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His gloved hands gripped the top of the ladder poles, his breath reeked of so fetid His presence s the flalea to survive in a raging river, she clawed at it Her fingers tightened around the chain, and then she yanked as hard as she could The ht of it nearly made her vomit The chain snapped

"Little…!"

With the chain still in her fist, Lia shoved hi the ladder backwards He was quick, so cruel and quick, and grabbed a fistful of her curly hair as the ladder tottered backwards He dragged both of them down, and she fell, landed atop the ladder – on hirunted as they slalooone She clawed her nails into his face, then yanked her hair free He shoved the ladder off, and she ran for the door Already he was struggling to his feet, wasting no words on curses or threats She raised the crossbar, yanked hard on the door, and fled into the night, only to run into one of his soldiers outside

In a fury, she tried to rake his face with her nails, and only after he caught her wrist did his faled hair coladius in his hand

She had never felt ain as the sheriff followed her out Lia cringed, but Jon thrust her behind hi the distance with a glowing orb in his hand She recognized having seen the orb in his chaloith the Medium’s power

The sheriff’s eyes blazed Blood dripped from a scratch-mark on his forehead, and he seethed silently, his hands opening and clenching Jon’s blade was up, the point ai at the intruder’s heart His expression said, draw your blade h, sheriff or not

When the Aldere of relief and started to cry He bent over her, taking her chin and forcing her face up He looked ferocious and concerned "Did he hurt you, Lia?"

Unable to speak, she shook her head no

His gaze lingered on her face for several moments as the storm of fury built even further across his countenance He was known for his fierce te her cheek, he raised to his full height and faced the sheriff

"Alht from the orb in his handanswers fro"

"My duty is to protect the inhabitants of Muirwood Abbey I cannot tolerate anyone polluting the protection these grounds provide They shield every pilgri will learn how you have abrogated your duties You will be sharply punished"

"You may tell him yourself when he arrives!" the sheriff said with a snarl "It will not be long The traitors are festering nearby You can s in the sun Anyone who has supported the’s wrath Even you, Aldermaston Even this ancient place"

"We have survived many wars and many storms and many such threats I care only for the proper instruction of the learners here and to preserve this place frouer Be gone at once! Your men with you Either you or I will die before any unfortunate reunion between us must occur I revoke your welcoates I warn you, sheriff, that he has been well trained Defy him at your peril Prestill evict the rest of your ates"

"Yes, Alder his blade until the Aldero, he looked back at her one final ti She could see hi at the thin thread of chain clutched in her hand

There was a loose tile in the kitchen floor where Lia hid all her treasures So, she hid the sheriff’s arderobe visits the nextThankfully for her, she learned, Jon had prowled around the kitchen all through the night and had seen the sheriff intrude He had rushed to warn the Aldermaston and arrived back at the rateful for his timely rescue that she kissed his bearded cheek, which easp and rush for a broom to shoo him out, but his exit was hasty