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The dia close to the Coe of Military District 6, just west of Brazell’s MD–5 General Tesso’s diamonds were silver for MD–4, which bordered to the north of Brazell’s If a district planned a big project, like building a new factory or clearing land for far, a permit approved by the Co a new oven at a bakery or building a house within the district, only needed approval from that district’s General Most Generals had a staff to handle the processing of new permit applications

It was apparent from the Generals’ co stages Discussions with the bordering districts had started, but the Commander’s staff had not yet reviewed and authenticated the factory’s plans Usually once the staff reconed off on the application The Code of Behavior only stated that per, and if the Commander wanted to bypass his own process he could do so

We had been taught the Code of Behavior at the orphanage Anyone wishing the honor of running errands into town had tothe privilege Besides reading and writing, the education I had received from Brazell had also included mathematics and the history of Ixia’s takeover by the Commander Since the takeover, education was available to everyone and not just a privilege for the h, took a turn for the worse when I began "helping" Brazell Meht I tre my mind to the present The Generals had finished their rebuttal of the Commander’s decision Valek tasted the Commander’s cold food, and pushed it closer to him

"Your concerns are noted My order stands," the Commander said He turned to Valek "Your food taster had better live up to your endorse her replacenment You’re dismissed"

Valek took my arm and steered me from the chamber We walked down the hallway until the door of the war room clicked shut Then Valek stopped The features on his face had hardened into a porcelainDon’t threaten or bully or intih of that from Brazell I’llused to the idea of living And I don’t want to give Brazell the satisfaction of seeingValek’s every facial expression and straining to hear every small nuance in his voice for clues to his mood, I moved away from him He followed rasped uidedat his face, I let him steertable, I squinted at the medic’s all-white uniform The only color on the uniform o small red diamonds stitched on the collar My ue that it took ure out that the short-haired runt, I stretched out on the table

When the wouards outside the door, in case Brazell changes histhe infirlanced toward me

The medic returned with a tray full of shiny medical instruments that included a jar of a substance that looked like jelly She scrubbedI bitout

"They’re all superficial, except this one," the medic said as she pointed to the elbow I had used to break the glass "This wound needs to be sealed"

"Sealed?" It sounded painful

The medic picked up the pot of jelly "Relax It’s a new lue to seal the skin Once the wound heals, the glue is absorbed into the body" She scooped out a large aers and applied it to the cut

I winced at the pain She pinched ht Tears rolled down my cheeks

"It was invented by the Commander’s cook, of all people There are no side effects and it tastes great in tea"

" Rand ?" I asked, surprised

She nodded Still holding the skin together, she said, "You’ll need to wear a bandage for a few days and keep the cut dry" She blew on the glue for a while before releasing her grip She bandagedyou dinner You can get soht require too ht the hot food, I realized I was starving A strange taste in my tea caused me to lose my appetite in an instant

Someone had poisoned my tea

Chapter Seven

Iwaved down the an to feel light-headed "Call Valek" Maybe he had an antidote

She stared at er hair would soften her features, her short stylepills Valek’s orders," she said

I let out a breath, feeling better The ave me an amused look before she left My appetite ruined, I shoved the food aside I didn’t need sleeping pills to helpstrength