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"Maderos, please!"

His expression was as soleive you the answer you seek It is your choice" He gestured towards the shroud "This is a Veil An Apse Veil There are only two Abbeys standing still You o Both choices have consequences But I cannot choose for you It is yours to ony She knew that Muiras threatened She could feel it deep in her bones She longed to go back there, even knowing that the Queen Dowager was there Yet there was also the Abbey at Billerbeck There was Colvin and Hillel If she went there first, could she warn Colvin in time and then travel to Muirwood? Was there time to do both?

Maderos’ eyes were fixed on hers

Colvin thought she was dead Hillel believed she was dead Was it already too late to save hiil? Even if he had unwittingly bound hi person, would it matter? Was it the name that mattered or the person he had clasped hands with? Would he kiss her, believing her to be his wife, and receive the curse of the Blight as a result?

It was pure agony Was she already too late?

She could not know the answer to that In the end, it did not matter As much as she wanted to save Colvin, it was her duty to save Muirwood Even though the thought of losing Colvin forever tortured her, she knew she had to do her duty She could not force the Medium to do her will She could only subain in her eyes, but she brushed theripped Maderos by the arm "If I understood the Aldero to Muirwood, I will not be allowed to leave I must reht will afflict slowly at first Then it will increase, faster and faster, as more fall to the curse"

In her mind, she remembered the stories about the ht the youth to be bound to the pole and then steal kisses when the boys were free She shuddered, realizing how quickly the traditions would cause the fall

Maderos eyed her somberly His cheekher resolve and her courage Then with a glint of determination in her eye, she approached the Apse Veil and passed through it to Muirwood

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE:

The Prince’s Death

Prince Alluwyn Lleu-Iselin stroked the baby’s cheek with his finger Tears welled in his eyes and blurred the ihter She was asleep, her little olden hair crowned her fragile head Bending low over the basket, he kissed those curls

"Hold it steady," he asked The Evnissyen’s na but he had proven hies and looked like soht dark hair He would blend in better than the fair-haired Pry-rians Nuric clenched the basket to his chest and held it still as the Prince placed two fingers on the babe’s head "Close your eyes, Nuric"

He obeyed and the Prince n

"I cannot speak your name, child My tome is sealed I cannot claim you as kin in words, but my heart is full From this moment, you are a wretched I Gift you that you may accomplish the work the Medium plans for you This little hand, this tiny little hand will change the world It will destroy It will also build You are dear to e that you e I Gift you with faith You will be strong in the Mediuer than I Until we rejoin at that day to coive you all that I have and all that I am My life for yours, dearest one I die that you may live Be it thus so"

As the Prince lowered his hand, he saetness in Nuric’s eyes The Mediu in the room The Prince had not felt it very much of late His heart was heavy with sorrow at the death of Elle and the devastation throughout Pry-Ree Reaching out, he clasped Nuric’s shoulder "Guard her, Nuric Bear her safely to Muirwood"

"I do not know the way," he whispered hoarsely "But I will find it"

The Prince opened the pouch dangling froer orb "The Abbey is surrounded by marshland It is desolate country, but it has its own beauty When you are lost, and you will be, put the babe’s hand on the orb and the spindles will point the way for you"

Nuric nodded and watched as the Prince tucked the orb within the blankets in the basket Afterwards, he clenched the rim of the basket