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Lia tried to calm her heart, to let hiet here?" she demanded of hiues around the Abbey" He was not wet

"I do not wish to be seen," he replied, not answering her question "Follow me" With that, he stepped back into the shadows and started towards the rear of the kitchen It was dangerous, she realized What was he doing there? Why had he co whether to return and warn the Aldermaston or find Seth to accompany her

His voice drifted froh that others will be wandering the grounds, so if I am to remain unseen, as is my desire, I must withdrahere fire cannot reveal ued by his choice of words They were almost musical the way they ca in Pry-Ree, a different way of expressing ideas Rather than being alarmed, it calmed her Cautiously, she ventured into the shadows and followed hie where she had observed Colvin at his swordplay more than once She was tensed, ready to cry out if surprised by anyone else

"Explain yourself," Lia said, listening keenly for the sounds of others She remembered how Colvin and Ellowyn had been lulled into a trap by Martin She glanced around and searched the darkness for any sign of others

"I am alone," he said

"Who are you?"

"My nah I aue of this land I do most of my work after sundown I am part of the Evnissyen As are you"

Lia walked in a half-circle around hi him to turn to keep her in view "What is that nao But those abandoned by their parents use it now We are the protectors of the royal family Advisors to the nobles of Pry-Ree"

"Their abductors as well, it would seem," Lia said "This is not your first journey to this land"

"I confess it I know that our Aldermaston sent Ellowyn to Dochte Abbey It was clearly the Medium’s will We did not oppose it Now it bids us rescue her froasped as he said the word

"I know you are a maston," he said with a nod of approval "As asat the first I arrived at nightfall, crossing the Apse Veil from Tintern The way to Dochte was sealed I could not pass So I was sent here My mission is to join Martin in Daholy" He cocked his head "Or should I fetch a rope?"

"Martin?" Lia gasped She stopped circling the enig his sleeve He reacted defensively, but let her seize hiirl We were trying to join you To aid you in your mission We lost two to that beast, but Martin finished the kill and rid the estow and left before you even made it back to this forsaken country You have the Prince’s orb You will lead me to Martin We leave at dawn"

Lia stared at him in surprise and chafed at his presumption "I serve the Aldermaston of Muirwood, not Tintern I must seek…"

"Permission? You are such a child I have been an Evnissyen since my birth How old are you? Seventeen? I have twice as many years behind me I have been to Dahomey many times I know the road to the island Abbey I know the woods full of stones and flooded with boulders I know the port of call, Vezins But Martin insisted that I bring you withwhether the old man wills it or no I aht darkly "Why do you co hi "Because we cannot wait any longer Whitsunday is past The apples are harvesting and will be mashed into cider The cider will be drunk at the winter celebration The winter celebration is when the Blight will co of winter We must be on the ships before the winter storue stirs froe bloo stone carved into a circle loith fire

Lia blinked and the vision was gone She stared at Kieran Ven coldly "Before I go anywhere, I must speak with the Aldermaston"