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"I thought you were killed," she whispered sorrowfully

He snorted "It would take a greater brute than that to kill me, child By Cheshu Am I your first visit in Dochte? Or have you found your way inside the lair of serpents yet?"

She looked at hiainst the ground, dislodging cakes of dung The look he gave her was full of inner s "I knohere you are bound My duty is to help you accomplish yours That is why I am here And to clean the stables They are filthy, as you can see Do you knohere the garden lair is?"

Lia walked to his other side "I have been to Colvin, that is all"

"Pah! That is not why you are here Forget the lad Put hilowered at him "How can I put hist and ser "The same way that I ht you to see it done"

"To warn the city?"

"Yes!" he answered fiercely "To warn theh they will not listen The Mediuins Who better to give it than a wretched?"

Lia licked her lips "Who ain "Who do you think, lass? How can you ask such a question? Is your mind muddled? Who, you ask?"

"The Aldermaston of Dochte Abbey"

"By Cheshu, I almost took you for a siarden lair is?"

"Yes, I believe so It is behind the Abbey, hidden in the trees There was a pluer at her "The very one I have seen it ht snoop and sneak while everyone gets drunk on the cider How did you get through the wall?"

"There are Leerings guarding the portals The orb opened the triumphant "Well done I must climb the walls There had to be an easier way The Prince…he told er and her ilk" He looked surreptitiously then nudged closer to her "We must speak cautiously These walls can hear even whispers I dare not forget that There is ard eyes, you have not slept all night Do you see the ladder and the loft over there? That is where I sleep There are some scraps of food and I will fetch you a ain "I told the stable to live with uise When my chores are finished and you have slept, ill visit the Abbey again through the secret ways Go rest, child Clear your head There is much to do before you face the Aldermaston"

Lia sed and was about to turn away She was so grateful to have him nearby His presence filled her with deterht of descending into a pit of snakes made her soul coith dread But the look of iron in Martin’s eyes offered a bit of courage

Lia gave hi the dirt and the s her with his hands As she pulled away, she caught the gliainst his feelings, his bearded face jutting and scowling

"Well met, lass By Cheshu, well met" His eyes turned deadly serious "I will not forsake you You know that, lass Not for all the coin or all the glory in all the world I am faithful to you I am yours to command"

"Then we understand one another, Martin Evnissyen I would have you advise me how to free Colvin and…and…Ellowyn I want them free from their prison before I face the Aldermaston"

There was a half-sold A prison of cider and dancing But a prison, indeed The Myriad Ones rule this place The people are all under their thrall They are blinded to the death that awaits them"

Lia nodded "It blinds theed somewhere nearby and Martin nodded for her to flee up the ladder while he begananother stall

"I do not knohat to think The entire Abbey is fluttering with the news The Earl of Dieyre arrived He was set free froht parch him wardship custody over me This ave it to Dieyre I do not understand how that could happen I aiven his consent for , that it will heal the rift between our warring factions and has ordered it to be performed here at Dochte Abbey If it is done, Deer and we all can return hoed the seal and said it was a forgery The whole Abbey is in an uproar Dieyre pro in person and would vouchsafe for his instructions There was a truce agreed upon after we left the kingdo I do not wish it Colvin took e I could not stop tre my hands I do not wish it I wish Colvin to take o anywhere with hi in Pry-Ree That is where ill hide until the ships take us away if the Blight comes"