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.‘If the Xhiang Xhi did not want to be found, we would never find it,’ Lucia said.‘But it does.’‘Then why does it not appear? Why put us through this?’‘I don’t know.The ways of the spirits are strange.Perhaps it’s testing us.Perhaps it’s curious about me, and wishes to study me first.’Kaiku did not like that thought.‘You could still turn back, Lucia,’ she said.‘It is not too late.’Lucia gave her a sorrowful look.‘Oh, it is.Far too late.’ She looked away, out of the village through the dark trees and unfamiliar foliage.‘Besides, if we turned back now we would never get out of the forest.The Xhiang Xhi wants to see me.It’s intrigued, I think.If not for that, we would not have survived even this long.’‘If it wants to see you, why is it allowing us to be harmed?’ Kaiku asked rhetorically.Lucia answered anyway.‘It wants to see me,’ she replied.‘The rest of you are expendable, perhaps.’Kaiku felt a slow chill creep through her.Lucia turned with a suddenness of movement that made Kaiku stop walking.The younger woman gazed at her with an unfamiliar purpose in her eyes.‘Lucia, what is it?’‘There are things I must say to you,’ she said.‘In case I never again get the chance to speak them.’Kaiku frowned.‘Do not talk that way.’‘I’m serious, Kaiku,’ she said.‘I don’t know if I’ll ever be this clear-headed again.’‘Of course you will!’ Kaiku protested.‘Once we get out of the forest, you will—’‘Let me speak!’ Lucia snapped.Kaiku was shocked into silence.Lucia softened.‘Forgive me.Let me say this.That is all I ask.’Kaiku nodded.‘I want to thank you.That is all.You and Mishani.I want you to know that.I appreciate everything you have done for me.For being like sisters to me.And you have always, always been on my side.When all this is done, I.’ She trailed off.‘I just wanted you to know.You have my love, and you always will.’Kaiku felt her eyes welling, and she gathered Lucia up in an embrace.‘Heart’s blood, you make it sound like a farewell.We will come through this, Lucia.You will live to tell Mishani that yourself.’ Lucia clutched her closer.‘I will protect you, even if it means my life.’‘There are some things that even you cannot protect me from,’ Lucia whispered.And then she looked up, over Kaiku’s shoulder, and some aspect of her body language told Kaiku there was somebody there.She turned, and it was Heth.‘Is Tsata with you?’ he asked without apology or preamble.The tone in his voice killed the caustic reply Kaiku was about to make.‘I have not seen him,’ she replied instead.‘But he left to go after you,’ Heth said, his features animate with confusion as he wrestled with the unfamiliar Saramyrrhic syllables.‘Into the forest.’‘I have not been out of the village,’ Kaiku said.‘He saw you leave,’ Heth persisted.‘I was with him.I did not see you, but he did.He said he must talk with you.’An odd foreboding was settling into Kaiku’s marrow.‘When was this?’‘A few minutes ago.Peithre has worsened; I came to fetch him.’Kaiku looked at Lucia.‘Three nights past, the night I was attacked by the spirit in the trees.I saw you walk out into the forest, and I went to follow you.’Lucia looked blank.‘I didn’t leave my tent that night.I was asleep, and there were guards outside.’‘Gods!’ Kaiku hissed.‘Go back to the camp! Heth, show me where he went!’Heth obeyed without hesitation, while Lucia hurried away, alarmed.Kaiku followed the Tkiurathi for a short distance, until he stopped and pointed.‘That way.’Kaiku’s irises turned red.She would never be able to track a Tkiurathi through conventional means, even if she had the necessary skills; but in the Weave she could still hunt him.She could see his scent-trail, the faint agitation of air in his wake, the memory of his breath and the reverberation of his heartbeat.‘See to Peithre,’ she murmured.‘You cannot help me now.’And with that, she plunged into the forest.It swallowed her eagerly.Hanging vines and tendrils of blue plants brushed at her as she ran
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