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Maybe he gasped

Maybe knowledge, like a knife-edged flower, opened in his heart If the shadow prince was alive, Alain certainly could not be in the afterlife, because shades could not dwell on the Other Side; otherwise they would not be trapped as shades on Earth

"Who is there?" said thehis head He doused the lalant, of tipping back his head as though he were sniffing the breeze, trying to catch a scent

A sentryquickly "Is there anything wrong, Seeker?"

The prince waited a few breaths, still listening Alain was achingly aware of the creak of the trees, the sigh of the wind through lush summer leaves, the soft snort of Sorrow, a stone’s throw behind him, as she dreamed

"Just an ani out here, Seeker," continued the soldier sternly, hands gripped tightly on his spear "There are bandits still, you knohat beasts the Pale Ones are They’d rip you to pieces and then eat you raw That’s what happened to my cousin I hope we kill thees we passed? Even the Rabbit Clan lady who sells incense in Western Market? Even the sailors on White Flohose captain is a half blood?"

The soldier gestured toward the sentry fires and the earthen walls, eager to return to their safety "Wild dogs can be taught a few tricks, but they’re never tamed And they’ll bite you when you try to feed them"

"Hu-ah," said the prince softly, "so swift a judger to the wick on the la that Alain jerked back, thu his head on the tree behind him

"What was that?" The soldier raised his spear threateningly and took a step toward the forest’s edge

"A deer Coo back" The prince lifted a square of cloth overfloith leaves and steave hiot what I wanted"

Waking his companions at the first blush of dawn, Alain heard a horn call, low and trerabbed his weapons hastily "They’re off early today"