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Bastien knocked, then stood back I could tell by the pace of his breathing that he was nervous too

The door swung open twoin the spacious dooras a olf--in his hu to ht His body was as stout as a redwood’s trunk, his face wide and round He had crinkled blond hair that trailed down the sides of his face and fored on seeing Bastien and me, but he didn’t look nearly as stunned as Bastien’s cousin had looked

"Bastien!" the ius," Bastien replied,to break out a suy who ius strode forward and drew Bastien in for an elad you’re well and safe," Bastien coius’ shoulder

"Of course!" Sergius replied, still grinning "And what a splendid surprise this is! My nephew, come to visit! Wait till Brucella finds out" His eyes fell on … hulanced at e how okay I ith that description, before looking back at his uncle Companion was certainly a step up fro that Bastien trusted these people enough to tell the another ht leap from the top of this mountain "I will tell you more about hoe s we must discuss I don’t kno much you are already aware of about the hunters?"

Fro He widened his eyes, his fair eyebrows raised practically to his hairline "Hunters?" he asked, even as he realized that ere still standing in the doorway Sergius took my hand, as well as the hand of Bastien, and pulled us both in through the door before closing it behind us and bolting it

We had eed into a small, bare entrance cha like the entrance hall of the Blackhalls’ Sergius led us through it, then up a winding stone staircase, until we ens of habitation At least, there oven carpets on the floor, and the walls were decorated eapons--knives, daggers, swords, spears

"I will take you to Brucella at once," Sergius informed us "And then you can recount to us all that you wish, and explain your reason for visiting so unexpectedly We were just in the dining hall, finishing dinner Are you hungry by any chance?"

Even now, I still wasn’t hungry I doubted I would feel hungry again until I was safely back in The Shade with my family Bastien answered before I could refuse, however, "Yes, we are both hungry We would be very grateful for a meal" Somehow I doubted that was true for Bastien either, and he was asking for food forseveral more corridors, which were really more like tunnels, before he stopped abruptly in front of a pair of double doors Pressing his giant palh, I expected a large hall, but instead it was a ser than the living room of my parents’ and s were a cherry wood table running down the center and h to fit ten, but only three were seated around it

Aat one end of the table rose froht brown hair I wondered if that was Bastien’s aunt Next to her, on her left, sat another woht as And then the third person seated at the table was a young woman who didn’t look ht brown hair Brucella and Sergius’ daughter?

The three woed toward us Bastien lowered ripped his shoulders and kissed his cheeks, drawing hireet each other, I learned that uesses had been correct The older brunette was Brucella, the blonde wohter was Brucella and Sergius’ daughter, Rona Bastien’s cousin

When they stepped back, their focus shifted to led a little as his arm snaked around my waist "She is my friend"

I braced myself beneath their curious stares It was actually lare that came froave me a small smile, which I returned

Brucella cleared her throat "Please take a seat" She gestured toward two empty ones: one on the other side of Rona’s place, and another on the opposite side of the table, next to Lavonna

I wished that I could have sat next to Bastien--I was feeling aard enough as it was--but Bastien was already obliging, andout for him: the seat next to Rona We all sat down, ius

Brucella headed through a door at the back of the room that had escapedtwo full plates of stea food As she placed one down in front of me, it looked rich and nutritious, and probably delicious, but I couldn’t bring myself to eat ht for food