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She would be inside, then

They walked forward Plants eway Once they went by the plants drew together to create a living wall

He led Evvy down a stone gallery now soft with grasses, rew froarden that had become an impassable thicket of shrubs and short trees Even the tiles that paved the ground had vanished, thrust aside by rioting plants When he saw the larch on the other side, Briar realized that he’d talked with the lady and Jebilu here The larch, freed at his bidding to become its normal-sized self, blocked the door into theanxiously -- it kneasn’t supposed to be this big -- the larch h to let Briar and Evvy pass He stopped for a moment to pet it, to assure it he still loved it, even if it had lost its bunjingi for, then walked on

The house was no longer cool and elegant There was greenery everywhere; he frankly thought it was an istones, and walls had been knocked out of place, chipped, even cracked by an explosion of growth

"Do you knohere she is?" Evvy inquired, worry on her dust and tear-streaked face "She won’t get away?"

"She won’t" Briar reached throughout the house, asking its plants where he ht, they reported He and Evvy followed their directions, walking toward a door painted with the i lamp

Halfway down they crossed an intersection with another hall The Viper tesku Ikruers in both hands

Briar ducked and raut He thrust up with his back and shoulder, tossing Ikrum into the air The older youth landed with a thud and lurched to his feet Like hiet his balance as the hall floor rippled Ikruered and went down on one knee

Briar realized as happening and darted toward Evvy, getting onto solid ground With a grating ru the Viper into the cellar below He screamed curses up at the above the hole in the floor collapsed Stone and wood rained into the cellar, knocking Ikru him, until there was no trace of hiuess I had a bit left after all," she told him She walked to the hole in the floor to spit on Ikru me," she snapped

Briar put an arood work," he said with approval "Co to settle"

They sidled around the hole in as left of the floor, and continued on to the door with the painting of the la roouessed was the lady’s personal chambers Ornately carved sandalwood screens perfumed the air Carved ebony screens covered two sh as the plants outside looked for a way in They clamored their welcome to Briar