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Suddenly preoccupied he rose fro”

“It’s your last day to up at hihter than usual, it almost seemed she was tearful but the idea was absurd

“It is Although, I still hope to learn more before I leave”

“Yes” She looked away “Yes of course Sleep well”

“And you, sister”

Sleep was beyond his crossed beneath hi of his mother’s past She was a sister of the Fifth Order, she married his father, she bore him a son, she died That was all he knew For that matter he knew just as little about his father A soldier elevated by the King for bravery, later Battle Lord, city burner, father of a son and a daughter by different e of where his father had been born, whether his grandfather had been a soldier or a far in his ht to control his breathing as Master Sollis had taught him, a skill no doubt learned from the Aspect of the Fifth Order which in turn raised even more questions Focus, he told himself Breathe, slow and even…

An hour later, the beat of his heart slowed and the stor, he was roused by a soft but insistent knock at his door Pausing to pull his shirt over his head he went to the door, finding Sister Henna there, s shyly

“Brother,” she said, her voice little above a whisper “Have I disturbed you?”

“I wasn’t sleeping” Surely she can’t want another story “The hour is late, sister If you require so”

“Require so?” Her smile broadened a little and, before he could stop her, she stepped past hiiveness brother, for ”

Vaelin’s cal to forgive…”

“Oh, but there is!” she whispered fiercely,him step back, the door forced closed behind hihtless things” She ainst hiainst his chest provoked an instant sheen of sweat and an unwelcoive me,” she implored, a faint sob in her voice as she lay her head on his chest “Say you don’t hate h his mind for an appropriate response but life in the Order had failed to equip his “Of course I don’t hate you” Gently he put his hands on her shoulders and eased her away fro a smile “You shouldn’t worry over such a trifle”

“Oh, but I do,” she assured hi you, of all people” She looked away, ashamed “It’s more than I could bear”

“You care too much for my opinion, sister” He reached behind hio now…”

Her hand reached out, touching his chest, feeling the ”

“Sister” He put his hand over hers “This is not…”

She kissed hi close, her lips on his before he knehat had happened The sensation was overwhelh his body This is wrong, he thought as her tongue probed between his lips I should stop her Right now… I must end this… Any second now…

The sound that saved hi through his , almost missed by his preoccupation with Sister Henna’s lips, but so familiar, made him pause, pull away

“Brother?” Sister Henna asked, the whisper of her breath caressing his lips

“Can you hear that?”

A slight frown creased her brow “I hear nothing” She giggled and pressed close again “But rew, an unmistakable siren call

“Wolf’s howl,” he said