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"not listening, are you?" Ari asked

"I got the point You’re not happy and neither am I, but I see no other way"

"What do we do while ait?" Janco asked

What indeed? "We need to update Irys and" My sto on"

"Can we trust the guards at the Keep not to turn us in to the Citadel’s security forces?" Janco asked

For the first time since I’d come to Sitia, I truly didn’t know "Fisk, can one of your helpers deliver a ician?"

"Yes In the uest rooms"

"Fancy," Janco said

Pride momentarily eclipsedman

Irys and Mara arrived after supper Both orried expressions Mara fisted the fabric of her skirt We settled in Fisk’s living area He had left earlier and hadn’t returned I sat next to Mara on the couch and held her cold hand in ainst the door and Ari occupied the other chair across fro my conversation with The Mosquito "You can’t sacrifice yourself for Leif" She se," I assured her "He just wants to talk Plus we can follow him after--see if he’ll lead us to Leif"

"And if he doesn’t? What if so?" Ari asked

"Then I’ll have a talk with hiic detector flashed in response "Letis scheduled"

While aited for a hts turned to Valek It’d been sixteen days since we’d parted I wondered if he waited at our rendezvous location or if he still hunted the Storer? I asked Ari and Janco

"If you do, he won’t worry e’re not there, but if he hears about Leif, he’ll coood He needed to stay in Ixia "What if I say we’ve just been delayed?"

"He’ll coardless" Janco crinkled his forehead in confusion "You act like that’s a bad thing He can flatten that Mosquito"

"The Commander has forbidden him to leave Ixia," I said