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"Yeah, he did at first for"I pretty h he’ll still come up with stuff soood shape" My legs didn’t want to ed on I didn’t want to lose what little ot here," he said "I , but it really took off once I came to the demon realm" He peered anxiously at me "You wanna sit down for a bit? There’s a bench up ahead, and the sunset’s gonna be awesoh perception to know that sitting doith Idris and watching the sunset would probably send the wrong ain I just want to get back and collapse"

"U and looking crestfallen "It’s not o on withoutto say that wouldn’t hurt his feelings

Idris continued atseveral times, then, thankfully, not Once we reached the atriuuess I’ll see you in the ave him a tired smile "See ya, Idris," I said as I turned for the stairs More goddamn stairs Yay

"Bye, Kara," he called out, and I could feel his eyes still onback and sighed in relief as I got out of his sight And, even better, in another

Mzatal sat at the table in the h a journal He’d changed from the black into a roomy blue brocade coat, and looked totally refreshed, his braid hanging over his shoulder noound with silver instead of gold The fucker

He set the journal aside as I closed the door and gave ood Food will be waiting when you are finished"

Sorave; vu memory moment, but I couldn’t place it and was too daave Mzatal a faint nod and headed straight to the bath cha the way I sank to my neck in the deliciously ater of the pool, then pulledand rested my head in the smooth dip made for that purpose I didn’t want to fall asleep, I told myself as I closedcalled and a hand on e of the pool, holding a towel spread before hiain as I willedme out of the bath Mzatal wrapped the towel around me as soon as I stepped out, then picked up another

"Thanks," I said "Sorry" I gave him a rueful smile as he dried h my hair "I didn’t mean to fall asleep That was stupid"

"You are tired and have had a challenging day," he said gently, not see in any way annoyed "Coed " I snorted "Yeah, that’s a word for it" I clutched the towel around uided me to the bed and pulled the covers down I frowned, wearily casting s are"

"They are in the dresser," he said "Though youas you would at ho for you to eat" He turned and exited to thehow the hell he kne I slept at ho he knew plenty of other intimate details about me I set the towel on the end of the bed Screw it He’d seen me naked plenty of tiroaned as I crawled into the bed and pulled the covers up Tomorroould be a day of hurrrrrrt

Mzatal returned athings and solass of tunjen juice I sat up and tucked the sheet around lass out for me "Drink at least half now," he said as he set the plate on ht"

I obediently took a long drink of the juice "I’m sorry I messed up the ritual"

Mzatal shook his head and sank to sit on the edge of the bed "You completed the first series, saw that which I could not, and you ignited the ring The rest will coht you were…" I trailed off, trying to find the right word "Mad" wasn’t right, but I was too tired to figure it out

He ment I saw earlier in his face or simply my distorted perception "I was--am--deeply pleased that you were able to work so intuitively with the sigils," he said "That ability is a vital eleht ankle over the covers I sighed in relief as the healing warood for me to be crippled for a couple of days, so it made sense for hiet this blade, what happens then?" I asked "I er toward the glass of forgotten juice in my hand "We will retrieve Vsuhl After that, you continue to train We have an agreelass and set it on the side table "But what about the blade? You’ll have two of them"

"It is my intention to hold it for Szerain," he said, then ht Makes sense" I nibbled some of the food I didn’t have"By the here do you sleep? I haven’t noticed you crawling into bed here," I said

"Qaztahl require far less sleep than huht every ten days or so Great potency drain or disruption also requires sleep for quickest restoration" He glanced to the big coht after your healing, and I’ve not required ht overyou out of your bed," I told hiht squeeze and lifted his hand "Such guilt is wasted," he said as he stood "Do try to eat lass, then touched my shoulder briefly "Sleep well, Kara" With that he turned and departed