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"And your third boon?"

"One day, either the king or I will co I had so little ti further froht Aoibheal inside, her eyes narrowed "I can’t help you," she said instantly

"I’ you to," I told the wole probleh no fault of her own but as a pawn on a vast chessboard, in a ga she could do to save us anyway I would be dead soon, with no True Magic to require advice about "I’lanced at the DEG and the transition was seamless Suddenly the three of us stood beneath the triple canopy of a tropical rain forest, and I was hearing the DEG’s voice inprotected your world," I told her "Though your clan is long dead, you will find your planet the same"

She stared blankly at ain "My world still exists? I’m home? But how do you know any of this? How did you even knohere to find it?"

That was a tricky one I waited for the DEG to say so and he didn’t so I said, "The Sinsar Dubh knew about it It was in the king’sher surroundings with faint wonder

I relayed the DEG’s next words: "I’ to make you mortal so you may live and die as you’ve alished You will not perish with the Earth"

She whirled back to me "Why would you do that? I left you and your world to die"

I stared into her vaguely puzzled, sad eyes and these words wereyou could have done to save us No more than I"

The DEG whispered in h mywith his words cah the tabs so quickly it pissed o when I really could have used this kind of boost

Then another flood of raw, unfocused energy exploded inside er tap into the earth

I murmured the words of an ancient curse used to turn a Fae human as punish over as she transforh an to darken to a lovely shade of brown Glossy dark curls tu shimmered, shifted, and flowed into a brilliantly colored tunic

When finally she straightened, she inclined her head in an imperious nod, then with her bird on her shoulder turned and walked slowly, stiffly, into the forest

"Awk! Fly now!" the bird squawked

She paused and glanced up at it With a ghost of a smile, the concubine removed her shoes and curled her bare toes into the leaves and soil She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply

Then she shook herself, gathered her skirts and dashed off into the lush, dense wood

The brilliant squawking bird soared into the air, taking flight above her