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"This place is poison," Lhean said

"The etherea? It is" She recollected the way it had been explained to her "It is fro," Lhean replied "The mechanicals destroy etherea"

"That’s not true," Dr Silk said "There is plenty of--"

"Not outside this place," Lhean snapped "It is dead And what you have here, poison"

Lhean was just stating fact, Karigan knew, but she could sense anger building in Dr Silk She did not knoould happen if Dr Silk erupted in fury He may wish to keep Lhean "pristine" for the emperor, but that would not necessarily forestall some rash act

"Chocolate," she interjected Both Dr Silk and Lhean glanced at her in surprise "Chocolate," she repeated "Itit has so quality for Eletians"

Dr Silk raised an eyebrow but did not argue When he turned to order his guards to locate soan whispered so very low she herself could not hear it, knowing how keen Eletian hearing was "I will try to find a way home," she said "I will need your help"

Lhean nodded his understanding and touched his chest in the spot where the winged horse brooch rested on hers "Thresholds," he whispered, but said no more as Dr Silk turned his attention back to them

In short order, several varieties of chocolate were brought in on a rolling tray and presented to Lhean--fudge, solid bars of dark chocolate, truffles, lighter chocolates oozing with cordial, chocolate old-dusted leaves There was even a pitcher of war to drink it fros Lhean chose the solid bar of dark chocolate The scent of all of it concentrated right in front of Karigan almost made her swoon, and she realized they had probably passed supperti Dr Silk did not invite her to try any of the chocolate

Lhean was delicate in his eating, and Dr Silk watched closely "Yes," he murmured "I can see it helps There is ilanced sharply at hi

"What prizes you both are," Dr Silk said, "and the ereatly" He left instructions with the guards that the Eletian should be given chocolate whenever he desired, or any other food at his request, then with a gesture, his other guards grabbed Karigan and dragged her away

She got in one last glimpse of Lhean who had risen to his feet to watch after her Thresholds, he had said He must believe she had the power to take them home As she was jerked and jostled out into the corridor, she wished fervently he was right, but at the

"I am done with you for now," Dr Silk told her, "and must attend to other matters"

He siuards who shoved her in the opposite direction He’d better be keeping his word, she thought, and use his influence to help Cade, but he’d already shown himself to be untrustworthy If he did not keep his word, she would show him noCade felt as though he were floating, and the encounter in Webster Silk’s chaun, no wound Unless he were dead, and this hat death was: all this peaceful floating

A stab into his shoulderevery nerve, the peace shattered Cade realized he hadn’t had nightht, Mr Harlowe, let’s wake up"

Cade shook his head His vision was blurry at first, but then resolved into sharp, harsh lines The portly , loomed in front of hiloves The gloves glinted withseated himself before Cade He appeared to have a plate of cakes and a teapot on a table beside hi with a tray of shiny and sharp i man in blue robes

Cade tried to move, but his wrists and ankles were cuffed to a chair, which, he discerned, was bolted to the floor A single la overhead There were no s, and the rest of the Inquisitor’s rooood," Mr Starling said "Glad to have you back with us It took a while, I ht you back" He indicated the young man in robes "He is not just a mender, Mr Harlowe, but a true healer, and he stopped your bleeding and healed your shoulder"

Like a viper, faster than could be believed of so stout a ’s hand struck out and jabbed where Cade had been shot Once again the shocking pain burned through Cade’s body, and he cried out and jerked involuntarily "Well,amended "We didn’t remove the bullet It ree?" Without waiting for a reply, he popped a teacake into his th up" He patted his lips with a napkin and cleared his throat "Now Marcus here is very good at fixing any dae I may inflict upon your body, but as I told you earlier, it is only so I can hurt you some more Do you understand?"

When Cade did not respond, Mr Starling sighed, then struck again, this ti it Cade started to fade out frole" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true">