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Then they would begin to feel invincible

"This here," Wonda held up a long metal tube with braided steel rope extended in a loop at the end, "is a Krasian weapon called an alagai-catcher" She whipped the loop over a hitching post in the yard, tightening it in an instant with a twist and pull "Each of you go and take one I set coreling traps in the Gatherers’ Wood We’re going to use these to haul demons out so we can use ’eonna, dunno, practice in the yard a bit before going into the naked night?" Others reeht, indeed Leesha had greatwards and warded paths throughout her land The children ht feel they were out with the demons, but in truth they would be in safe succor alet in contact with deer would keep thea Wonda lead the children away The world had becoes Her focus re Pain in her temple throbbed and turned her stomach, but it was a near constant companion now, and she had learned to shut it out

But as the last of the children vanished into the darkness at the edge of her wardsight, she began to fill the vacuu for his mother as he slowly bled out froain Nor Se flashed across herStela’s head clean off Her heart would still beat a few times before it her body realized it was dead The blood would jet high into the air

She shook herself out of the vision, rubbing her eyes At last At last she was free to sleep, lest she go insane If Arlen, Ahan fighting one another for her hand, she would still go to bed

Her stride was strong as she headed for her cottage door, but herout the candles Her bed would be warm and soft

"Mistress Leesha!" the frantic call canize the voice, but the tone was clear Having seen her, this was not someone ould stop until they spoke

She took a deep breath, counting to five as her mind threw on a robe Her countess snizing her ihter’s bedside in the hospit Lusy Yarnballer Kendall’s mother

Yarnballer was not a proper surname, rather a jibe that had stuck when the spinner’s apprentice had never developed a skill with the spindle Lusy was a sweet but altogether unreed to produce an exceptional daughter

"A bit late for a social call, Lusy," she said

Lusy dipped a curtsy "Apologies, mistress Wouldn’t have bothered you if it wern’t important" She choked on a sob "Just don’t knoho else to turn to"

Leesha’s h was invisible as she went over to the woh Lusy was years her senior "It can’t be as bad as all that Come inside and I’ll brew so roo chair, the old woman’s sharapped around her More than once her eyes slipped closed, and it was only the fall of her head as she drifted off that startled her awake

At last, the mild sedative Leesha had put in the woht, Lusy," she said "I’ve enjoyed our visit, but it’s tiot to the point"

Lusy nodded "Sorry, mistress, I just don’t know--"

"--what to do Yes, you’ve said," Leesha’s patience was at an end "About what?"

"About Kendall and those Krasian witches!" Lusy all but shrieked

Leesha looked at her curiously "Who? Amanvah and Sikvah?"

"Ay, you knohat they did?" Lusy deh she had a sinking suspicion "Why don’t you take another sip of tea, lower your voice, and start at the beginning"