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Olivia glanced back at Abby, who rose carefully and together they stepped out of the tent Malachi had just taken a seat near the fire by Dustin

Across froeneral He was in his cavalry uniform and appeared as he surely had in life Olivia felt as if she’d stu after a reenact around the fire to sit cross-legged on Dustin’s other side, facing the general as the eneral nodded to them each in turn When he spoke, his voice seeain that he didn’t speak often, that he saw his role in the afterlife as so cried out and I hurried to the sound," the general said "A fine dog, a loyal anie rock at his side It le of brush It was all I could do to ease the tangle so he ed froreens and browns In one of those short coats that covers the head"

"A hoodie," Dustin mused "But you couldn’t see a face"

"No I first went down to the ravine where Marcus Danby lay But toDanby was a fine eneral was silent, reflective, for a moment "And so I rose from the ravine and mounted Loki, and I went after that person But as I rode, nize anyone--and no one appeared in the clothing I had seen"

"Thank you, sir," Dustin said politely, but Olivia could hear disappoint, had been hit from a distance, which you’ve confirrowl at that person Thank you," Dustin said again "Saeneral nodded gravely, but a slight smile curved his lip

"I did see a horse," he told theure disappeared, I saw that he ran to a horse"

"Which horse?" Olivia asked "What did it look like?"

"A large aniantua!" Olivia whispered

"That would be a fitting naeneral said

Dustin turned to her; she could feel his tension "Who was riding Gargantua that day?" he asked her

Olivia let out a breath "Aaron Aaron Bentley," she said in a shaky voice

Dustin frowned and looked back at the general "Sir, were you in this area ere caeneral nodded

"Diddid you try to talk to one of the young woeneral said "No, I did not try to speak with anyone"

"Did you see anything that night--or early , as it was?" Dustin asked

"I watched over the camp I saw the man walk to the stream I followed him at first I saw hi by a bee Then he fell There was nothing I could do" He raised his arif soh, perhapsman I could not lift his face from the water"

His sorroas evident

"Did you see anything else?"

"I heard the scream and I followed I saw you race into the woods I wanted to try to bring you to the water, but you were gone before I could show eneral said He shook his head sadly "I wish I could help more"

"You have helped incredibly," Dustin told hieneral nodded and stood "The truth must be discovered Such aa lie He salvaged his soul and his life and gave life to others, in quality and in years"

Dustin got to his feet; Olivia, Malachi and Abby quickly followed suit

"We will find the truth," Dustin vowed

"Yes, you are fine soldiers You will carry on I have spoken too long, but I will rerow faint and weak," he said, pausing to offer thehost of the man I was Still, I atch, and I will do what is in my power"

Olivia s his unexpected hu as he did Just as he reached the heart of the forested shadows, Olivia saw his white horse, radiant in the eneral mounted Loki, and they disappeared into the darkness as if they’d never been

"Olivia, are you sure?" Dustin asked when the general had ridden away

She stared at him, disoriented for a minute

"Aantua that day?"

She nodded "He always rode Gargantua And when they found antua"

"Perhaps there was a switch-up with the horses?" Malachi suggested

"I--I don’t knohen When we all rode out from the Horse Farm that day, Aaron was on hiantua e left"

Dustin looked at Malachi "We’ll have to ask at the Horse Farm If someone else had taken the horse out first, Drew or Sydney would know"

"Hhtfully "I’m not so sure about that But it is possible that Aaron killed Marcus--and someone else killed Aaron"

"You mean, perhaps someone knew that Aaron had killed Marcus--and then killed Aaron because he killed Marcus?" Olivia asked