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"Is that what this is all about?" Lia de her chin at hiry because of what you learned at Billerbeck? That in order to harness the power of the Mediuive up part of yourself? Look at what you have beco of the Mediury because you cannot be as selfish as you ithout feeling guilty You are angry that Colvin’s sister does not love you willingly because she will not love you for who you really are All this rage against the unfairness of the world You…ere born to privileges and wealth You…who are gifted with the sword and clever with your words You…who have everything a man could have and yet still is not satisfied Do you think that gaining Marciana will o away?"

He stared at her, his eyes narrowing coldly

"Listen to ht It is not because of the water rite It is not what Pareigis is planning It is in consequence of what she is planning It is a terrible sickness that will destroy everyone in these lands Every ht and it will come This is the last chance to escape it This is the final hour to flee before it is too late" Lia looked at hiency in her eyes

His expression was flat, full of skepticisht does it have to judge and destroy everyone? Who gave it that right? No, Lia It is you that are wrong The Medium is real – I have no doubt of that But it can be controlled by whichever side forces it to obey" He stepped closer to her, his expression welling up with hatred "Up until now, it has been controlled by aging oldthey have scolded and nagged andtheir version of controlling the Medium You are a wretched, so you do not truly understand Read the words of ancient Aldermastons who have handed down the secrets and meticulously copied them in tome after tome But it is a lie, Lia Anyone can control the Mediu It belongs to those with vision and feelings, not to doddering ht, Lia Their rule of shame ends You will see it before you leave Dochte Abbey I promise you that You will see the fulfillment of what I have said You will see that no Mediue the land No – what you will see is us using the Mediuold by fire, as it were You will live to see it, Lia And when you have, you will join us For you will not leave this place until you have joined us And if you will not join us, then you will be killed Not faint like you did last ti Dieyre Nothing she could say would change hisher words

The Medium forced her to speak anyway She saw it blooe as vivid as the noonday sun

"It is you who are wrong, Dieyre," Lia said, shaking her head "You will realize it one day when you are the last doms You will be alone, Dieyre You will be left all alone Re You are the lastmad," he whispered with a chuckle

Another knock sounded on the door

He smirked "That will be the Alderoblet again and took a long, ponderous sip "When you have finished suffering needlessly, say the word and you will be brought back here Then maybe you will accept my offer of a bath and a drink"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR:

Ale

Lia did not expect the Alder She had expected someone as old as the Aldermaston of Muirwood – someone with silver hair and a thick full beard Instead, she found a handsoray at the edges He had penetrating hazel eyes and an al sed with gold and fur pelts

He looked at her, gazing at her with his penetrating eyes, studying her for aelse mattered The look filled her with ice She had never met someone whose presence was so powerful with the Medium, it seemed to radiate from him However, she noticed that it sucked the Mediu force, a tidal force that leeched life out of everyone near hinificant in his presence Lia cowered, struck by his presence as if he were on fire