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They settled in the front room for the lesson Briar made sure Evvy was seated and comfortable before he drew a protective circle around them with a specially prepared oil Circles caed up and in to enclose theic would escape his barrier

Evvy’s nose twitched "What’s that?" she demanded

"It’s one of my best mixes!" Briar protested of the hint that his pride and joy seraniuainst it at once! I got a prize for it in a competition!"

Evvy propped her chin on her hand "It s died," she remarked

Briar opened hisme a hard tiht you were afraid of ht you were afraid of everybody," he pointed out

"You’re all right," she replied carelessly "You could’ve done all kinds of bad things to me by now, and you haven’t"

Briar shook his head and sat cross-legged "Noith , like this" He de for a count of seven, holding for a count of seven, and letting go of all that air over a count of seven "And while you breathe like that, you ehts Just, eet the knack You’re clever, for a girl"

Daja would have cuffed hied his ear or his nose; Tris would have ignored hirinned "Not that I’ve irls in the co"

Evvy did, twice, then shook her head "What’s that supposed to hts? I don’t have a broom for between my ears, you know It’s not like I can sweep theh," Briar explained "That’s how you get to the place where you can handle your ic If you don’t learn, your poill cut away froet you in trouble Or it’ll co out and you won’t be able to stop it, or you won’t be able to find enough to do the job"

Evvy tried again She ed to hold and release her breath three tis, like-- I can’t stop thinking things!"

"Just forget about the Vipers," ordered Briar "I’ll handle them" He rubbed his teht, "do stones think?"