Page 168 (1/2)

But Arlen looked back at her, and he laughed Not the polite barks he ive at a jest, or a cruel sound h that shook his body so ht Dancer to steady his ease as the sound denied her fear So as he roared at the joke, hugging her sides and kicking her feet It went on a good while, and the tension between theles, and then fell silent

Renna got to her feet and put a hand on Arlen’s ar I don’t know, then tell ain he pulled froround

"Here," he said after a ht here"

She cafrom the spot like s all the way to the Core It’s calling toan to fade away, as if he were a ghost…or a coreling

"No!" Renna shouted, grabbing at hih "You tell it to throw its call down the well!"

Arlen solidified after a h his eyes were still sad "The paint ent why I can’t live a noric leads I’m more demon than man now, and honest word, each daonder if today’s the day the sun’s gonna burn ood"

Renna shook her head "You ent no demon Demon wouldn’t be worried about Deliverer’s Hollow, or Tibbet’s Brook Deot cored, or put his life aside for months to try’n help her"

"Maybe," Arlen said "But only a deirl to beco," Renna said "I make my own choices now"

"Then take time and make it with care," Arlen said, " ’cause it ent one you can take back"

CHAPTER 31

JOYOUS BATTLE

333 AR SUMMER

ROJER TOLD EVERYONE HE practiced his fiddle by the great stairwell of thebecause that precise spot would let the sound echo throughout the building It was true enough, but the real reason he had chosen the spot was that it afforded a perfect view of the door to An of the girls