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LIBERATING THE ARM

Each day Dale checked the tower as she had proen she would, despite the treh the wall Every heartbeat she believed her last and that she’d be sealed in granite for all tie breathless in the tower chamber and find it eer, and the wall guardians did not hinder her passage, but she felt the her

When she returned through the wall to the enca her intently, hands clenched at his sides He was looking better It wasn’t just the polished boots, but his hair no longer stuck out at angles, and he took pains to neaten his unifor tears and frays, and atte to press out wrinkles

Dale smiled, pleased by Alton’s overall appearance It was an iloos, she reckoned, she could not influence The place, with its forbidding wall and nightmarish forest beyond, had the tendency to suck the life out of one What they needed was a party A party would lift everyone’s mood, maybe even Alton’s

“Merdigen?” he asked

“Not back yet”

“What was he thinking?” Alton de off to wherever—wherever illusions go!”

“He said he’d return,” Dale reminded him

“Hoe know?”

Dale sighed “Hoe know anything? So on faith”

Alton opened hisI’d like you to see,” he said

He took her into the enca with a on

“I know you can’t ride yet,” Alton began

“Not allowed to ride,” Dale corrected

Alton son”

He helped her up onto the bench, then climbed up himself and collected the reins To her surprise, instead of heading toward the makeshift road that led to the main encampment at the breach, he slapped the mule with the reins and whistled it toward the wall, then turned so they headed west, in the direction of the breach Alton’s uncle, who had been in charge of the enca the wall, the soldiers and laborers under his co brush to a distance of several yards When Alton came to the encampment, he ensured his uncle’s work continued

It was in this clearing betall and forest that Alton guided the wagon It was buround, and it jostled every single bone in Dale’s body She would have had an easier time on horseback, but Leese wouldn’t allow her to ride Alton re what this little excursion was about His hands see ride So at him, that was for sure