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"Get away!" she said, shooing the rily and jabbed at Resa with its beak Meggie was so startled that she spilled the hot soup over her hands

"Sorry" Resa ers with the hem of her dress "I can’t stand that bird I expect it’s because it repie of course It was a long tiht about Capricorn’s mother, but then she hadn’t been there when Mortola had shot Mo Resa had

"It’s only a bird," said Meggie, her thoughts already far away again, following her father She had found very little about the Castle in the Lake in Fenoglio’s book

Deep in the e over black water Was Mo riding over that bridge now? Suppose she and Resa siie? Whatever happens, stay with the robbers!

Promise me!

Resa pointed to the bowl in her lap "Do please eat it, Meggie!"

But Meggie turned to Roxane, as quicklyHer beautiful face was paler than Meggie had seen it since Dustfinger’s return Resa stood up, looking anxious

"What’s happened?" She took Roxane’s ar been heard of Mo? You must tell me!"

But Roxane shook her head "The Prince" The anxiety in her voice was plainly audible "He’s not well, and I don’t knohat it is He has terrible stomach cramps

I have a few roots here that may help hiain "Stoie heard the bear’s howl fro like a desperate child as they made their way toward him Battista was there, too, with Woodenfoot and Elfbane The Black Prince lay on the ground Minerva was kneeling beside hiet some liquid into his mouth, but he writhed in pain, pressed his hands to his body and struggled for breath Sweat stood out on his forehead

"Quiet, bear!" he gasped He could hardly get the words past his lips; he had bitten the and snorting as if his own life were at stake

"Let me by" Resa pushed them all aside, even Minerva, and took the Prince’s face between her hands

"Look at me!" she said "Please, look at me!"

She wiped the sweat from his brow and looked into his eyes

Roxane capie flapped its way over to Gecko’s shoulder

Resa stared at it

"Strong Man!" she said, so quietly that no one but Meggie heard her "Catch that bird"

The pie jerked its head as the Black Prince writhed in Ivlinerva’s ar Man looked at Resa, his face strea with tears, and nodded But when he took a step toward Gecko, the h up below the roof of the cave

Roxane kneeled beside Resa

"He’s lost consciousness," said Minerva "And see how shallow his breathing is!"

"I’ve seen cra "The berries that cause theer than a pinhead Mortola liked to use the a very painful death There are two of the trees they grow on just below this cave! I’ve warned the children not to eat the berries" She looked up at the ain