it’s not hard for them to harvest Especially with someone like Telazhar And especially since he does, indeed, possess one of the spirit seals" Telazhar put down the papers and sat back "Okay, so that’s where we’re at"

I s around us, Trenyth had picked up so, but if I pointed it out, he’d find a way to deny it So, instead, I just leaned forward and turned off the voice recorder

"Got it Thanks, Trenyth And I suppose…well, I’ll fill in the Triple Threat on what’s going on We’re all in this together, especially since Gulakah is putting the pressure on over here"

I told hioing in toht to infiltrate I’ll let you knohat I find out"

"Be careful, Camille Gulakah is smart You can’t trust anyone at his network They’re all in his pocket, one way or another" Trenyth stood up, letting ain

Sephreh just sat there, staring at me, a solemn look on his face

"What?"

"Leethe is dead" He lowered his gaze It was the first ti time

I stuttered, unable to speak Leethe, our housekeeper and cook She’d taught e the house after our mother died She’d done her best to cos just the way Mother did, and she’d covered forLeethe had been old when Father brought Mother back to Otherworld But she hadn’t been old enough to die

"What happened?" I didn’t want to hear--didn’t want to hear of a horrible death Didn’t want to hear that she’d suffered

Father let out a slow breath "She was hanging out the washing Apparently, when the new girl--she hired a young girl to help her lift the water and carry things--dustones in back of the house On her way back inside, Leethe was carrying the clothes basket, and she didn’t see that the stones were slippery She stepped on a slick spot and fell She…hit her head on a sharp stone It killed her instantly"

I sat very still, searching for so to say I was so used to deaths frohteen people mowed down by the spirit demons earlier today, and while it wrenched me, it didn’t hit me like this news Leethe had been coh to eirls e returned from Mother’s death ceremony Leethe had been foundation

Father cleared his throat "Ca to her fa to pick up her body tomorrow"

Of course they were They’d seen the shattered soul statue and knew she was gone, just like I’d seen Mother’s and knew she had died I wondered who had found it Maybe her sister, or her niece? Leethe had been unmarried, and while she’d had numerous lovers, she’d never borne a child

"Cahts

Shaking"Um…please, tell them…I don’t knohat to say There’s so much…she was such a part of our lives I e could make it home for the funeral, but I don’t think we can" I paused, and then, pressing lass, I said, "Please tell them we loved her She was faainst the glass to o now But…"

"Yes?" My hand was still pressed against the reflection of his

"When the civil as going on, I kept thinking, if in this, then I’ll bringloo back I understood But every day now, I think about you and your sisters and the dangers you face, and I worry"

He leaned forward "Camille, I want you to promise me, stay as safe as you can Lean on your husbands when you need to Tell your sister Delilah…she needs to let Shade help her And Menolly…well, she needs to protect her wife" Pausing, he waited for

After ato say for ht never say the his shoulders, and sloithdrew his hand fro Mirror "I love you, and your sisters More than you will ever probably know And now, good night"

"Good night Sleep well"

The light in the , and I covered it with the black velvet cloth I picked up the voice recorder and, carrying it without on the balcony My floor was the only one that had a balcony, and we often gathered here when the weather was good, to watch the stars and talk

But tonight the rain was co down in torrential sheets, and I stayed out for only athe doors I quietly exited the study and, hearing Delilah and Shade on the steps, hurried to the landing to stop the up to the third floor

"Father called Trenyth was there We have news of the war" I paused, then went on "And Leethe, she had an accident She died"

Delilah uttered a little "Oh," but I knew that Leethe’s death would hit ain, just as my sisters had turned to me