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It was not, to her surprise, Lorine, or even Mirriam, who answered her summons When the door opened, it was the professor who peered in at her, then stepped inside He was halfway across the room and looked like he was about to speak when Lorine appeared in the doorway behind him

"Sir? I--" Lorine’s eyes ide and her voice quavered

The professor turned to her "Not to worry, my dear, I happened to be al You were very prompt"

Lorine curtsied, but looked flustered, especially when the professor handed Karigan’s tray to her It was clear theher

"Do you require an

She shook her head

"Very well Off with you, Lorine If we’ve need, we shall call"

Lorine bowed her way out of the room, tray in hand The professor watched after her for ais still nervous after all these years that she ht ht her here, you know, and aped open Mill slaves? Slavery was outlawed in Sacoridia What a strange place this was, and what a horrifying institution it per ed a chair to her bedside Closer up, there was a wolfish aspect to his appearance, his coarse hair shot through with salt and pepper strands, his piercing eyes and direct gaze

"Are you rested well enough for some company?" he asked

"Yes!"

He smiled beneath his mustache at her emphatic answer "I believe we’vethese three days as you slept"

Three days, Karigan thought, glad that she had declined another dose of thesleep had probably done her ood

"Are you the one who is supposed to be rew even broader "I am indeed your uncle," he said, "at least for the purpose of keeping you safe"

GOODGRAVE

"Allow me to introduce myself properly" The professor rose and with a half-bow, said, "I am Bryce Lowell Josston, adjunct professor of licensed archeology to the Iy The teran’s world, but she had visited enough s"