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“Not only is there physical daen continued, “but I think—I think the other Deyer, the Pendric who is now a guardian, I think it is his despair that is spreading to the others”

Pendric, Pendric, Pendric… Then Dale remembered that Pendric was Alton’s recently deceased cousin His name was mentioned in hushed tones in Woodhaven, but his death had not been explained to her, and she didn’t pry

“So what does it all mean?”

“Hope that your king finds the book,” Merdigen said, “because if the wall falls into despair and madness, then all is lost”

Alton scrounged up a “nip of so” from his private stores and splashed it into both Dale’s teacup and his own The concoction scoured Dale’s throat as it went down and she had several breathless moments before she could speak, and when she did so, she would not want to be next to an open flame

“Good tea,” she said in a hoarse voice

Alton grinned “My aunt, onthe packages my parents sent”

That was one aunt, Dale thought, she would like to ue tasted the cool,process, even diluted by the tea Perhaps it was an extension of her special ability to recognize it, or ood whiskey

She eased back into her chair, the concoction relaxing her She was tired, ined she’d be after her trip fro with the tower Her bones ached and her wound was sore, but the whiskey helped Her return through the as silent, much to her relief No voices touched her mind, but she felt a watchful presence around her, like thousands of eyes observing her passage

Alton sat across fros sprawled out They left the tent flaps open to allow fresh air to circulate within, and considering the state of Alton’s tent and the stale taint that clung to its walls, it was probably a good idea His blankets were rumpled upon his cot, and unifor over the sides of his travel chests Books were stacked on his table next to a lamp and a nub of a candle, the tent roof stained with a circle of soot Apparently servants saw to re of the lamp’s chimney, and probably they laundered his clothes, but the place was still shabby and unkempt

The Alton of old had been meticulous—perhaps not to the extent of Ty’s zeal for perfection—but his boots had always shone and he’d worn his uniform without stain or wrinkle He used to comb his hair and keep his face free of whiskers Now he possessed the look of soetful of the world around him, and perhaps he was, because of his obsession with the wall

As they talked, Alton’s expression darkened and his tea cooled, forgotten on the table When Dale finished telling hien, he chucked his tea out the tent opening and refilled his

“I don’t believe it,” he said at last

“Which part?”

“All of it There has got to be some way to make the wall listen to me I mean, how likely is it that the book will be found? And if it is found, who’s to say it will offer any help?”