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"Soon, I'll return to Tornin for his head Would you like that? How does the idea of your brother's deatha weather report for a town I don't live in"

"I almost want you to have loyalty to hih to use that weapon on hiuards andhi "Let o!"

He'turned froazed down at the sword-the most remarkable one Rydstrom had ever beheld The weapon felt like an extension of his arlance at it His brother had risked his life to claim this for him, and Rydstrom hadn't said a word of thanks

Just now, Cadeon had looked at hied with relief "Lanthe, where are you?" Her sister's voice had come to her once before when Sabine had screaain

Di birds What happened to you?"

"The deht me and chained me to his bed"

"He did what? As soon as I lose these assles, I' to do? Portal him to death?" Sabine said "Can you evade the Vrekeners forjust stand by!"

Rydstro at her with pain and confusion in his dark eyes He reached for her, but instead of touching her body again, he began to free her bonds

She held her breath Was he letting her go?

"Do you knohat I sahen you told me to dream of what I needed most?' His voice was hoarse as he unchained her ankles "I dreamed of you and of our son We were happy, Sabine I was able towas indescribable"

"Lanthe, he's freeing er!"

Rydstrom continued, "But now I know that will never happen"

Once he'd released her, she shot to her feet and scrambled back from him, but he just sank onto the side of the bed, his face exhausted, his cheek marked from her nails

"Lanthe, are you still there?" Sabine took only enough ti it over her head, then she headed out

At the doorway, she said, "Look, Rydstrom, I'll be back in six days I promise you"

"No, you won't I'm done, Sabine"

She whirled around "What? Rydstro out the worst inhis head in his hands People did that in grief, or in the realization that soiven up on her And she wanted to ask hiive him reasons why he shouldn't But Lanthe was out there alone, defenseless

"All we're going to do is continue hurting each other I don't want you to return," he said quietly, but with steel in his tone

"Deaze "Do not co, she lance at him, she ran fro?"

"I-I just got broken up with"