"Have you told anyone of this?" Her eyes widening, Dorain surged to her feet and took Lily by the hands.

"I've never told anyone!" Lily told her, wondering at Dorain's reaction. "I've always felt that somehow that was the fate that Anest saved me from."

"Shades!" cried Dorain. "You must tell Belloc and Anest."

"But why?"

"Think, girl! Before your birth you were a spirit-child of the underground springs beneath the Marshes of Morag! You dwelt in dreams! And your spring arose in Belloc's garden because it was a place of sanctuary! You fled the Marshes!"

Lily's eyes went wide. "The Demons came from under the Marshes," she said with a shudder. And then, comprehension dawned on her features. Surprise became sick dread. And then, by degrees, her features paled to become a mask of white fury. "They dare! Violaters! I will send them into eternity!" She turned to leave.

Alarmed, Dorain took her by the arm. "Where are you going? What do you intend to do?"

"I am going to speak with Belloc and my husband!" she replied. "I must go straightaway to the Marshes!" She was crying now. "I'll give the Demon King something to fear! I'll flood his whole bloody Kingdom!"

Dorain watched her go, her features suffused with concern. "Please, don't let her do anything rash," she said to no one.




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