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Water sloshed against the hull of the boat The night sounds churned to life around the the buzz of mosquitoes and the hiss of cicadas

Ellowyn’s voice was very save the warnings? What becaht He said nothing

"Please tell ly He shook his head

"Are they often killed?" Ellowyn asked in a whisper, shrinking "Like randfather?"

He nodded slowly

She was silent for a while "It ive their life" She breathed heavily "I think…I could do it"

Tears stung Lia’s eyes again She touched Ellowyn’s hands and squeezed the to Lia, as if she were the only solid thing in her life

"I think I could do it," she repeated softly "If you were there, Colvin"

Pen-Ilyn rowed against the sluggish water The darkness was a oing slowly enough to rabbed at the bottom, sometimes tributaries tried to lead them on false paths The orb would point the way clearly

Around hter, as if an early daas greeting them But it was not the color of dawn, it was the color of fire

"What is it?" Pen-Ilynthe boat drift towards the light

Lia heard the rush of eneck, the main ay that would take them to Muirwood But on the opposite shore, there were torches lining the bank, spread like a curtain across the river as far as could be seen in both directions Close enough that there was no way to cross without being exposed by the light

As they approached, the light revealed evenboats, each loaded with soldiers, rowing down the Belgeneck towards Muirwood The river was choked with vessels, soe, some small