The aged veteran smiled at them as he finished his tale, told incongruously in a room full of weapons. "I am glad," he said to Lily, "that she never had to see or hear of Demons."

Demons! Lily's thoughts came abruptly back into focus. She glanced at Brogan, whose hands and face were healing from burns he got while trying to protect her. She hadn't even tried to fight back, and Anest and her friends might have died trying to save her! Suddenly, the emotion she was trying to contain threatened to overwhelm her. Choking back a sob, she turned and fled from the armoury. Anest watched her go with much anxiety.

"I am sorry!" said Celedhan contritely, "I meant no affront."

"This has been a sore trial for her," said Anest. "She's completely out of her element here. To make matters worse, the enemy has threatened her personally, and the people who should be her friend and ally are treating her like a pariah. Since the Demon's attack, she has turned inward upon herself, and away from me." Anest made an angry sound. "I am at a loss . . . nothing I do seems to suffice."

"Ah," said Celedhan, who was a veteran of many hard lessons in life and death. "Her reaction is quite normal, I can assure you. I have found that personal pain is alike to fire; for some it will anneal. Others, however . . ." he shrugged. "It all depends on what the individual is made of, and that is not something you can or should hold yourself responsible for."




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