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She doesn’t agree, but she doesn’t argue either, and stalks away fro The others in the yard watch her go, their eyes following her as she defies the lightning girl, but I don’t care a bit for what they ht think I’m not their captain, I’m not their queen I’m not better or worse than any of them, and it’s time they started to seeot some rabbit," Lory says, if only to break the silence She sniffs at the air and licks her lips in a manner that would make Lady Blonos screech "Juicy ones too"

"Go on, then," IShe doesn’t need to be told twice

"Cal’s in a mood, by the way," she adds as she flounces past "Or at least, he keeps cursing and kicking things"

One glance tells me Cal is not outside For a second, I’, if she stops to listen "I’ll see to him," I tell her, and set a quick pace She tries to follow, then thinks better of it, and lets me rush on ahead I don’t bother to hidecalms him, makes him happy even So whatever has him in a twist has me worried too, far more than I should be on the eve of our raid

The Notch is all but eone to watch their elders learn to brawl, shoot, and control their abilities I’ me with silly questions about their hero, the exiled prince I don’t have the patience for children like Cal does

As I round a corner, I al from the direction of the bedcha to herself, but it disappears the second she spotsShe doesn’t stop and marches past

Shade tries to do the same, but I put out an ar?" he asks His lips twitch, fighting a losing battle against a wretched, playful grin

I try to look cross with him, if only to keep up appearances "You’re supposed to be training"

"Worried I’h exercise? I assure you, Mare," he says, winking, "we are"

Itwhile Still, I gasp aloud, and swat his arm "Shade Barrow!"

"Oh, coure it out"

"You could’ve toldto scold hi "Like you tell me all about Cal?"

"That’s--" Different, I want to say We’re not sneaking off in the ht But Shade holds up a hand, stopping me

"If it’s all the same to you, I really don’t want to know," he says "And if you’ll excuseto do, as you so kindly pointed out"

He retreats, palo, disht a smile of my own A tiny blosso in so many days of despair I protect it as I would a candle flaht of Cal quickly snuffs it out