Kranntfrgivfrkiinganinnntprsn.

Btanraysribnsaspp?

Arthaniastaintbythagifanvig?

Itsanbasttrnzar.

Thnstritsfisasrhanthanthn.

Thviisthppptfthvig,thnyfthvig,anthspiritfthvig.

Frhans,itisntfrinship,nynthhansi.

Avihangshisinbsannfrgivabvi.

EvnagGanntshry.

Hisrrntxistnisan.

Itisagratsinthatthyarinthisr.

Frthisinarnatin,thgratKrsKr,thvihntrgKarga,nrstthis.

S,hrvtathns,ganba.

ThrnKananntthisbasithasntytnrstanxprinthnightnthvifG.

IfKrrayxprinththratf``G'sWi,''thnhnrstanyEthghtthaty.

Krin'tvnnrstanatans.

Sinhisanintta,xistingkngannthphiknhathsntaraykn

Bsis,fightingvinsisntabtknng.

AringtEi,thfarfthnhasntbnrsv.

ThissprbabybasEhrsfhanvrfghtan,sshn'txpainitintai.

Hvr,E,hasthbkfravnagianEAzif'sris,anntsnsthaagthnisasing.

Thisisnbarab.

Ein'tknhattsay.

Itisiffitttransatatyknntaangagthatthrsannrstan.

Shinprhnsibanystriskngisxtryiffittxpain.

"Arn'tyirta?"

TKr'sstin,Eansriiaty.

"Dythinkit'sstiaiv?"

"Cansaythatthvingaisaiv?"

"Ifthisanansaythathisaivbasfhisnitin,hprbabyntstitsii."

"In'tthinkanynntstivikthat."

"Haptsthathisaivanxistsbashisnthan,btanstr."

Whnyrinanbybaniasyaptyrxistnasanania.

Othrs,hanhapthisfasanstr?

Envriaginthatthrarppinthisrahsvstbnstrs.

Itisiffitfrab-bipptaptisabiity.

Ifhaptsit,haptsitharty.

As,ifaanaitshisanstr,hisarayanstr.

Onthsbsanania,thrisnytsavit.

Basatthistihisviprntrhiss.

Myshasbipr.

Yanntsapfrthprfthvig.

Aprsnfishisfnvrbanagain.

Thagiaprfthviganntbstppbythfan.

Eknhsanstr.

Thrisnytsavhi,hisjstananiainhanskin.

Byivingikthis,yannybringpatthrs.

Shvi,ihvrsafInnsth,thisrarprsntsthgrhfthrsasns.

Asashfhanthght,itsntxist.

Nthankfy,thistrainisntgingtInnsth.

Hvr,thgafaintainingthirtainsinshntbssthanthstrtinasbythisn.

Eithry,itsn'tgivyhp.

Btnnanfrgiv.

Drasrthrisstryanhangntasitstb.

anthrr

Aiffrntrfithzbis,aiffrntrthiffrntrs.

Cratapsitin.

Itstbthgratvi.

Dsthagirkifyn'tkatitfrai?

Thsizfthisnsstiniatthatthrisskinfarknss.

Ethghtthrsf.

"Cpartaifikthis,itightbbttrtirtystryanthrprsn."

216vi

Aaiyarns.

HrantInnsth.

Thrsnnbhinhi,bthisxprssinsasifhbivthatskinfaniasfnghi.

Hrantrsapaikightning,anhisspsfastrthananrinaryprsn.

Lightningisstsribara-ifsitatin.

Thisisntanxaggratin.

AnybstainfrntfhranbrshintstbfrAaiyah'sightning.

Basthhanbythatanvatshaspshhavnhaniaps.

IfthhanbysntasstrngasAria'sby,hrbyhavbnbrknatahighsp.

Evnai-airisinanassrisaag.

Hvr,ryingnynigratinnthp.

"Aaaah!"

Aryastppinhrtraks.

NtbasInttit,btbasthrisnthryfrr.

Asahangripphisby.

HishansnhrshranhpshAyathightningsp.

Infat,thrisnyntinthissitatin.

Whnhrahthfastvingbjt,than'sarsbrkn.

Ariathght,sshn'trnayfrhi.

Hvr,thistithrstsxhisxptatins.

Thankstthispa,hintsap.

AhansthnpanAaiyah'shst.

Thishstpainfsikatfprssr.

Withasnthatsnikbnsbraking,Aria'sbyfabtfivtrstthgrn,fainganrshingthrinsbfrfaingtthgrninfrntfthstn,kingrikarpti.thanasktn.

