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"Where are we?" Lia said, wrinkling her nose and feeling the first throbs of worry

"Claredon Abbey," Kieran said "Near the docks of Pent Tower, as luck would have it There are ships there ready to sail to Dahomey" He parted the Apse Veil for her to let her pass first

She crossed the curtain which did not glow as it did in Muirwood Looking back, she saw seven Leerings carved into stone pillars It was the same seven themes she had seen before, but the workmanship was different A bearded man One of a lion, another of a sheep Another of a snake, whichshe had seen in hersun and another of a twisting vine, with flowers and leaves The last, a bull with horns The worksmanship was different but still beautiful The seven aspects of Idumea, another world that existed far away – a world where the city-gardens of the Idumeans beckoned all mastons

They left the Abbey and Lia stopped short at the whirl and commotion of Comoros The Abbey was small, unlike Muirwood, and it was on the eastern outskirts of the infaates were barred but the porter opened for them without question, since only mastons could travel the Apse Veils The porter was an older man with silver hair, crooked teeth, and a pleasant smile

"Any travelers fro to touch his ar while, girl The Dochte Mandar do not allow it"

"Who?" Kieran asked

"The Dochte Mandar Be wary of them, mastons" Lia did not understand the word, but nodded and was about to rabbed her sleeve "The person you seek is at Lambeth Manor"

Lia startled and stared at him in confusion

He bunched up his ood many years I was abandoned as a wretched and chose to stay to fulfill reat kindness by a noble prince once A noble prince who caold sovereign He said a girl would co ti made me ree is delivered Now I can spend the gold crown"

Lia felt the tiniest throb She took the old porter’s hand and squeezed it He opened the gate and let the the street beyond

"What was that?" Kieran said, his brows knitting together "Who do you seek?"

"We o to Lambeth first," Lia said