breath

word. I was frozen, and my fingers looped back down to my pa

he added, thi

it va

He blinked once - twice, and whatever h

led with dar

and restrained

ce was sharp now, no tremo

s fingers dug in, bu

it either," I said. "When I touche

ip tig

me without

ping you fr

s denser. A door banged in the distance. Boots echoed. Life wen

the ground, as if he could barely hold me

e," h

head. "Ye

ant quarters," he

d snap

g rigidly straight and gripping h

imself, in case what you have done

sn't,"

ed me

said. And in case you are l

ed. "I un

tep toward me

e again,

ashed again

ow

a second. Then

ouched hi

th

ept up

r," he

ed on his chest. I touched his ski

ond f

looded

es, and the slight crack in the ceiling above us. In a polished

h it all,

s sorrow--ancient and prof

cked in

e said in a lo

h he was in fear that the world would

you see?"

Your cane is near your foot. Your banner

roat b

ide

but retained

ward," I said

d...Per

re certain. His shoulders e

I had seen him look

I fel

pull in

ion fli

The hall disappeared in my o

s fr

aid. "Brin

ered. My knees wea

hing hard, again gaz

his face was again

tell no on

ded q

s to make use of what you can do, he added. and should my f

ran th

every night, he said. "In s

art s

lic?" I ask

sted in a sad

c, you ar

were lost in some m

was back to

ithout even looking at me. I was taking trays

d something behind

my he

t nig

the Blind Alpha an

out maps, faces, weapons. He was a good listener, and he woul

said to me: Y

ened. "

too quick, he answ

our hand

obbed, regular now

t fear me

ld," I

you d

n't a

ht, he

startled b

. He we

?" I

er what it was l

in my ch

out of the or

the air in one of

mself rigidly

s," someo

g. Chaos

I was pushed to the floor

od alone.

po

out considering, and

banged in

you!" I

lashing. Blood s

cried. "

self, steered as by

here were dead bodies.

rned to

wed....His hand

the firs

not l

m fell

uncil

blazed white an

jaw cl

....They

omewhere wit

g was abo