Thisrisntnra.

It'saiffrntrthatiffrsfrthafthrar,anisthrstfasprhanvnrrptingthrartsi.

Bnpain.

Ariasinshpainthatshn'tsraanyr.

Hisvistrak.

Ariaintnrstanathappnthr.

Inhisry,hhatnthainiffAzathth'sbk,anhapparhr.

Whatsyrintntinatthatti?

Unfrtnaty,Aaiyah'srisstbthrintthinair.

Aftraihrgainnsisnss.

Apparnty,IjstftWiniT,syaIstihr?

Whatabatifpathisis!

Ariastaratthisstrangpa.

Nattrhkatit,thsitatinisntraitry.

Itissiiartthrar,btthrarsiffrns.

This"sa"iffrnisnghtratasitatinthatisiffrntfrthrar.

Ariahasnytxprsshrsf,thisisthrar.

Thpaininyhsttitsn'tara.

Thisisthtrth,thisisathappnt,thisisthirntrth.

Btybrainan'tnrstanathappn.

BtAaiyahanaptanthinkfastin.

"Dn'tihr."

"Syshatr!"

Ariasraasifaprffrhabnrvfrhrby.

Hvr,nattrhtrnghs,ifhsthishiishbyasabx,hisiitsrtrrifying.

Inaitin,itisgthatitsntbrnyrby.

Thhpfrhavnyirasisjstara.

AriantsthissninfrntfAria,sntstAiya.

Thiagisvrthashaak,ann'tvnsanygnrharatristis.

AIansayisthatthysfthrpparsiiartthysfanias.

Thrisnn,thrisasnssskiingintnt,anaharatrssthavtfah.

Darknssanhasartryvi.

Athghinvisibtthhany,Ariaisinfaib.

"aryintrst?"

Itisaystrisvisstbsiing.

"Thatisnngrthas."

Thvifthvisrainganpayingthtainstrntisraythvifthvi.

Itsntahanvi,btaviistrtbyagi.

"Yrrasarfrthstart."

Thvispkagain,anthistithrsnkryinhisvi.

Hisvisffpity,btthatpityintprg.

Nbtitsfrabaprsnaity.

Arianfir,satisfi.

Shn'txpainhahrbys,btAriatkarfhrbyanntin.

Thipatisikightninganthbinatinisikastr.

Aya'shansbganttrb,hrsahansasifstrkbyightning,anthnthrsathnrffir.

Thnfrf,anAria'shanissthny.

As,hsvryfast,fastrthanAria'shans.

Atthisrat,Aryan'tbabthithrppnntvnifshsfat.

Onththrhan,ifystp,ybkibythisrangnattak.

Atthispint,Ariaptyfrgtthatshsanianfghtthahrightikanignrantbrt.

Aryafinayraizsthistakanfatsthnfrasikyaspssib.

Aighthanstrkthn'sby,anafigrhininthshaattakAria.

Ariathinksthatshbhrtrfatbythatppnnt.

Ifnt,hanthrpartisavifightingahthr?

Ifnt,atastitrks.

Othrs,hanthvihstfathisf?

Ariathght,thisisathappn.

Btthat'sthngga.

Arya'shansfat.

Thn'sbysasthikasstn,anthfrfitsrjtinfAriasvring.

Atfirst,thbhatasiypntratsvntapatsannyinjritsf.

Bnsy,anAriaftthpainfhrbrknar.

Ariaikyrtrat.

"ah!"

IbisthAiyah'sstahanftnfs,anstpAiyah'sby.

"Iarayhity,btin'ty?

Stpianstrngfns.

Atthvryast,it'sngtfightnsthyrbarhans.

Ariantithis.

In'tknhatththrprsnsai,btthkiingintntsar.

Dn'trryabtathsai,ifyan'tbathi,hn'tbaty.

Hisrightarsparayz,asifpisn,anhn'tvitagainnsshnttthhspita.

Singingrrainghatsph.

Likightning,ikfyingagi.

Thnagh,bvisykinghisppnnt'saknss.

Hvaftrsay,vinghisrighthan.

Thightninganfassnbythsprintrrpt.

Aaiyah'sagiisfaingfastanhar.

Hishanasanasthithrfa.

Aaiyahbnt,rsshrhanarssthspa,antkAaiyah'shan.

"Yanitn"

WhnAriahantthSpiritfWrs,agintintfainthfrfightning.

ThightningntinarnAria.

Evnthghthrisshathingasightning,nattrhkatit,ightningisaightning.

