Page 58 (1/2)

The boys fro questions but Vaelin followed Master Sollis’s instructions and told the his Test of the Wild He was recovering in the House of the Fifth Order and would return within a few days Sollis hiations on return to the Order and the Aspect did not request their presence Frentis’s abduction was another non-event in the Order’s history The Order fights, but often it fights in shadow As he grew older Vaelin found ever more truth in Master Sollis’s words

Frentis hi his training with a disturbing vigour, as if rejecting the da the pain his exertions cost hied also, he was less apt to sely silent His te hiroup seeain soetic part in training the non pups However, even then he continued to say nothing of his ordeal, although Vaelin soers over the pattern of scars carved into his skin, his face oddly thoughtful as if trying to decipher their

“Do they hurt?” Vaelin asked hi The pups were tired fro with Master Hutril and could only snap lazily at the treats they tossed into their pens

Frentis quickly pulled his hand away from his shirt “A little Less and less as the weeks pass Aspect Elera gave et it”

“If I had told the Aspect…”

“I said forget it!” Frentis's face was tense as he stared into the pens Slasher, his favourite pup, sensed hisin concern “He's dead,” Frentis said, calet it Can’t kill hiether, cloaks wrapped against the chill although winter was fading fast and the surrounding trees were quickly taking on the verdant hues of spring

“Test of the Sword next month,” Frentis said “Worried?”

“Why? Do you think I should be?”

“I’ve already bet my whole knife collection that you finish all three in less than two minutes I ht?”

“I expect so”

“Think they’ll let us serve together when I’m confiret a choice It’ll be a good while before we see one another again, that’s for sure”

They lingered at the courtyard, Vaelin sensing Frentis haduncolad you spoke for lad I’m in the Order I feel like I wasthat happens to ht? Whatever happens from now on, you don’t have to feel bad and you don’t have to co if I was in trouble?”

“That’s different”

“No, it’s exactly the same” He clapped Frentis on the shoulder “Get some rest, brother”

He had taken a few steps when Frentis said so to make him stop, his voice barely above a whisper, “The one aits will destroy us”

He turned to find Frentis hunched in his cloak, arainst his chest, face wary He wouldn’t meet Vaelin’s eye