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Nothing happened

Colvin looked up at her

"I do not think there is safe water," she said huskily, her throat raw "Show us the way to Winterrowd," she then said

Nothing happened

Colvin’s brow furrowed

Dread joined the fear in Lia’s heart Then anger She focused her thoughts – she stared at the intricate spindles and willed them to move Show us a safe road! she screa

"Letout his hand For a moment, she wanted to shove him away, to hunch over and protect it His hand was extended, his fingernails black with ave it to him

His brow furrowed evenBut it did not obey hi it back to her "Is the orb not working, or is there no longer a safe road? We must determine that Ask it to show you the direction of Muirwood Not a safe road there, just the direction"

Lia focused on it, hoping the spindles would whir again But as she thought about Muirwood, she was met with despair The orb was silent "I do not understand," she whispered "It…it orking yesterday…it…it…"

His face was a struggle to read as he battled to control his feelings He looked furious, but determined to conquer the emotion It took several h to speak, and when he did, his voice was more like a bark than a man’s voice

"We do not have ti to contain hier in his voice She had no idea why the orb had failed the at the beautiful surface, she willed it to heed her Show us the road Show us safety Show us a way to escape the sheriff Please!

"I a the best I can" He turned back to her, his face still twisting with various e to protect you I a not to worry aboutat all three I pro you away froain, I would not have let you help me I should have left on hedopenly "I do not knohy it is not I…I…I do not knohat to do The mist Winterrowd could be anywhere"

He shook his head violently, his fingers clenching like talons "No, you are not to bla I knohy it is not working"

"Why then?" she pleaded, clutching his ar to keep the dizziness fro her collapse

"Because you cannot force the Mediuhts It knohen you have lost your courage There is so It could be your longing for the Abbey It could be fear It could be rip, but she could see hilance at her hand and narrow coldly "I have seen this before When I was a learner, it happened now and then a terrible happened It even happened to me when my father died I could not use the Mediury that he had been taken away, that my sister and I were orphans, that I had to be both father and s and abandonedbefore you could use it again?" she asked, her hope withering with the look in his eyes

"Months," he answered bitterly His jaw clenched "We cannot dwell here that long The sheriff’sus This is a swamp, not a road We have no water" He rubbed his mouth on his arm His look hardened "Whatever it is, we et what you secretly desire You clai to receive it You are strong in the Mediu as you are, you are still bound by its laws and impeded by your own doubts Youyou"

"How?" Lia asked, confused "I have never not been able to use it I have sensed the Mediuo of his ar out of her dress and pinched it hard between her fingers, letting the edge bite into her skin as she shook it at him "I know it is real! I do not doubt it!"