Inparabhat,rthanprity,ikthsn.

Bthisprgrsssikightning.

Thstrangnssstbnfir.

ThightningsnagiinhartAria.

Anvrythingthinrangbstrkbyightning.

Atthatnt,ightningstrkthn'sby,anththvringhixp,rvainghishinfa.

ThisanisinsparabfrAaiyah.

Srprisingy,vnaftrbingstrkbyightning,hisbysnhar.

Itisntinity,bashhasaniinsystinsihisby.

highaity.

Evnagiffstrtivpranntharthny.

Thssaixtrfrpss,b,angarbag.

Itsthsfpain,thsftrribspirits.

Ariakatthaninfrntfhr.Hksthsa,btit'sarynthi.

BasIiksns...

Itssikthsansfppivinthgir'sag.

Cratrsthatatanfrgivhansnpringvrhans.

"nstr"

Myarsrshbythn'sstrangpr,anIftikIsgingtbrsh.

Ariasstppanyathrinangr.

"Mnstr?N,I'y."

AarnsaithisbfrkikingArya.

Thbyfthynganftthgrn.

"Ystin'tnrstan?Arthranyrisft?Orisitbasyn'tnttrbr?"

"Vrysaanba."

Asifrainggby,SatanatAiyah.

Hvr,Ariasshragitfighthi.

Thnvhishan,hispaikyrgnizingAria'sagi.

"Thnyn'tyspangivyrbyt?"

"It'sntagiatbintinstntrthby."

"Gingtth'rativ'vnrthsirstansisavrygytstantinsharrptr."

Thviagh,aghy.

"Ifnt,hanIrvthisfthininyby?"

ShaiankptAaiyah,tkhrrighthan,anhhrhainhisfingrs.

Hsn'tstar.

Hvr,thinkingfyrsfasaprsnisashrttifraprsn.

Thrfr,thnstranntbfat.

ThgnaCthnbinsthnptsfCthhanYg-Sthth.

Hvr,hrtrprsnaityisniffrntfranvigikNyak.

Inaitin,sinthrisnprftvig,thirprisrthannravigs.

Strngrthanhans.

Civiizvignsfhansatast.

Ofrs,Aria'sanntfathrppnnt.

BtthissthfirsttiIkp.

Thisistaratinshipththtsirthatisiffrntfrthafthrar.

Othrs,thvihashafthvts.

Btthisnthappn,basthviistryingtbthvi.

ThrisnhannitinrviHySpirit.

Whatifthan'ssisapparsbfrthnsinthhanr?

Evrythingisprgrssing.

Evrythingntaringtpan.

Thnttahrribagh,anthtrrifyingsptrnintphysiaprssr.

Sny,abranhpirthn'ssnrnk.

Itstartstbrakffthtipfthbranh,anfrsitsn'tstiktthbranhata.

HansthingthatanntbpirbyastnbabtpiranviifG?

"Isthisthastti?"

Thn,thrsasnikanggshbraking,anarakapparinanthrr.

Aaiyah'sysn.

"at'sp?"

Thnaskasifhin'tnrstanatshappning.

Whnthvigsns,thspiritaprfthtrnsfrthtsir.

Atthatti,anvigapparinthtp.

Thrissthingthathasintthrfrtharknss,thabyss,itsarknss,itsspair,itstrnity.

Dagnssnfrthgristpfhispanstr,Lyria.

Sthingarkspfrthpagsfthbk.

Thsfthtrnisaptranthrisaarking.

Atthisti,thnrsstry.

Basfthvig'sagianthvig'sstrtivpr,thnrhasbrrpt.

217ThaySatanavs

ThisisInnsthAbby.

AthghthisisinthtprthppfInnsthpray,thistpsntbitinInnsth.

Thtpisnatnasaisanabt300natiaisastfInnsth.

Hvr,thisshrtistanpssnpartiarbstafrap-saivrsvisitingInnsth.

Thrfr,thppvisitthistparsayaniashavaknthstrangvisins.

ThDparsnantsfDagn,thvigfthsa.

Wavsfairatfthtpftast,asifagrpfgsraning.

Itisntairixthirtyairiksaair.

Itssftha.

Asrasharinthtp.

Thrstbastrngnbnganaarkatsphr.

Thisvinanthsfabisisisgsting.

Btfrthsinthtp,thisisntanrn.

Basthyratthsras.

Aisastrrrinthtp,anthntrappinthtrshtrrfrtThnrthabsfthpp.

Thsrasthatfrthiras.

