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‘Adie！’ He pulled her face close to his。 They are no good to you dead。 We will e back for them； after we get away from that thing。’
Her chest heaved。 Tears welled up in her eyes。 ‘Please； Zedd。 Please； my bones。 You don’t understand。 They be important。 They have magic。 They may help us to close the veil。 If they fall into the wrong hands 。。。’
Zedd whistled for the horse。 He was moving again； pulling her along with him。 She protested every step of the way。
‘Zedd； Please！ Don’t do this！ Don’t leave them！’
‘Adie！ If we die； we can’t help anyone！’
The horse galloped up； skidding to a stop。 Her wide eyes rolled in near panic as she saw the thing pulling itself through the walls of the house； splintering and snapping boards and beams。 She gave a frightened scream； but held her ground as Zedd gripped her mane and threw himself on her back； hauling Adie up behind。
‘Go！ Fly like the wind； girl！’
Hooves flung chunks of dirt and moss high into the air as the horse leapt out； fangs snapping at her flanks。 Zedd crouched forward； Adie clutching him around the waist as they galloped into the darkness。 The skrin wasn’t ten strides behind； and looked to be as fast as the horse。 At least it wasn’t faster。 Zedd could hear the teeth snapping。 The horse squealed when they did； stretching to run with everything she had。 He wondered who could run the longest； the horse or the skrin； and he was afraid he knew the answer。
CHAPTER 24
Richard’s eyes opened。 ‘I think someone is ing。’
Sister Verna was sitting on the other side of the small fire； writing in the little book she kept tucked behind her belt。 She looked up from under her eyebrows。 ‘You have touched your Han； yes？’
‘No；’ he admitted。 His legs ached。 He must have been sitting without moving for at least an hour。 ‘But I’m telling you； I think someone is ing。’
They did this every night； and it was no different this time。 He would sit and picture the sword； on a blank background； and try to reach that place within himself that she said was there； but he could not find； while she watched him； or wrote in her little book； or touched her own Han。 He had not visualized the sword on a black square with a white border since the first night。 He had no desire to chance revisiting that nightmare。
‘I am beginning to think I’m not able to touch my Han。 I’m trying my best； but it just isn’t working。’
She drew the book close to her face in the moonlight and resumed writing。 ‘I have told you before； Richard； it is something that takes time。 You have not yet begun to have had enough practice。 Do not be discouraged。 It es when it es。’
‘Sister Verna； I’m telling you； someone is ing。’
She kept writing。 ‘And if you are not able to touch your Han； Richard； how would you know this？ Hmm？’
‘I don’t know。’ He raked his fingers through his hair。 ‘I’ve spent a lot of time alone in the woods。 Sometimes I can just feel when someone is near。 Don’t you ever know when someone is near？ Haven’t you ever felt someone’s eyes on you？’
‘Only with the aid of my Han；’ she said as she wrote。
He watched as firelight flickered across her dispassionate face。 ‘Sister Verna； you said we were in dangerous lands。 I’m telling you； someone is ing。’
She leafed back through the book； squinting as she read in the dim light。 ‘And how long have you known this； Richard？’
‘I told you as soon as I had the feeling； just a moment ago。’
She lowered the book to her lap and looked up。 ‘But you say you did not touch your Han？ You felt nothing within yourself？ You felt no power？ Saw no light？ Did not sense the Creator？’ Her eyes narrowed。 ‘You had better not be lying to me； Richard。 You had better never lie to me about touching your Han。’
‘Sister Verna； you’re not listening！ Someone is ing！’
She closed the book。 ‘Richard； I have known since you began your practice that someone approaches。’
He stared at her in surprise。 Then why are we just sitting here？’
‘We are not just sitting here。 You are practicing reaching your Han； and I’m tending to my business。’
‘Why haven’t you said anything？ You told me this land is dangerous。’
Sister Verna sighed and began tucking her book back behind her wide belt。 ‘Because they were still some distance off。 There was nothing else for us to do but to continue。 You need the practice。 You must keep trying until you are able to touch your Han。’ She shook her head with resignation。 ‘But I suppose you are too agitated now to continue。 They are still ten or fifteen minutes away； we may as well begin packing our things。’
‘Why now？ Why didn’t we leave as soon as you sensed them？’
‘Because we had been spotted。 Once we have been discovered； there is no way to escape these people。 This is their land； we would not be able to outrun them。 It’s probably a sentinel who has found us。’
‘Then why do you want to pack to leave now？’
She regarded him as if he were hopelessly thick。 ‘Because we can’t spend the night here after we kill them。’
Richard leapt to his feet。 ‘Kill them！ You don’t even know who is ing； and already you plan to kill them？’
Sister Verna stood； drawing herself up straight； and peered into his eyes。 ‘Richard； I have done my best to prevent this。 Have we seen anyone else before now？ No。 Even though these people cover this land like a swarm of angry ants； we have seen no one。 I have led us between anyone I could sense with my Han； in an effort to avoid contact。 I have done my best to avoid trouble。 Sometimes； even when you do your best； trouble cannot be avoided。 I do not want to kill these people； but they are intent on killing us。’
That certainly explained why they had been traveling such a peculiar route。 Although they had been heading steadily southeast for weeks； they had done so in an odd fashion。 Without ever explaining； she had directed them first one way； then another； occasionally backtracking； but always； relentlessly； southeast。
The barren land had bee progressively rockier and more desolate。 He had not bothered asking about their route because he didn’t think she would tell him； and because he didn’t care。 Wherever they went； he was still a prisoner。
Richard scratched his new beard as he started kicking dirt over the fire。 It was a warm night； as most had been lately。 He wondered what had happened to winter。 ‘We don’t even know who they are yet。 You can’t just go killing anyone that shows up。’
‘Richard。’ She clasped her hands together。 ‘Not all the Sisters who try to return are successful。 Many are killed trying to cross these lands。 In every case； there were three Sisters。 I am but one。 Not good odds。’
The horses nickered and began moving about； tossing their heads and pawing their hooves。 Richard strapped the baldric over his shoulder。 He checked that the sword was clear in its scabbard。
‘You were wrong； Sister； not to try to get away as soon as you knew。 If you have to fight； it should be because there is no other way。 You didn’t even try。’
Hands still clasped together； she watched him。 Her voice was soft but firm。 These people are intent upon killing us； Richard。 Both of us。 If we had tried to run； this one would have alerted the others； and brought hundreds； thousands； to bring us down。 I have not run so as to embolden this one into trying to take us himself； so we can end the threat。’
‘I’m not killing people for you； Sister Verna。’
As they glared at each other； he heard a scream： a woman’s scream。 He stared out into the night； trying to see into the shadows of the rocky spires； trying to see where the scream came from。 He couldn’t see anyone； but the screams and cries were ing closer。
Richard kicked dirt over the last of the flames and sprinted to the horses； calming them with reassuring words and gentle strokes。 He didn’t care what she said； he wasn’t killing people on her word。 The woman was crazy not to want to try to escape。
She probably wanted a fight； just to see what he would do。 She wa