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"Ash, let et to Cassava We have to stop her"

He shook his head "No, I need to be in the cell If she tries to call et toof keys with his free hand and opened the cell door He coughed, the spas his hand from mine I pushed my way out and shoved him down into his chair, my hands on his face Skin to skin

"I wish I could heal you," I whispered "But you haven’t been sick long I’ll release the cleansing fire, and you’ll be okay"

He nodded, his skin feverish and dry I helped hi my skin in contact with his and then helped him into the cell I laid hi hard If he was this bad, this fast, howoff her hand and you’ll clear everyone’s minds"

I nodded, but there were no words left

I tried not to think about all that could be as I left Ash behind and stu room On the far side, was the folded uniforh to take a hit froether burnished to a high gleam I may never have another chance to wear it

"What the hell" I ran across the roo to die, which, if I was being honest with o out in style No, the truth of it was, I kneas ive ear The leathers were cool against reen silk to keep the chaffing to athe buckles, I felt better already More prepared

I tightened the belt, and on it slid an array of weapons Blades mostly But it was ot a chance at taking out Cassava, I wanted it to be with my mother’s spear

I went to my room and pulled it from under the bed The as blackened, as if it had been through a fire and then polished to a high glea and sending flickers of color off the razor edge

"Be with ht her Help ainst my forehead, and then rolled it in h the air, for once inI was the only one who could save our family I was the only one who could stop this madness But it wasn’t really for them, and as much as I loved my father and would be devastated if he was killed, this ht to it than even that

I pointed the spear, stood straight, and stepped out the doorway I was going to kill the queen, for so many reasons, but only one mattered