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Purissa’s face lit up as if she had been prohtly scandalized, but when I looked at Spink to see how he had reacted toHe winked at Purissa, adding, "I remember that book The retribution for sons who did not respect their elder brothers as they ought gave hts"

"You can watch us play Towsers after dinner if you run off and behave yourself now," Epiny offered

"No I want to play, too Or I won’t leave now"

Epiny sighed "Perhaps But only a few gah to tip the balance Purissa snatched the handkerchief and trotted off toward the lavender beds As soon as she was out of sight, Epiny turned back to Spink "Shall we continue our tour, Cadet Kester?" she asked him, sweetly formal

"If the lady pleases, then we shall!" he replied with htened, he offered his ar They walked off down the path together As I followed, I was beginning to feel a bit annoyed with both of therowing stronger I suddenly recognized as annoying irl and behaved like one in her lack of restraint and deportment But there she was, her hand on Spink’s are of Spink’s manners Perhaps it was harsh of me, but I decided to force her to declare herself one way or the other I caught up to theirl like you should really not be accepting escort from a man you’ve only met today Give me your hand"

I reached to move her hand froht she would resist Then everything went strange The moment I touched her arm, skin to skin, my vision doubled In the most peculiararoundwo, her stance, the way she wore her hair, the scent she wore, even her silly hat see I sarden as exotic perfu a warrior of unknown skills and custo had changed, and yet everything that was around me had lost every trace of faripping hard the forearerous rival

And Epiny? Epiny looked at me with eyes that ide and then wider still She leaned closer to net, her eyes locked to reat effort I felt so to force a response froo, her hand is turning red! What ails you?" My friend had raised his voice and was shouting at hly, but not gently either He knockedback fro to break free but only his touch had parted the cord I let out a shuddering breath and looked aside from them, embarrassed by whatever had just happened

"What was that?" I exclaimed, and did not knohoe Andher head to gaze up into my averted face "Who are you?" she repeated her earlier question earnestly and with great passion, as if she did not recognize htning cut across the storhtness flashed the world to white and black, and when it was gone,at me The thunder that boomed came almost immediately and rattled my bones to the marrow For an instant I could neither hear nor see Then the heavens opened, letting loose a drenching cold downpour and all three of us ran for the shelter of the house

CHAPTER 15

Seance

As soon as we reached the house, Epiny excused herself to go change for dinner Spink and I retired to our rooarden mud, and used a brush to freshen the cuffs ofelse to do until dinner, I decided to explore the schoolroom I wandered about the space where my father and uncle had taken their lessons, and wondered what it rand a house I discovered e of one table Well-worn books shared shelf space with severalfoils and sabers I was sitting at the table exaines when Spink entered He looked around the roorounds of my uncle’s estates He quietly askedtoo forith your cousin, Nevare? If so, I wish to apologize, to you and to her I did not e of her"