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She looked at the Alderain who slowly sunk into his chair, his face amore severe "You are sick," she whispered

He closed his eyes tightly, fighting against a hidden pain "Not sick, Lia I a That is why I need you to stay"

It was as if he had slapped her hard across the face "But you cannot be," she nize the limits of my humanity It may not happen for a while yet But it will certainly happen Maybe even tomorrow," he added with a hushed voice

Lia left Martin’s side and approached the Aldermaston "What is it that ails you?"

"I a smile "I knew this time would come My keenest desire is the protection of Muirwood, the records guarded in the cloister, and everyone who shelters here While I am within the boundaries of the Abbey, the defenses ork It takes great desire and concentration to th Especially if the Queen Dowager storth, coupled with h If it is not, then I need you to lead the others to safety Will you do that forher eyes

"Do not cry, Lia I knew this day would come It ardless As is a tale, so is life: not how long it is, but how good it is, is what matters"

The hot tears trickled down her cheeks All her life, she had known the Alderis spoke it that ray cassock and robes, he seemed the embodiment of Muirwood itself – built fro hair hite still, but his brows had always been dark, his eyes even darker and full of strength and will Even now as he struggled without co, his eyes were fierce and determined, his mouth pressed firmly into a perpetual scowl Much like Martin’s

"What can I do?" Lia whispered

He looked at her seriously "You ain it felt as if he had struck her She looked at him in shock, almost unable to speak "Why do you think I will be able to pass it when others more learned than me have not?"

His froas pinched for a er I know that you have long suspected your ancestry, at least on one side, is Pry-rian I have been an Aldermaston for doms I once met one of the rulers of Pry-Ree, back when a truce had been declared between our real- his journey to Co he had worn the chaen and he surprised me with his answer It was a tradition of his Farandfather had passed the reat leader and unified soh king of Pry-Ree He was exceptionally gifted in the Mediu, had passed the test hie"

Lia’s heart buzzed with desire "This king-maston that you met Was he related to Ellowyn’s faue "Very much He married Ellowyn’s mother while she was in exile in Dahomey because of a truce he had made with Sevrin Deh Demont was murdered, his lands forfeited, and his body brutally hter became a woh she brought hi by reputation Elloas the result of theirThis noble prince was so bereft, though he loved the child"

Lia had heard this story before "Do you think?" She paused, collecting her thoughts "Do you think I am from that family somehow?" She was desperate to believe it

"It is possible," he replied "I have wondered what signs of your heritage would eot older It was last year when the Medium opened up in you as it never had before Back when you left Muirwood The old king, you remember, was the one who crushed Pry-Ree It was no accident that you were at Winterrowd I feel that strongly" He flinched again, biting back his words from the pain "It is no accident that you are here now to protect an heir of Pry-Ree"