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"Yeah, that, but I think there nostics showed a few errors with net connectivity and data transfer"

Cinder’s s brain ever since she could re on her ability to download information, send co to be without it, like part of her brain had been erased

"I’ll just have tohands and torking feet I’ve been in worse shape before" She glanced from Iko to Cress "Thank you"

Cress ducked her head, while Iko tossed her braids over one shoulder "Oh, you know I used to apprentice for this brilliantor two"

Cinder laughed

"Speaking of brilliant mechanics," Iko said, "do you think you have tih-hewn bench, watching the last chips of ice thaw around her feet She plunked her toes against the shallow puddle that had for about it could be so real--the crackling, the cold--even when she kneasn’t

Sighing, she raised her head, weary as she was, to watch the haphazard training sessions happening all down the dusty street Maneuvers and tactics, a hundred trained soldiers doing their best to build an ar hair, not sure where her friend had gone off to

Instead of seeing Scarlet, her gaze caught on so else entirely A head of pale hair near the back of the crowd

Her heart lurched

Inhaling a shaky breath, she pulled herself froaze darted over all the faces, searching Hoping

She clenched her fists at her sides, willing away the sudden rush of euphoria It was her desperation causing her to see phantoms She missed him so much She still didn’t know if he was even alive She supposed it was to be expected that she would see his face in every crowd, around every corner

There--she saw it again Sunshine-bright hair tucked back behind his ears Broad shoulders disguised in the clothes of the sector laborers Blue eyes that pinned her to the ground even as her entire body tingled Air flooded her lungs He was alive He was alive

But Jacin raised a finger to his lips, halting her before she could run to hiht, he skirted around a group of laborers and slinked toward the forest He glanced back once and, with a subtle jerk of his head, disappeared into the shadows

Palms damp, Winter looked around for Scarlet, but she was nowhere to be seen No one atching her She slipped away, newly energized, and traipsed in between the slender tree trunks

She would circle around through the woods and meet Jacin halfway She would throw herself into his arht it was appropriate or not

Up ahead she could hear the bubble of the central fountain

"Princess"

Winter startled In her haste, she’d walked right past the old woh she was an ancient creature with a crooked back, she had a liveliness to her expression She was holding a basket filled with twigs and bark gathered from the forest floor

"Yes, hello," Winter said in a rush, dipping into a quick curtsy Her gaze was already traveling on, searching for blond hair and a teasing s hilike a smile