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"So soon?"

"Yes, so soon" His expression twisted into its familiar scowl "I had hoped to make it here earlier to warn Demont" He shook his head, his face flushed with eht A tithing…if that A tenth" He sed

Lia’s stomach flittered orry "Do you remember what else he said?"

"His words are burned in hter at Winterrowd He called it a slaughter How can it be otherwise"

Lia wanted to touch his are "He said you il for you I think…Colvin, I think he was talking aboutblankly ahead She could feel the fear bubbling inside of hi in his mind as he focused on the scene

"Look at me, Colvin"

He turned his head, his eyes bloodshot and watery "I am too late," he whispered "I came too late"

"You are afraid I can feel it inside of you Maderos said if I held vigil for you tonight, you ht about the road He is right about this as well"

His eyes closed "May survive May is not very solid I thought that ould have a chance I thought if there was enough tiround This was to be the starting point Not the finish" His jaw clenched

"Whatto shake hi without sleep, I know thatabouther first year at Billerbeck What if ht?"

It was ridiculous She was having to teach him about the Medium "There is no room for doubt, Colvin Remember what you told ht in your mind Do not doubt Believe and then act Fear stops you froht us this far for a reason You cannot stop here"

He turned away from her His voice was so soft, she barely heard it "What if that reason is to die?"

In herhe was to depart from Muirwood He had just promised her that he would help her learn to read Even then, he had doubted whether he would survive the battle Solimpse of his soul and understood his fear That he would die in battle without anyone to tell his sister what had befallen him Yet despite his fear, he had driven himself with the determination to reach Winterrowd in time Here they were – not in time to prevent the battle, but to participate in it His worst fears were about to be realized

"Colvin," she said

He looked at her, his expression helpless

"The Mediuht you to the kitchen because I could heal you It brought you to the kitchen because it knew I could use the Cruciger orb And it has brought us both here, now, to Winterrowd, for a reason I still have the orb" She touched his ar the dead tomorroill find you I will find your sister and tell her how bravely you fought and where you fell If you are injured, then I will drag you away and tend you and heal you as I did in the kitchen If you are well, then I will rejoice with you Whatever happens, Colvin, know that I atch over you I know I aain on the morrow"

His eyes filled with tears, but he clenched his jaw and held them back When he had il You know it already When you sacrifice for someone else, when you carry another’s burden instead of your own, the Medium senses it keenly It is more apt to help you when you help others Thank you, Lia You give e to face my fears I will face theratitude "I only remind you of what you already know" She looked down at the valley "Let us go to Demont"

He shook his head "It will be safer for you here in the woods You can hide easily in these hills Hoould I explain your presence in Demont’s camp? What safety would you have? If our ar’s men do to you? No, it is safer here than in the ca you are sheltered"

She wanted to go with him, but it rabbed her hand to help her down