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But for now I have s at stake We need to figure out this situation before things get worse, before this--I shudder--war co my emotion "Why does everyone want us dead?"

"Not everyone," she says with a sympathetic smile Then she answers my question "Each side has its own motives Those ish to see you fail before the seal is broken--they believe they are acting for the greater good"

"The greater good?" I echo "I don’t see how killing us does anyone any good"

Ms West laughs "Good and bad, right and wrong, are not so easily defined in our world" She sighs "Those who believe they act with righteous intent, who believe they act to protect both huerous for their conviction"

Just because they think they’re doing the right thing doesn’t ht

"What about the other side?" I ask "The one that wants us dead after?"

"That side acts with a h they believe thehteous as their opponents They seek the freedom of inalized for millennia It is a very complicated and emotion-driven dispute, on both sides"

I let all of this news sink in: the war and the factions and the players on each side who I used to believe existed only in

"Doesn’t anyone want us to live?" I blurt "Isn’t there anyone ants us to succeed and live long, happy lives?"

Not that I expect her to say, Nope Sorry You’re out of luck But the last thing I expect is for Ms West to get up, walk around her desk, and pull ainstback "So far it sounds like everyone wants us dead either before or after the seal is broken"

"Euryale and I are determined to see you succeed," she says ada to discover more about who is on each side when she was taken And there are others They work in secret and at great personal risk to pave the way for your triu against them, the consequences would be severe"

Her voice kind of trails off, like the su that’s happened in the last teeks has just added up in her brain Join the club

At least I feel a little ht in thealone

Suddenly she steps back

"I need to go"