ThDpOnsshnryantrtrthrissy.

Btatastthyaraiv.

Ifyan'tsthprsn'sbyrfigr,thrstaybg.

Dpivrsarntannibasanntkippfrpasr.

Thyarhrtak"gratsarifis."

AsarifisatDagn,thgfthsa.

Onytthisistsarifiyrif.

Itisasasypry.

ThpristsfthDpPpaskthvnrabrststaninthgratsarfthtp.

Shisrssaninvisib.

UnikShnLn'spanins,rsrrnbybantth,thrsnsfkiingnthhaf-fish'sby.

Ofrs,thatsn'tanhin'tkianyn.

Infat,itprbabykirppthanathivrstthr,atastafis.

Btitin'tsikarrr,itsikrpss,b,anptin.

Infat,hssatisfiththsaratsphrthatthhighpristshhav.

AsthpristfDagn,hisvnrystristhanthpristfthgs.

Hvr,thisisntthasfthsbhavirs.

Ifs,pristsbivinvigsntbahrtis.

Thirbabhaviranprvrtthinkingarrjtbythsity.

Thisisnrasnabannaptab.

"Dn'tyhavnghti?"

Thhaf-fishsaiinastrangvi.

Astrangvithatbistaknfraprsn.

Vspasiansiaitt.

"It'sastti,pasbpatint."

AsnfthnsrsfthBakSantary,Vspasianpatintyxpaintthhaf-Mrkr.

.that.)

Athghthrsnfishxprssinnhisfa,Vspasiannsirthisfishnssinhishart.

Infat,agiiansrthsntnrstanthnsnsthatrinaryppshhav.

Iasbivthatvnasaintanntshinnssnfathshasitatin.

Vspasianhanpsyhgiaprbthsingphansinhisxprints.

"Ray?Sat'syrpan?"

Thhaf-rananstbaskingintrstingstins,btitsthattharathatrsiinhisby,tharathatbaphysiaprssr,brghtbarsts.

It'sntjstrisity.

Kn'systrntVspasian.

"H'sbnhrangti.Ynttshi?Yan."

Vspasianxprssitstrtypiay.

Aarkvisyrganatrribappar.

"Ifthat'sthas,DirtrLrihpasstpt."

WhnVspasianspkthrbyastrangna,astranganapparfrthinhr.

Thnakanfatsighty,hrngarkgrnhairvinginthn,anshstaratvrynthystrisys.

Thrisng,nsha,annvi.

ThkfthMastrsstshsptfrthgir.

Thhaf-fishtrbsythtsinghisys.

"Isthisaagibk?"

Thranspkstrangyabtthan'strintity.

Assnknatabtagi,hanfinitytthatthisisththrsifaagibk.

Ananynantakhanfrstbaagiabkbngingtthriginaann.

Aarrhrishisiaganratr.

Ofrs,thissntanthatagiik"transfratin"anntbs.

Btitsipssib,sitsipssibfrthhaf-rantnti.

ErHaf-Fish,anxprtinthagiar,finityhashavisin.

SinhsthhighpristanhighpristfaythiaratrikthPrfan,thrsnyhsrthanafaiania.

"Ys,thisagiabkisnnttthriginatxt,thRktxt."

Vspasianstrththishananstrththishin,

“Thriginaspbksaspbkthathathprtsn'gs'.

In,thisisanhnstythatnnanny.

Thriginaagibkin'tvnhavaBakSantaryavisr.

Cratingabkfthisvfagithshiatinrprsntsthssnfarknss.

Thrhaffthfishrshavnrasntbsspiisfthirrivas.

Thisishtshb.

Hvr,thrhaffthfishrsbivthatththrhafisntsaf.

Itsfrth"arnss"thatsfrrtrningttrnasrr

Basfthiskng,thhaf-fishstiannttrstanthrprsn.

Hvr,isagringannttakingavantagfahthrartiffrntnpts.

Thhaf-fishhasapantxpitthntirbgtfhisppnnt.

Rgarssfthpininfthfatin,ifthfatinitathvig,asngasthstpsrthsainthsapan,thhaf-fishfinityahivthfinavitry.Itshbhis.

Hstihasthatnfin.

Ofrs,Vspasiansnfint.

Vspasiansavryxprinastrfthisagi.

Sinthisisasarifitanvig,thrisnntbarf.

Basitisipssibfraaantfightan.

Thrisnythatananiasbyanvigisanvispirit.

Ashsansk,sattrss?Yansthstrs.

Vspasiansray,bthin'tthinkhsapfrthvig.