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My time at the Notch has made me blunt and easy to read I don’t doubt Cal sees the confusion I feel, or the low currents of jealousy "He speaks to you? He won’t talk to me because of you, so why on earth would he--"

Suddenly his fingers are undermy head so I can’t look away "It’s not ry because we" And then it’s his turn to trail off "He respects you enough to make your own choices"

"He told me as much"

"But you don’t believe hih "I knohy you think you can’t trust anyone--by h this alone And don’t say you have me, because we both know you don’t believe that either" The pain in his voice nearly flattens ainstto" A half lie I feel no claim over Cal, and won’t let myself trust him, but I can’t distance myself fro back

"He isn’t a child, Mare You don’t have to protect hiry because I want to keep hih at the idea How dare I do such a thing? How dare I want to keep hi next tirave" I know he hears the trenore it "And since when do you care about hi this for his sake"

Down on the runway, the others are waiting Farley busies herself strapping Nanny to Gareth’s chest, using a jerry-rigged harness fro at his feet He heard every word, judging by the stern set of his features He glares atI’ll be in for another scolding later, but for now, our focus turns toward Pitarus and hopefully another successful recruit Nanny Before our eyes, she morphs from the bulky Lord General into her ly

"Lighter this way," she explains with a tiny giggle After long days of serious talk and restless nights, the sight ht I can’t help it, and have to cover my mouth with my hand

Gareth aardly pats the top of her head "You never cease to amaze, Nan Feel free to shut your eyes"

She shakes her head "Had shut eyes ain"

When I was a child, drea like this Gareth’s legs don’t bend, his round Instead, his palms flatten, parallel to the runway, and he siravity around hi untied He rises with Nanny strapped close, faster and faster, until he’s htens, pulling the little dot along the earth, up and down in sht, until they disappear over the nearest ridge From down here, it almost looks peaceful, but I doubt I’ll ever find out firsthand The jet is flight enough for me

Farley is the first to look away froestures to the rising hill above us, crested with red-and-gold trees "Shall we?"

I et us up and over the ridge According to our now vast collection of e of Rosen should be on the other side Or at least, what once was Rosen A coal fire destroyed the place years ago, forcing Reds and Silvers alike to abandon the valuable, if volatile, ht, and most likely has a wealth of supplies for us For now, I intend to pass through, if only to see e can raid on the way back