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Astrid breathed for what felt like the first ti while She was thankful Brianna had broken at least some of the tension

"By the way, back to business: they’re headed into the desert," Brianna announced to Sahter and Uncle Whip Hand I got a little too close and that baby nearly buried me under about a ton of rock That is one bad baby"

Brianna nodded, satisfied "That can be line ‘That is one bad baby’"

"No, no," Dekka said "Just: no"

Astrid sht it wasit," Sa that … that creature You knohat they’ll see? You knohat people out there will think?"

Astrid kneas ju out of his skin She could see--anyone could see--the look of horror on Connie Teular, for Caine had taken one long look at his mother, turned, and walked away, back to town

"You’ve been afraid of this for a long time, Sa judged"

Saround, then at Astrid She had expected to see sadness there Maybe guilt She almost cried out with relief when she saw the eyes of the boy who had never backed down She saw the eyes of the boy who had first stepped forward to fight Orc and later Caine and Drake and Penny

She saw Sauess they’ll think what they want to think"

"It’s getting dark out there," Dekka said "When night coet Penny out of there Bury her Everyone who shows up stares at--"

Dekka fell silent, because Sa He walked purposefully to the spot where Penny’s body lay, her head crushed beneath a rock, like sorotesque parody of the Wicked Witch of the East

Cameras tracked Sa--traced his every step

Saht at the cameras Then he looked at his mother Astrid held her breath

Then Sahly, incinerated Penny’s body Until nothing but ash was left