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The trip hoh hid her disappointment well, but Darkfest could not shake off the sense of failure It weighed like a millstone round his neck Why had he failed?

The question plagued hih&039;s sweet voice could not ease his troubled h the castle, he found hiaze settled on his father&039;s face The Dragon Lord of Darkfest Castle

Darkfest swore a short, pithy oath, then turned and went to his chaht, and as dawn rose in the sky, he held up a small vial of ruby-colored liquid It held three drops of his own blood and the ashes of four of the wolf&039;s hairs mixed with the juice of wild berries toif he had at last discovered the secret to restore Channa Leigh&039;s sight

Unable to wait a er, he ran up the stairs to her bedcha beside her bed, he shook her shoulder lightly "Channa Leigh! Wake up, lass"

She ith a start "Is so, my lord?"

"Drink this" He thrust the vial into her hand "Quickly now"

"What is it?"

"Drink!"

Compelled by the tone of his voice, she downed the contents in a single s, gasping as the fiery liquid burned its way down her throat

He watched her carefully, his heart pounding with excitement and trepidation

And then, slowly, she turned to face him "My lord," she breathed, and there was a wealth of wonder in her voice "Truly thou art the h!"

"I can see you" A sht as summer sun curved her lips and lit her eyes "I can see you!"

With a glad cry, he drew her into his ar as he held her close

"But how?" she asked "How did you do it?"

"The dragon&039;s blood," he replied with a rueful grin

"What dragon? Not Blackencrill?"

"No This dragon," he said, thu himself on the chest

"You, on Lord of Darkfest Castle I dinna knohy I did not recall that sooner For soic in the wolf&039;s hair, so I coon&039;s blood" He frowned, wondering if his human hair would have worked as well

"And will it last?" she asked

"Only ti And then she ju out her hand "We ained his feet "Mayhap you should dress first"