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going to take us. Use my body until they couldn't get any more money out of me and then kill me. You, they would have kept you working until your mind broke from the strain of bonding Vilathos. I saved both of our lives!"
    She was crying. Why was she crying? She rarely ever cried.
    "Oh, Ezzy," Nolan whispered, then leaned in and wrapped his spindly arms around her.
    She didn't know why, but that one action by her closest friend opened up the floodgates. Ezzy began to sob uncontrollably.
    "I'm sorry," she got out between sobs. "I don't know what I'm doing anymore."
    He held her tight, giving her reassuring pats on the back when the tears flowed strongest.
    "I've had everything taken away from me, Nolan," she cried into his shoulder. "My father, my life. My mother and brothers struggle to get by every day. I should be home, putting what money father left me to make things better. Instead I'm dragging you all over Ven Khilada, hunting rumors in some vain attempt to find some justice. Or revenge. I don't know which it is anymore."
    "It's justice, Ezzy. I wouldn't be here if it was anything other than justice. We just need to be more careful. Especially with a bounty on your head."
    "Oh, Nolan." Ezzy pulled back so that she could wipe her eyes and try to gain some control over her emotions. "Mother will be so disappointed in me when those posters start going up in Lurthalan. And she'll have bounty hunters bothering her all the time."
    "We'll get a letter to her when we pass through Lurthalan that explains everything. I'm sure she will understand."
    "It would be better if I told her in person."
    "We can't take that chance now. Word of your bounty will reach Lurthalan long before we do. If I was a bounty hunter, the very first place I would stake out would be your mother's home."
    "Ugh," she grumbled, sitting back and putting her face in her hands. "You're right. As always. That must be a great feeling, to always be right."
    "It's troublesome at the best of times," Nolan replied. His smile signaled that he knew her words held no ill will. "I would avoid Lurthalan completely if we could, but we will need to get supplies, and any other settlement would take us too far out of the way."
    "So, you have an idea of where this Saniteal is?" Hope perked her right up.
    "Yes, the man I talked to today said that this Iacane fellow mentioned he was headed down to Shade. Something about researching the effects The Wall has on the people that live beneath it."
    "That's wonderful!" Falling forward, she wrapped her arms around Nolan's neck. He struggled to keep them both from tipping over, finally succeeding after a few grunts and groans. "Well, I don't really know that much about Shade. That's the Janpair family's region after all. But it's still a great lead."
    "Yes, well, it means a lot more traveling," he said, carefully detaching her arms from around his neck. Ezzy couldn't help but smile when she saw that he was blushing. The old stiff. He really was bad at handling any emotion other than irritation.
    "Not a problem. We're becoming experts at roaming the land."
    Rising with the help of his cane, Nolan glanced around the makeshift camp.
    "Well then, expert traveler. Should we get going? There is still plenty of daylight left, and the trek to Lurthalan will take us eight or nine days on foot. Might as well get a strong start."
    "Sounds like a plan. I'm looking forward to a nice, leisurely stroll across the plains to Lurthalan. Should be fun."
    Grinning, Ezzy began packing up her things while Nolan worked some life into his bad knee.
    Paz remained where he had last stopped, waiting for an order to move.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER FOUR
    Change of Faith
    The trip took more than eight days and it certainly was not pleasant.
    Nolan had lived most of his forty-seven years without taking a single step outside of Lurthalan. He had been born there, trained there, and had all he needed in the city. When he