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"You tried to die," I whispered "Ien, no"

"I knew you were in the cas they’d done to you that day, or bragging of how they’d finally broken you If I survived, I kneould only get more horrible for both of us So every day, no ot worse"

I thought about how I’d have felt if our situations were reversed If I’d had to hear the full well it would only get worse if I survived I couldn’t ien bore all that

Tears welled in her eyes "Then I heard all the coht you escaped froht past my tent and never knew After that, I knew you would survive, and that if I did too, I’d see you again So froet better"

"This is all very sweet," Roden said bitterly "But you see where we are With worse odds for survival than any of us have faced before Jaron, I want to hear your plan for escape"

"I gave Ien the key to her chains That’s a start"

"When Conner toldhere, I hoped he’d let en said "I could’ve escaped from there to help you Maybe he knew that too, because he sent ht"

"Your only duty is to get well," I said, and then gave her a mischievous s to be ill if they leave roaned "Jaron, even with Ih the bars And even if we did, the estate is full of Avenian soldiers You and I are going to be executed at first light Please tell oing to win"

As the night wore on, I told Ien and Roden about Mott’s uncertain condition, about Tobias and Aress in the war In turn, Roden toldfrom the time I left him near Drylliad

"We were on the march when Mendenwal attacked They ca but react" Roden tilted his head so that I ot this rather early in the battle, when a horse reared up and then landed on me"

"You’re lucky it wasn’t worse"

"It orse, for most of my men I awoke on a battlefield blanketed with the dead I’ve never seen anythingfor survivors, and when they found nized ht here"

"Were you able to learn anything from their leaders about Mendenwal’s involvement in this war?" It was a question that still bothered ht it over for a minute, and then said, "Now that you ry conversation about Avenia sending thean held his own armies back They weren’t leaders, but I’ood"

"It’s not good, Jaron I’m sorry You made me captain, and I failed you"

"No one could’ve done more," I said optimistically "Besides, I’ll need your help tomorrow Maybe our odds could be better -- I admit that -- but I believe we’re positioned very well for success"

"Chained up in the dungeons of our enee of total defeat, and set for execution?"