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Malcolm sidled up next to her as they stepped into the jaws of flaether There was heat and wind and jets of , blackened and ravaged by the forces co it to destroy the innocent The chains that clutched her wrists and ankles melted in the heat But no part of her was burned or even blackened with soot She willed the protection to envelope Malcol the face carved in the rock It was corrupted, of course It would not obey her willingly She prepared for the fight and walked closer, reaching out with her hand to touch it, to tame it, to crush its ith hers

A hand closed on top of hers and brought her arm down Lia turned, surprised She did not know if Malcolm would survive the blaze She had not dared to look at hi any sliver of doubt As she turned, she saw that he was no longer next to her In his place, there was another man, his face she had not seen since she had sworn the htly "This way, sister," he beckoned, drawing her towards the side of the vaulted furnace Her heart thrilled to see him As they stood near the side, he waved his hand over the rock and the stone beneath theradually doell shaft that brought theround The shaft opened below into a stone chamber, black and carved of sculpted rock They were deep beneath the Abbey After the stone settled, they stepped off it and it quickly ascended back up the shaft, floating alone until it plugged the hole and muted the furnace’s roar

Maderos nodded to her to follow and and several Leerings erupted with a soft, tranquil light along the walls The tunnel had been abandoned long ago, but it was not like Muirwood’s, carved out of dirt and earth and braced with timbers and stones The whole tunnel was carved from stone and the sound of their boots clipped as they walked It was ht preceded the blocked the way forward, which prevented a fall into a deep pit The lights continued to wink as they circled the cha out of the circular rooe basin, an enors in the shape of oxen A se led to the lip of the basin, which was e

"We are in the depths," he answered, his voice heavily accented "It was shut away long ago when the grounds were enlarged Her does not er does not n of corruption"

Lia stared at the vast chaly from one of the tunnels

He saw her gaze and nodded "That is where you go, but not yet, sister You are not ready"

"It was you on the Holk," she said

He nodded somberly "I have always been nearby, child A servant A sailor A gardener Butis to write your story The story of your Family A story that has spanned a thousand years and will span another thousand years I engrave it, tome by torateful to see hiainst his chest The horrors she had faced overwhel pat on her back, a gentle sigh in her ear that all would be well

"You have done well, child A little further Your work is not done Courage"

Mopping her eyes, she nodded and backed away, looking at hi the Blight," he answered "You eway, you il I am here for that purpose Kneel"

Lia slowly dropped to her knees as Maderos reached inside his gardener’s robes and withdrew an ancient jeweled vial The vial had a gold stopper and had several gee Its craftsant symbols etched into the surface Maderos reently tipped the vial over her head

"Patience," he said

"What is it?" she asked

"It is oil pressed froarden is called Serand in your language, but it has deepoil"

Lia felt wetness on her head as the oil seeped into her wild hair Maderos stoppered the vial and set it back within his robes Then he placed a hand on her head and n