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"Yelena," he began in a formal tone, "you have saved ical abilities that are not tolerated in Ixia I have no choice but to sign an order for your execution"

Valek placed a warning hand on Ari’s shoulder to prevent hi the Coe was evident in his face When the Coof dread

Valek didn’t ician work for us would be beneficial and could have prevented this particular situation," Valek said "We can trust her"

"A valid point" The Coh we trust her, even though she saved my life, I must follow the Code of Behavior To do otherould be a sign of weakness, soht now, especially after this business with Mogkan Plus, the Generals and ain the Commander extended the execution order to Valek Inme to flee She would attempt to slow Valek down No, I told her I would see this to the end I would not run away

"I won’t take it," Valek said in a flat voice He betrayed no emotion

"You would disobey a direct order?" the Commander asked

"No If I don’t take the order, then I won’t have to disobey it"

"And if I make it a verbal order?"

"I will obey But it will be my very last task for you" Valek pulled a knife off his belt

The ring of steel sounded as Ari unsheathed his sword "You’ll have to get throughin front ofValek, but I kneouldn’t win And I didn’t want him to try

"No, Ari," I said I pushed his sword arm down, and stood next to Valek Our eyes met I understood that Valek’s loyalty to the Commander ithout question His blue eyes held a fierce determination and I knew in my soul that Valek would take his own life after he had taken azed at us with a quiet consideration I felt tined the order, per the Code," the Con someone else to carry it out It may take a few days for me to find a suitable person" He looked at et on the road as soon as possible "This order is valid in Ixia only You’re all disiddy with relief as Ari swept s and whooped with joy But then my heart seized with pain as I realized that I would be parted from Valek so soon after we had joined After Irys and Ari left to organize the "escape," Valek pulled ency

After we drew apart to catch our breaths, I said, "Come with me" It wasn’t a plea or a question It was an invitation

Valek’s blue eyes closed with pain "I can’t"

I turned away, feeling like one of Valek’s black statues, but he drew me back

"Yelena, you need to learn, you need to find your fas and see how far you can fly You don’t needto Valek He was right, I didn’t need hiht Irys led our ragtag group Eight girls and two boys froh the forest toward the southern border I took the rearguard position to ether, and to roup

We hiked for a few hours until we found a suitable clearing to caht More than adequate provisions for our journey had been provided by Ari I s out of trouble Just like an over-protective brother, he wasn’t content until I proe if I needed help I would miss him and Janco dearly

We set up six small tents in a circle Irys aical flourish After everyone had gone to sleep, I sat by the fire, stirring the dying ele flame that erupted when I poked at the fire It danced by itself for an audience of one I wondered for the hundredth tiup, I drew ical barrier around our tents According to her, the barrier would deflect a person’s vision, so all he would see was an ee, unaffected by the rasped his cold fingers with both hands as he led me away from the tents and deeper into the forest

"Why didn’t you come before we left?" I asked him e stopped at the base of a tree The roots of thes sure the Co sorinned with vicious delight "It’s a up after Brazell"

I thought about what that cleanup would entail "Who is tasting the Commander’s food?" I asked

"For now, I am But I believe Captain Star would make an excellent candidate Since she knoho all the assassins are, I think her help will be invaluable"