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“I have never seen such rain!” Violet exclai the hood from her hair as she stepped in behind hi to mud on the dirt floor

He blinked as his eyes adjusted, and he turned in a full circle to take in the surroundings Holes in the roof alloater in on one end of the building, but the stone tower close that must have held a water wheel remained dry

Violet hung her cape to dry on an iron ring in the wall that must have held torches at one time She had obviously been here before

“It will be dry upstairs” She gestured toward the winding staircase at the base of the tower “I keep sos up there for when I want to escape”

Finn re at the opposite side of the doorway

“Escape?” He pulled Violet away froain Apparently, she was unaccusto protected

“From the keep” She lowered her voice and he sensed an unease on her part “My father can be unreasonable when his wound pains hi around the tower stairs, Finn reached another floor that must have been used to access the water wheel Here, an arrow slit allowed in the occasional flash of lightning that showed hih They were alone No one hid in the upper cha ruin Far from it

“You did this?” he asked, peering around from the top stair

A broohly with a strip that looked like tree vine And it had been used recently, the plank floor swept clear of debris A trunk rested in one corner, a rough wool blanket rolled and tied upon it A bare pallet lay in the opposite corner The ledge overlooking the water wheel mechanism contained a row of pots filled with plants of various sizes Soreenery to the floor of the chas newly sprouted

While he looked around, she opened the trunk and withdrew a taper and a piece of flint A clean rag followed

“Here” She placed the worn scrap of linen in his hand “You can dry off”