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"No!" Colvin said, his eyes flashing with anger "Do not tangle it into knots! You had the right answer, but then you doubted You must never, never leave room in your mind for doubt It chokes the Medium It starves it It drowns it All you hts – those little bursts of wisdom that bloom in your mind when your heart is calether, for those very reasons you mentioned Years from noe may look back on this moment and realize there were other reasons still that we have not yet discovered It is enough though, for now You wanted to read And yes, even Maderos could feel that burning in you The Medium cannot help but respond to your desire"

Lia was not sure, but he seeain?"

He shook his head "You are not ready yet"

"Why not?"

His look was intensely serious "Because each time you fail will make it that much harder to succeed Do not pull it out of the pouch until you know you will use it and that it ork Leave it, until then"

The sudden sound ofstartled theht somewhere behind them Birds usually acted like that when they sensed a threat

"We go," Colvin said, his eyes blazing orry "So startled the birds Quickly!"

Hours later, Lia and Colvin reached a sliver of road The brush and trees had been cleared, the h for a single wagons or five soldiers to march abreast By the freshly churned ruts and ons had, and recently too

Colvin’s voice was a darkoff the saddle Pulling the reins, he tugged the stallion after him

"Maderos warned us to shun the road," Lia said The trees were skeletal and sickly The air was oppressed with the stench of sweat and other vicious odors

Colvin knelt by the edge of the road, looking at the rut-marks His hand clenched into a fist "The tracks are fresh Made earlier today"

"So back is not a good suggestion either," he said, looking angrier than ever "We can cover more distance this way, then veer back into the o back into the marsh now"

"The sheriff’s ives us a chance to outride the up on the saddle He held out his hand to her to climb up behind him