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Denth released her mouth and slapped Tonk Fah on the back of the head

"Hey," Tonk Fah said, rubbing his head

"Pay attention," Denth said Then he glanced at Vivenna, holding her arers fro her bloodied wrists for the first ti her eyes "Aw, hell," he cursed "You didn’t run from us, did you?"

"Huh?" Tonk Fah asked

Vivenna was numb

"What happened?" Denth asked "Was it hiriht It looks like my hand has been forced Let’s deal with that Breath of yours first, and then we can have a chat--nicely, like friends--about what has happened to you"

Clod stepped up beside Denth, grey eyes staring forward, e in the it? Her emotions were so strained lately that she really couldn’t trust her perceptions Clod seerowing harder "Repeat after me My Life to yours My Breath beco his eyes "Howl of the sun," she whispered

Denth frowned "What?"

"Attack Denth Howl of the sun"

"I--" Denth began At that moment, Clod’s fist hit his face

The blow threw Denth to the side and into Tonk Fah, who cursed and stu past Clod--nearly tripping on her dress--and threw her shoulder into the surprised Jewels

Jewels fell Vivenna scrambled up the stairs

"You let her hear the security phrase?" Denth bellowed, sounds of struggle co with Clod

Jewels gained her feet and followed Vivenna The woh a step, however Vivenna stumbled into the roo the latch

Won’t hold the Chasingto do?

She rushed out onto the street, now lit by the dawn light filling into the city, and ducked down an alleyway Then she just kept running--this ti to pick the smallest, dirtiest, darkest alleyways she could

36

I will not leave you, Susebron wrote, sitting on the floor beside the bed, his back propped up by pillows I promise

"How can you be sure?" Siri asked frorow tired of life, then give away your Breath"

First of all, he wrote, I’et an heir You refuse to explain it to me, nor will you answer !" Siri said, feeling her short hair grow red She turned it back to yellow in an instant

Secondly, he wrote, I cannot give away my Breath, not if what I understand about BioChroma is true Do you think I’ve been lied to about how Breath works?

He’s getting ht as she watched him erase It’s such a shame that he’s been locked up his entire life

"I really don’t know thatwe focus on in Idris I suspect that half of the things I know are ruerations For instance, back in Idris, they think you sacrifice people on altars in the court here--I heard that a dozen times from different people"

He paused, then continued writing Regardless, we argue so to suddenly decide to kill hed

Siri, he wrote, I lived for fifty years with no infore, barely able to communicate Can you really think that I would kill myself nohen I’ve discovered horite? When I’ve discovered someone to talk to? When I’ve discovered you?

She sht I believe you But I still think we have to worry about your priests"

He didn’t respond, looking away

Why is he so cursedly loyal to theht

Finally, he looked back at her Would you grow your hair?

She raised an eyebrow "And what color am I to make it?"

Red, he wrote

"You Hallandren and your bright colors," she said, shaking her head "Do you realize that rant of all colors?"

He paused I’m sorry, he wrote I did not mean to offend you I--

He broke off as she reached down and touched his ar flirtatious I’m sorry"

Flirtatious? he wrote My storybook doesn’t use this term

"I know," Siri said "That book is too full of stories about children getting eaten by trees and things"

The stories are metaphors meant to teach--

"Yes, I know," she said, interrupting hiain

So, what is flirtatious?

"It’s" Colors! How do I get irl acts hesitant--or sometimes silly--in order to make a man pay more attention to her"

Why would that make a man pay attention to her?