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"I have to" He shrugged to indicate the futility of it In his normal voice, he added, "We will also step up her education She is very sharp for a girl, and I suspect boredom with her studies has allowed for mischief I also request that you reach out to her, my dear Become her friend I think you could be a positive influence on her"

Oh, dear gods Karigan hardly knehat to do with children under the best of circumstances, much less with such a beastly i around for er and would not have to deal with Arhys forever "I’ll think about it," she said

The professor nodded as if her reply was about what he had expected He turned to leave, but she tugged on his sleeve

"The Eletian," she mouthed

The professor’s wolfish eyebrows shadowed his eyes He shook his head subtly and bent close to whisper in her ear "I asked The opposition said no Too risky I’m sorry"

"I ao after him"

She nodded because that as expected of her He expected compliance of a woman of his time, but she, of course, was not of this ti upset

"Very well," the professor said aloud "I’ve a few ain at suppertiht make peace"

She did not reply, but glowered toward theThe professor sighed, then left her, once again closing the door behind hied the map of the Capital out froered her even, that the professor and his opposition would do nothing to help Lhean, but she hadn’t really expected their aid Cade’s group was right--the professor and his opposition were a bunch of useless old roup help her? She did not know, nor did she knohen she’d see Cade again to ask hier she waited, the less of a chance she had of reaching Lhean She had little idea what she’d face if she tried to enter the Capital by herself, but at least she had a map to show her the way She also had the entire day to plan

When she thought of ti away, Captain Mapstone’s riddle ca otten days Seek it in the den of the three-faced reptile, for you are the blade of the shadow cast Beware! The longer you linger, the faster we spin apart

The final line see out of tier she hesitated to act, the less likely she was to reach ho home, would she be too late to prevent the fall of Sacoridia?

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