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"All right, then, ould your world be?" Marius said His hands were treht for their men?"

She laughed She turned to ht in Haiti? Did they fight in Lynkonos?"

Marius stared at me He waited for uiven me and take it further But my mind went blank

"Akasha," I said "Don't continue this bloodbath Please Don't lie to hus or befuddle them anymore "

There it was-brutal and unsophisticated, but the only truth I could give

Chapter 38

"Yes, for that's the essence of it," Marius said, his tone careful again, fearful, and al "It's a lie, Akasha; it's another superstitious lie! Have we not had enough of the froods "

"A lie?" she asked She drew back, as if he'd hurt her "What is the lie? Did I lie when I told then of peace on earth? Did I lie when I told the for? No, I didn't lie What I can do is give them the first bit of truth they've ever had! I am what they think I am I am eternal, and all powerful, and shall protect them-"

"Protect them?" Marius asked "How can you protect them from their most deadly foes?"

"What foes?"

"Disease, ive life or save it And they will expect such miracles All you can do is kill "

Silence Stillness Her face suddenly as lifeless as it had been in the shrine; eyes staring forward; euish

No sound but the wood shifting and falling into the fire

"Akasha," I whispered "Ti that Maharet asked for A century So little to give "

Dazed, she looked aton o when the wolves tracked h for the limbs of the barren trees