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She heard a gasp from someone near her She tried to see, but she only saw the la in theMiria

"Where?" he asked He was startled, trying to see the vision Hadn't this happened before?

"Why can't I open my eyes?" she asked He could look forever and he would never see Miriam

"Your eyes are open," he said Ho and tender his voice sounded "I can't give you any ive it all We are not healers We are slayers It's time for you t

o tell me what you want There is no one to help me "

I don't knohat I want All I know is 1 don't want to die! I don't want to stop living What cowards we are, she thought, what liars A great fatalistic sadness had accoht, yet there had been the secret hope of this always! Not merely to see, to know, but to be part of

She wanted to explain, to hone it carefully with audible words, but the pain caain A fiery brand touched to her spine, the pain shooting into her legs And then the blessed nurew dark and the flames of the ancient lamps sputtered Outside the forest whispered The forest writhed in the dark And Mael's grip on her wrist eak suddenly, not because he had let her go but because she couldn't any longer feel it

"Jesse!"

He shook her with both his hands, and the pain was like lightning shattering the dark She screah her clenched teeth Mirialared from the

"Mael, do it!" she cried

With all her strength, she sat up on the bed The pain ithout shape or liled inside her But then she opened her eyes, truly opened theht, she saw Miriaure of Mael towering over the bed And then she turned to the open door Maharet was co

Mael didn't know, didn't realize, till she did With soft silky steps, Maharet ca sound; she came down the corridor

Oh, after all these years, these long years! Through her tears, Jesse watched Maharetface, and the burning radiance of her hair Maharet gestured for Mael to leave them

Then Maharet approached the bed She lifted her hands, palms open, as if in invitation; she raised her hands as if to receive a baby

"Yes, do it "