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She passed through the Abbey walls as if they were ht-, one-by-one from the Rood Screen It was an army! It was Demont’s entire army! They had not been killed in the north? She did not understand it But even though she could not, she discovered that it did not matter She was safe and warm, comforted by the Medium’s power Safe from all harm and froed at her It stuck to her and halted her She are of a feeling of discoain She shrunk fro, back…away…falling doell shaft into an icy bath of water full of knives and bones and teeth There was pain and agony and then a warlow that suddenly flared white hot and bright

A voice spoke through the light – Colvin’s voice

"Lia Hunter, I Gift you with life Come back to me You will live By Idumea’s hand, you will live Come back"

She blinked There was the pressure of his hand on the crown of her head There was the sound of water and waves sloshing against her and she realized she was cold and soaked She blinked again and again until she was able to see Looking up, she saw Colvin’s face, saw the tears running down his cheeks as he lifted her in his arms and started to carry her up the hill

Lia could see over his shoulder Where there had been a meadow full of soldiers she saw a vast lake The Tor was tall enough not to be covered, but everything else for leagues was subed Muirwood rose like an island, protected on all sides

"You brought me back," she whispered in his ear There was sothat she could hardly think

"The price was paid," he answered "It was enough"

She nodded, sainst his neck and fell unconscious

CHAPTER FORTY FIVE:

Farewell

When Lia awoke froht that Siara Healer had made her s, her eyelashes fluttered slowly She did not knohere she was The only light was the gentle glow of fire fro to clear her vision When she tried to asped Her left hand was so bandaged that she could not wiggle her fingers She wondered if she would be able to use it in the future, if it would ever heal It took several moments to realize where she was – the room in the manor house where Marciana and Ellowyn had slept There were no s, so she did not knohether it was day or night She rested on the feather-stuffed bed beneath a thick coverlet

"Do notfroe of the bed She tried to sit up again, but winced with pain as every movement reminded her of her injuries

"Here, letthe pillows for support and then lifting her slowly She wore the thin, soft cheiven her over her chaen

"The Abbey is safe?" she asked, but she knew that it was She could feel the war in the air

"Yes, because of you," he answered

She was grateful A great sadness welled up in her heart when she rehts went black He was dead, she was sure of it She could not bring herself to ask though She blinked back tears

Opening her eyes, she stared at hi the difference "You have shaved," she whispered hoarsely seeing his face in the firelight – there was a red scar on his cheek As she cleared her throat, he fetched a cup of water to soothe her thirst He held the cup to her mouth and she drank deeply "Better," she said after "Is it very late?"

He shook his head "The sun will set soon You slept most of the day"

"Where is Ellowyn?"

Colvin looked down at her and smiled, his expression a quirk of interest "With her uncle No, she is not dead And neither is Garen De the vision she had seen "I reh the Apse Veil with all of his knights I reht made her shiver, despite the warain and looked into his face which was tender and conflicted "You brought le with a sratitude overwhelave her a pointed look that said she was ridiculous "Do you think that I could force the Mediu over the leather jerkin from around his neck Theand looked at it and then at her "When you tossed this atnized that the Mediuht expect it That was an awful ht lose you forever" His weight shifted and she felt her throat constrict, feeling hiuarded, so exposed it made her tremble "I wanted to believe that it would not end that way So I waited as you ran off and pled for the Mediuully the way you pointed, to Maderos’ cave Or the other hich was the direction you went Very clearly, I knehat I should do I told Ellowyn to go the other way and hide a you like ht you at last The Mediuently reached out and brushed a lock of curly hair away from her face "It was a co you back I was there so that I could, even though I am not an Aldermaston"