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" 'I' home,' I said 'I want my family ¡¯

" 'What do youhome!' she demanded 'Have you taken leave of your senses?¡¯

" 'No, I haven't And I wish now to abolish our bargain The Here is mine I reclai place by day, and I need the rest of it for a getaway in the night Now, I'll leave you to your chess, and again I thank you -- ¡¯

"Arion rose to his feet

" 'But hoill you get horavity very well over short distances, and with great speed, perhaps more than you know But you can't travel halfway around the world It will be years before you have that skill ¡¯

" 'I'o,' I responded

" 'And ill you do when you get there!' de up at me

" 'Live in my house as I've always done,' I said 'Live in my room where I've always lived Be withas I can I won't give them up ¡¯

"Petronia rose slowly 'But you don't kno to pretend to be human You don't have the faintest idea ¡¯

" 'Yes, I do,' I said 'I watched you do it, and you're ancient by your stories and yet you ed in a roomful of people Why should it be so hard for me? Besides, I'm determined to do it I won't relinquish the life I had ¡¯

" 'Won't you realize," Petronia said, 'that if you take those mortals into your secret, you'll destroy them?¡¯

" 'I'll protect them from it with my whole heart,' I said 'You won't make me lose my nerve ¡¯

" 'You can't just leave here and do this, Quinn,' said Arion gently 'Besides, ould you? You don't belong with humans now ¡¯

" 'Must I ask your per him directly in the eye

"He shrugged gracefully, just as I kneould