Page 76 (1/2)

N&iu her hand on her pants "She's been conde about?"

"This is the morsus, the crudest poison-because it causes inconceivable pain upon the withdrawal Sabine would have had to take a regular dose of this poison to keep it at bay"

"Ah, gods, she'd been trying to get back to Oo Istopped her"

"Then he's the one who has done this to her It makes sense that he'd use this to control her for all these years"

"What will happen to her?"

"Have you touched her skin? Did you feel that pain?" When he nodded, she said, "You're experiencing pos­sibly a percent of what Sabine is There's supposed to be

no greater agony It feels like being scalded and stabbed, as if your skin is being pincered froet a thousand tireat, it will prove a shock to her body, so intense that her heart will stop"

"It already has!" Inhaling deeply, he tried to calm his tone "What can I do?"

N&iu help her The only person who can save her is the one who poisoned her Rydstrom, you need to prepare your­self Sabine will have one heart attack after another

"No! No, so "Tera, Mariketa-" "Will only confirm what I've said" "What about Sabine's sister-she's saved her

before!"

"Ah, Melanthe, the potential Queen of Persuasion Healing another is one of the hardest processes to effect And her power is weak, onlyitself in unpredictable fits and spurts"

Rydstroainst Sabine's, des­perate to take this pain froazed up at the Valkyrie, unashamed to beseech her "N&iu youabout Sabine," she said, "you will kill her now"

In between fevered waves of agony, she'd heard Ryd­stro thick, he'd pleaded, "Cwena,

fight this forme" He'd threatened, "What am I supposed to do without you? You can't leave rave, Sabine"

And when another wave had crashed down and she'd thrown back her head and shrieked, he'd roared with his own pain and confusion, clutching her so tightly, until her screams died down

Sometimes, she heard other voices The brother was

often here Two fe beside her on

the bed, stroking her hair But another as build-

ing buildingAnd each one orse than the

last

"Rydstrom"

"I'm here, Sabine" He kissed her palht here"

"Kill h her body "Please"

His dark eyes were frantic "Never!"