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"I will, Aldermaston"

Prestwich looked hard at her "Send someone with her," he said

The Alderh Quickly, child Before the sun sets"

Lia hurried to the kitchen, her heart ha in her chest For a year she had trained with Martin on hunting, trapping, tracking, but more importantly - how to kill a man She kne to hunt men, how to trick them, how to elude them But this time it was real Her throat was parched, her hands sweaty Her only coiven her He was certain she would succeed That degree of confidence gave her courage After pulling open the kitchen door, she rushed inside, shocked to see Colvin and Edmon there Edmon was in the irls enthralled He paused to smirk at her, then went on with his story while she fetched her bow sleeve, a full quiver, and shooting gloves fro yet?" Pasqua called "The day is getting late You ry"

"Later, Pasqua The Alderloves on snugly and went deeper behind the stores of barrels, candles, and tubs of fat She crouched low, out of sight, and tugged loose a brick in the wall, and pulled it free Behind it was the Cruciger orb in a leather pouch She fastened it to her girdle and shoved the brick back in place

"Do you want soled at so Edratefully "Are you all right, child? I can get soive me a moment"

Lia smiled tersely "More chores I will be back soon" She kissed Pasqua’s cheek and slung the quiver and sleeve around her shoulder as she walked back out and stuffed the loaf into her walking bag

Colvin followed her out

She glanced back at hi I have not forgotten…" The look on his face o with you"

She shook her head "Stay at the kitchen, Colvin"

Anger brooded in his eyes "I a I see it in your eyes, and I feel it seething inside you What happened during your errand?"

She clenched her teeth "The Alder what he said!" Colvin snapped "You are frightened and pretend not to be Can you not trustmy time in the kitchen will benefit anyone?"

"You are stubborn," she said iue with you Walk with me I will tell you on the way"

He e to the Pilgri…would you stop flinching every ti! It blocks the tunnel and only a passill open it When I touched the stone, I felt Scarseth on the other side Yes, our friend He has the medallion I snatched from the sheriff, and he used it to try and force me to open the door"

"Sweet Iduer "I should have killed hiet your chance now The Alderrounds I do not understand why But if Scarseth will not coine he will not want to give it up, but there you have it"

"And he is sending you?" Colvin said in disbelief "By yourself?"

"I a to send? I am the only one with a sword"

He looked at her as if she were the idiot "There are two knight-esturing at his sword po, Lia, but have you ever killed a man before?"

His words startled her The ansas yes, but she had never told hiuilty, even though she knew that she had done the Medium’s will Her victim was not just one of the many nameless corpses in the battlefield of Winterrowd – it was a king She yearned to tell Colvin, but it was not the right moment for such an secret confession

"As I said," he went on, obviously interpreting her silence as proof of his arguave hied her with their safety "But I aer than you"