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.But it was too late.Vines shot downward, their leaves rustling like the hissing of a serpent, and wrapped around Talieth's waist.Before she could complete her invocation, more wrapped round her arms and tightened.The Lady of Sentinelspire thrashed and screamed, but like Sauk, the more she struggled the more she entangled herself.More vines wound out of the forest to grapple her."Kheil! Lewan! Help me!" But then she was gone, pulled out of sight into the branches.Lewan froze, crouched under the tree, the hammer in his hand.He was too frightened to move, afraid that more vines might come for him.But none did.He could still hear thrashing overhead, Talieth and Sauk screaming.An occasional branch or leaf fell, but no more vines dangled down."Lewan."He turned to see his master.With his knife still in hand, Berun rushed out of the shadows and embraced Lewan.Lewan squeezed him back."Master, what just happened?"Berun pulled away.He glanced up at the boughs where Talieth and Sauk were still screaming.Then he looked backat Lewan and said, "I think they have displeased the master of this tower.""The Old Man?"Berun nodded."I never knew him to possess powers such as these.It seems what Sauk told me is true.He has learned to bend my master's power to his own will.""I've seen him, Master!" said Lewan, and it all came out in a rush."The Old Man.He came to me.On the mountain.He said.he said that Talieth and Sauk were lying, that he was out to save the world.He said he needed my help, master! He—""Lewan," said Berun.Not a shout, but enough force to cut off Lewan's stream of words.Berun held him by the shoulders and smiled."It is good to see you again.I feared the worst.They didn't harm you?""N-no, Master.They—""I'm sorry, Lewan," said Berun, his smile fading and his face becoming grim."I pray you'll be able to tell me all about it later.Now, you must find someplace to hide.""What? Where are you going?"Berun looked up at the tower."I was given a task.During the Jalesh Rudra.I must fulfill my oath."The Jalesh Rudra.Lewan had so much to tell Berun, so many questions, so much to confess."I'll come with you," he said."No, Lewan.Listen—""No!" Lewan shouted.All of the terror and secrets and worry rose up in him, boiling over and turning into white-hot anger."No, you listen! You can't just order me to run off and hide every time it gets dangerous.Look how that worked last time! I begged—I begged to go with you, but you ordered me away without so much as an explanation.I'm hunted down by a bunch of murderers looking for you, dragged off and told that everything you ever told me was a lie!""I never lied to you, Lewan.""You never told me about Kheil!"Berun flinched at that, but his heavy gaze returned to Lewan."No.No, I didn't.But I didn't lie.Kheil died—and he deserved to die.Who I am now—""I don't know who you are anymore!"Berun dropped his hands but he would not drop his gaze."I have much the same problem.""Then let me come with you.Whatever you're going to face in there, we can face it together.""No, Lewan."Above them, the screaming had stopped, though they still heard occasional thrashing."What makes you think you can stop me from following you?" said Lewan."Nothing," said Berun."I am sorry I missed your Jalesh Rudra.But one thing you must learn about the difference between being a man and a child is doing the right thing, not the thing you want.If even half of what Sauk told me is true.we stand on the razor's edge.If we fail." He shook his head, and his expression hardened."Time to grow up, Lewan.You need to realize what your limitations are.I'm more proud of you than I know the words to tell, but you must understand that if you go with me, you will limit what I can do.My concern will be for you.I can't have that.I need you gone.The world needs you gone.Go to the Shalhoond and find one of the Circles.Beg for their aid.""My place is with you," said Lewan."To aid you.""No, Lewan.Where I am going you could not aid me.My concern—my love—for you would only hinder me.It's going to be all I can do to stay alive in there.I can't worry about you, too.""I'm not a child anymore.""I know you aren't.Now it's time to make the man's choice.If I fail here—even if I succeed here—we may still need the aid of the Circles.You can find them.Tell them everything you know.""And how do you expect me to get out?" said Lewan."I've been through the tunnels.Without a guard warded against the guardians—""You've been through the Gallery of Stone Faces?""With Sauk," said Lewan, and he was surprised to find that he had already accepted Berun's order.How had he given in so easily? Why?"Listen to me," said Berun.He gripped Lewan's arms again and crouched to look him eye to eye."If you can get there quick, find one of the bodies I left behind.""B-bodies?""The guards.They had keys to pass the guardians.Drag one of the bodies with you.Keep it with you on the mountain as well.As long as you can.I know it will slow you, but there are guardians on the mountainside.Once you reach the steppe, you should be safe.""What if I can't find a body?" said Lewan."What if others have come and taken them already?"Berun looked at him long and hard, then glanced at the hammer in Lewan's hand."Then you'll have to get your own.It's the only way." Berun pulled Lewan to him, holding him in a fierce embrace, then pulled away."You've been like a son to me, Lewan.Get out alive.Get out of here and far away
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