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"Do you see the size of these? I’ve never tasted one so sweet Here, try one"

"No, I want a pluo to the ships I have never seen one so big" The branches hissed as they were disturbed for the fruit

Find Ellowyn She is ain

"Do you see the Alderirl?" one of theht?"

"What is wrong?" Ellohispered in Lia’s ear

Lia raised her hand to silence the girl, focusing on the two hts fiercely towards thearden One looked towards the alder trees "I do not hear them"

"Hear what?"

"I do not hear the Aldermaston or Ellowyn Where do you think they went?"

One spoke with a mouthful of fruit "The vineyard I told you"

"Are you sure?"

"Why are you worried?"

"I do not know I just arunted noncoht Letdread each arden Then they went out past the arden and walked towards the trees Lia closed her eyes, grateful When she opened theain, Colvin had slipped over the wall in front of her, landing in a crouch She was relieved to see hi a pinecone, she tossed it towards hi his attention to their location He kept low and joined the herself at hiainst his chest, her eyes squeezed shut and the look of pure delight and relief on her face He stared at Lia helplessly, his hands opening and clenching aardly, looking at her with bewilderave him an exasperated sest idiot in the world One of his hands patted her back gently She was ly "You came for me," she whispered "You ca conflicted about her surge of emotions "I promised you I would But I could not have done it without Lia’s help" He glanced at Lia "Where is the Alderrinned at the question and shook her head "No, he let her go The daylight is fading We must clirabbed Ellowyn’s arm "I hope you are you ready for your task This is not the only ether There is so ht in the sky and Lia was exhausted Sweat drenched her face even though the night was cold She used every trick she had learned fro over rocks when possible to not leave afalse trails in another direction When the darkness closed in, she stayed near Colvin and Ellowyn, retreating often toas they ascended the low of torches shone as pinpricks in the dark,up the mountain pass behind them Lia knew they would not stop When she needed to use the orb for direction, she would shield the light between their bodies, or go inside a hollowed-out trunk of a giant redwood It seemed that no matter what they did, the train of torches was never far behind

Lia puffed with the exertion, weary to the bone but knowing they had to race Martin and the others back to the village where Pen-Ilyn waited with his boat With water separating them, it would ease their pursuit Martin would not know of their plans, though he ed with frost She could see the breath co out of her an to forht with dread It was starting again

Hurrying forward, abandoning her ht up with Colvin and Ellowyn It was not difficult, for Elloas staggering eariness and Colvin had a hold on her arement and looked at Lia as she advanced

"The an to squirauzy vapors that seemed to rush in from every direction

"I am cold," Ellohimpered