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"You have until the morrow," Dieyre replied "I do not care howlured north to face the Earl of Caspur Even if you could get a et here in time You must see that she has the upper hand If you believe the Abbey will save you, that your will in controlling the Mediuer than hers, then defy her At dawn, the Abbey will fall and the villagers will all be killed It is within your power to protect theirl Do not be a fool"

The Aldermaston looked wary "I ask for one ter look on his face

"A safe conduct To anyone ishes to leave the Abbey Anyone – learner or wretched If the Queen Dowager seeks to make an example, let her liht, the Abbey will defend us as it did when the kishion struck Even if there are only a handful of us re, let that be your witness that the Mediued "I will personally vouchsafe their safety, upon ates are made of iron The walls are made of simple stone It is beautiful and i iven you a chance to see reason"

"Very well Please present ht away Any who leave the Abbey grounds are no longer under my protection But I will hold you accountable, personally, for their safety"

"You are a fool, Alder At daill see who is right"

"We will indeed My hunter will escort you to the postern gate"

Lia said nothing to the Earl of Dieyre as they walked, and he said nothing to her until they reached the gate The postern ay froate, one of the few other walled entrances to the grounds, a srounds

"If you killed the kishion, as I think you did, then I aave her a nod of respect "My offer still stands, even though the bruises on your cheek have not fully faded" With a finger, he caressed the skin of her cheekbone "Come with me and you will not want for opportunities"

Lia nodded to the door man to unlock it "I believe we already had that conversation," she replied

"Very well, then doon a word to Marciana"

Lia breathed heavily "It is tio, my lord"

"You are a harsh strumpet, but I like you" He looked her sharply in the eyes "Tell her that she owesfor her If she comes, her brother lives If she does not, I cannot keep that promise I do it for her sake, not for his You can tell I despise hie" He reached into a pouch at his waist and withdrew a fistful of gleao, a man had offered her coins for her help

She refused to take it "Goodbye, my lord"

He looked at her warily, a confused sed and followed the door back, he said, "We know of the tunnels beneath the Abbey" And then he was gone and the doorate behind him

There was an oppressive pall in her heart that contrasted with the glearounds As she walked back towards theout of her bodice and squeezed its edges until it hurt Every word the Queen Dowager and Dieyre said was sopping with doubt and menace They rattled her soul, yet still she believed in the Mediuhout her life, that she could not deny its reality Yet Dieyre’s warning cast little shards of doubt into her heart She tried to crush them, but still they poked and stabbed her

When Colvin and Ellowyn had first arrived, the Aldermaston told her that the tier orb to find a safehaven for theht, under the cover of darkness Only in the dark would they be able to find their way past the wall of Pareigis’she could think of But what if Dieyre was right? What if they had a way to release the Blight on Muirwood and it would no longer be able to defend itself? There was soaround herself as she walked, she saw the frantic scurrying of wretcheds and learners alike So ates Ru to every corner of the Abbey Doubts and more doubts