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She bent close to Leesha, putting her lips to Leesha’s ear "Or would you rather it be Inevera’s voice that whispers advice in his ear as he drifts off to sleep each night?"

It was a terrifying thought, and Leesha shook her head, but she still felt unsure

"The gates of Heaven don’t lie between your legs, Leesha," Elona said "I know you wanted to wait for your wedding night, and truth be told, I wanted that for you, too But it din’t happen that way, and life goes on"

Leesha looked at herback at her, ready to stand by every word

"You see the world very clearly, Mother," Leesha said "I envy you, sometimes"

Elona was taken aback "You do?" she asked, incredulous

Leesha smiled "Not often, mind"

CHAPTER 30

FERAL

333 AR SUMMER

RENNA WAITED PATIENTLY AS the rock deh in the single tall tree atop a hill where a large facing of bedrock jutted froh flesh

The pattern of tracks in the soil told her the giant coreling, some dozen feet tall, ht Over the last six weeks, Arlen had taught herthe fact that rock demons were creatures of habit, and lesser de place clairayinto de deeply as she e hoell the Krasian technique worked It had been a challenge at first, but now it took only ato a mental place where there was no pain, no fear of foe or failure

The world looked different as she opened her eyes and stood, bare feet gripping the tree liripped Harl’s knife, running her thumb absently over the wards she had carved into the bone handle In her right, she held a single chestnut

A cool breeze rustled the yellowing leaves around her, and she inhaled deeply, letting the air caress her bare skin, feeling asdeth brown hair had gotten in her way and was now a short, spiky rele braided tail to recall its for her shift into two parts: a high vest laced tightly to hold her breasts in place but open below to reveal her warded belly, and a skirt slit high on both sides to free her warded legs

Arlen still refused to ward her flesh for her, but she had ignored hi her own blackstems The ink stained her skin a dark brown that lastedthe demon solidify at last, and flicked the chestnut Without waiting to see if it struck itssilently