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She was right on both counts, but he was not sure the artifact, this dragonfly device, orth it For all they knew, its power to turn away the eend only It could have sis, in those long ago days, achieved by ument earlier, but was not dissuaded In fact, she was already cli down the pile, seeking the hole that would allow her entrance to the burial wing of the Sealender kings

LAURELYN’S GIFT

Karigan trudged on in her cloud of darkness Silk appeared to be obeying her by reeted him in the corridor He walked on with his shoulders sluht into a palace guard She’d been between shadows and only half-faded The guard’s shock gave her enough time to knock hi, but she had to make Silk help her stash him ahere he would not be found ied him in a store room, and left him hidden behind stacks of broken chairs

Had she hurt him worse than a bump to his head? A part of her hoped so It also served to remind Silk that she kne to use her weapon, and that she would not hesitate to do so

So fogged and exhausted by using her ability for so long was she, that it ith sorotto fountain Only a few children played with boats in the water, their governesses looking on She did not espy Arhys or Lorine She wasn’t sure what she’d do if she did, as they co around the fountain was generally di shadows Silk forged on, oblivious to her dileet too far ahead of her There was nothing for it but to go

She almost tripped over a boy who froze and stared wide-eyed at her The taint of darkness rippled through her, took hold like a fever She raised her staff She would bludgeon him, and then he would not be able to tell anyone about her The staff descended, the boy did not e to kill drove the staff down, but she pulled it away just in ti to kill a child? No, no, that was not her, but the darkness rode heavily on her shoulders

The boy unfroze "Nanny! Nanny!" he cried "I seen a real ghost!"

Karigan did not wait to hear the governess’ reply, but ran She ran as fast as she could to the nearest shadow and after Silk She ran feeling sick because she’d alered to do so

This is not me, she told herself But it is me, nonetheless

• • •

Before they reached the charabbed Silk by the collar and hauled hiive hi, she dropped her fading The burden of it evaporated so abruptly that she would have fallen to her knees but for her staff She wished she could lay her head down on a cool pillow and close her eyes