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Ellie listens intently, all business She shifts, and I catch a glilances at Farley, and when she nods her head, Ellie does the same "That I can do"
"Supplies as well," Farley puts in "We’ll take food if you got it, but winter clothes will be best"
Another nod "We’ll certainly try," Ellie says "I’ll have whatever we can give you ready as fast as possible Might need an extra pair of hands, though"
"I’ve got it," Crance offers His bulk will certainly help speed the process
I can’t believe Ellie’s willingness and neither can Farley We exchange loaded glances as Ellie gets to work, opening cabinets and floorboards in succession, revealing hidden compartments all over the house
"Thank you for your cooperation," Farley says over her shoulder, quietly suspicious As a every move Ellie makes She’s old, but spry, and I wonder if we’re truly alone in this house
"Like I said, I take my orders from Command And they sent out the word Help Captain Farley and the lightning girl, noto look at us
My eyebrows rise, shocked and pleasantly surprised "You’re going to have to fill ain, I’anized and deep-rooted the Scarlet Guard seems to be
"Later," she replies "The Marcher faives her directions, I h this is Harrick’s first recruithtfully so I’ve lost count of how many times he’s accorateful
"Ready, boys?" I ask, flexing ruff and nonchalant, a veteran of our missions, but I don’t miss the flash of fear in Harrick’s eyes "This won’t be as hard as co in Less people to hide, and the officers aren’t bothering to look this tihtens, puffing out his chest, sh his voice trembles when he says my name Most of the girl, sos, but not so much as the last No matter what I do, no matter howapart Either a leader or a leper, but always an outsider Always separated
Out in the alley, Crance begins loading the cart, not bothering to watch us blink out of existence with the grace of a Silver shadow But unlike thehtness and darkness--he can conjure anything he wishes A tree, a horse, another person entirely Now that we’re on the street, he masks us as obscure Reds with dirty faces and hoods We are unremarkable, even to each other He tellsus disappear, and a better alternative in the crowd People won’t wonder at bu Ellie’s directions We have to cross the market square, past the eyes of ives us pause My hair blows in the slight wind, sending a curtain of white-blond across h Blond hairon me
The Marcher house is small, with a hastily built second floor that looks liable to collapse on top of us But it has a lovely back garden, overgroith tangles of vines and bare trees In the su our best to keep the dead leaves fro