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Her heart panged with terror

"Lia!"

As she approached, she saw a circle of individuals, kneeling and clasping each others hands, binding the as they awaited their fate – death by fire or when the walls came down and crushed the and beheld faces that she had longed to see Faces she had treasured and loved Faces she would never forget There was Sowe and Ed, knuckles white Marciana and Kieran Ven clutching each other as well as Pasqua and Prestwich She knew the faces – Brynn, Siler, the children, all clustered together, holding each other’s hands – waiting for their fate She recognized others, but her heart was too full and tears stung her eyes along with the acrid s theed as she approached, eed her so tight it made both sob

Sowe’s eyes et "They bound him in ropes They said…they said they would take hier will kill hi with pain She was ferociously angry and knew she had toher in another tight hug Her face was joyous but alar stone whistled and crashed against the tiles, exploding with a shower of sparks and hissing flame Everyone flinched

"Everyone, co with you"

"They have barricaded all the doors, child," Prestwich said "There is no way out"

"There is," Lia said "Everyone, followrock landed nearby, another shower of sparks Lia realized the fla deep within herself, she willed the fires to stop

I am the Alder the thoughts with all herin defiance as they licked up the stones and consu the fires to be taain, they resisted She pressed harder with herdown to the lower chamber where she had received the first maston rites She waved at the others to follow her Down the steps they herded

Obey th but she felt the Abbey resisting the spread of the fla

"Screa Make them believe we perish in the flames"

It did not take persuasion Everyone was terrified already A piercing chorus of fright rose from the throat of the Abbey In her mind she had seen the future when she had taken the hetaera test She had seen Muirwood burning and heard the screa hers to the noise Down the stairwell sheroom full of polished wooden benches At the head of the roo there with the Cruciger orb, seeking Colvin at the Pilgri to Hillel nearly overwhels that would haveon the o to the Tor and rescue the Aldermaston She had no weapons, but she experienced the rush and thrill of the Mediu the center aisle, she reached the small antechamber at the side and hefted on the stone slab on the floor It raised with ease, showing the hidden entrance to the tunnels beneath

"Kieran Ven!" she said, turning suddenly and realizing that the last time she had seen hi boldly with Marciana still clutching his hand "You lead theht them at the bottom of the shaft They should be triht, it will lead you to the woods beyond the Abbey grounds Go down, all of you!"

Marciana was very close to him, her hand did not leave his, as if he were a possession Her hunter eyes had noticed it, but she could not remark on it yet There was not time

"How far to the woods?" he asked, his eyes ith concern "How deep the passage?"

"It is not far Ayour way out if the Dowager’s folk buried it" Lia grabbed his shoulder "Take them to Tintern if I do not come for you," she whispered