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Not permanently Not if I can help it

Sol had just turned off the ignition when the gates swung open, wind battering theroaned like a Bag froround, I stretched the stalks circling his wrists to bind his ankles as well

"Is this really necessary, pequeña?"

"Really is, Sol" As I approached the wall, I cried, "Hello! Is someone here? Please answerhere forin the stable? Had Thanatos survived the flood?

Had Aric?

Of course, he would have So where is he?

Inside, I swept host town No fires, no animals, no voices Just the blustery winds and desolation

This place was a shell Fort Arcana haddied

Crates of supplies had been abandoned The fort’s inhabitants ht the Eht for them

Maybe some Azey South survivors were camped across the river? I hopped onto a plankway and ran to the tower Sol hobbled after me, but I couldn’t wait for him

I cli to spy a ca

I turned back to the fort In one corner, I saw the orange tree I’d grown for Tess Without sun, its leaves had already begun to brown

Beside the tree was a rave? Whose? A horrible idea arose--no No I quashed it as I raced down the stairs and lurched past Sol

I tripped over another plankway, blundering around eined I heard his deep voice saying, "Ma fille aux yeux bleus" My blue-eyed girl

Heart in round was trale staff jutted frorave

Tess’s staff

A cry slipped from my lips No, no, that didn’t htmare scenario: the one that couldn’t possibly be

The one in which Jack had been burned alive by ato save him

Someone had just wanted to mark a burial, and her staff had been handy She had left it behind on occasion Only one way to be sure

Sol had hobbled closer Uncaring of his gaze on h the icy soil in a frenzy

One foot doo feet down Three Four

I reached cloth and pulled on it More dirt gave way to reveal

A husk wrapped in a sheet