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"We’re not going anywhere until I finish my work," Leesha said

"The child …" Wonda started

"Will be taken froate is breached," Leesha cut her off, "if its half brother doesn’t simply cut it from my womb"

Wonda bared her teeth at the idea, but shewards on the great wooden gates and heavy crossbars Wonda had downed three wind deatehouse, filling buckets with their foul, loves of soft leather as she dipped her brush in the thick, reeking fluid and drew htly in wardsight Each linked to its neighbors, forhout the wood Even now the wards brightened with each i as the gatehouse rethen as the boh, she prayed

When she finished the net, Leesha drew her hora wand Manipulating the wards on its surface with her fingers, Leesha released ic into the web in a slow, steady streahter, while her wand diloves offered soic did its work, but notlike a thrill through her The baby, an to kick and thrash, but there was nothing for it but to endure as she eate The iteain there was a booate was struck, but this tio?"

Leesha nodded, heading for the stairs

"Ay" Wonda cast a thumb over her shoulder "Way out’s this way"

"I know" Leesha continued to clio back to the palace"

"Night!" Wonda spat, but she darted up the steps, slipping past Leesha to take the lead

There were drapes on both sides of the door to the top floor of the gatehouse, a full story above the rest of the wall The gatehouse was thick stone, with twenty-four s--eight north and south, four each east and west The narrow apertures afforded cover to the fifty archers stationed there

The north s looked out over a great fountained courtyard, the cobbles cluttered with abandoned merchant stalls and carts Some had been hastily stripped of their contents, but most had been abandoned as the vendors were evacuated

Three avenues branched froht north toward the center of town Lorain had stationed two hundred of her Mountain Spears there, with another one hundred fifty positioned east and west The e to breach the gate

At all other sides of the gatehouse, archers knelt by the s Those facing south fired in a steady strea to refill quivers as they e out over the wall tops shot only periodically, but the fact they were shooting at all orriso out as Wooden Soldiers and volunteers cut grappling lines and pushed back ladders Here and there a few Krasians h the defenders until the archers picked theht bravely, but the dal’Sharu herself as sheto Lord Mansen, the captain colanced doubtfully at Leesha, but knew better than to protest

"Peers, you’re relieved," the sergeant called to one of the archers, the man positioned by the eastern corner

Wonda was at thebefore Leesha could take a step, looking out to ensure it was safe She pulled back suddenly, along with all the other h the s, a heavy dust and bits of shattered brick