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- Gideon Penri

Colvin’s presence at Muirwood made it difficult to concentrate at times, Lia decided She wondered if every casual encounter with hi effect on her It had just happened with Duerden, and Lia wondered how many more times it would occur There ords they could not say because it would reveal too e about each other He had offered to share a passage with her – an invitation to seek hi the possibilities tortured her

Norrounds Using a laht, she would make sure the secret entrances were still hidden and free froeways and knew all the round that would locate them But at that moment, she did not want to do her duty and seek out Siler at the Pilgrie froed to be with Colvin, poring over a to clever from him

She reached an intersection of tunnels and paused a rirounds, but they exited in only four places One was the Pilgrim Inn Another, Maderos’ lair The other tent further in opposite directions and exited the grounds in the woods surrounding the Abbey The tunnels were cold and da of roots that sorasped at her hair The air was thick with the sain in herthat blocked the way into the Pilgrim’s cellar She reached out and laid her hand on the stone, bringing toit aloud would the Leering door open

As soon as her hand touched the rock, the Medium seized her violently

In her mind’s eye, she saw him clearly – vividly – could even sers caressed the stone Leering, his eyes white-silver Open the door, his thoughts whispered You must help me Open it!

The force of the Medium stunned her She started to speak the word, then clenched her teeth shut as it startedout of her mouth Her hand was fastened to the stone, tethered by invisible bands The weight of the Mediu

Say the word! I irl! A year without speech You can help hts cra the door She feared seeing hi him There was a wild, desperate look in his eyes He would do anything to get his voice back He would kill her if that would help Wave on wave of fear and desperation engulfed her If she opened the door, it would be over She would die

Away fro back with the force of her will

The hold snapped and she fell back on the ground, dropping the la the flame It was black Pure black All around her, she felt the Myriad Ones sniffing at her The eyes of the Leering burned red, tiny slits in the dark Warm wet oil oozed across her hand, and she jerked her wrist away fro, she stared at the pinpricks of red and backed away froone, but she could sense part of it howling after her She clenched the haft of the gladius in her hand, treulped down air, trying toher A dungeon shaft was not a place to confront Scarseth

Where was Martin? As she hurried away froan to worry about hi from the cloister, his head bent in conversation with Prestwich He looked up at her and then stopped, his look darkening "What has happened?"

"Scarseth is in the cellar of the Pilgriht now," she said, with more firmness in her voice than she felt "He wears the ainst me He tried to force me to open the portal"

For a lanced towards the Abbey gates, then back at her

"Where is Martin?" Prestwich asked, his face florid with anger

"I do not know," Lia said "What should I do? I felt hi, but I did not open it He commanded me…he wanted me to open it"

The Aldermaston’s face turned as stormy as any expression she had seen on hihts kept turning to the Pilgrie" He reached out and gripped her shoulder "You arehirounds Not even for a moment Not even for this As the sheriff did, he will use the kystrel to hts with his twisted ones Lia – you are stronger in the Mediuer than anyone at the Abbey Believe it, for it is true Go there and bring him to me Take the orb with you It will protect you and warn you And your weapons If he will not co even deeper "Then bring the kystrel to me Do not let him roam free with it around his neck Do what you must, Lia Quickly now, before he escapes"