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(Scars do not appear to be cause of death –shock ... - Bad Request

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two."<br />

"I wasn't sure if you would <strong>be</strong> here, Meb<strong>be</strong>th, after what happened..."<br />

Meb<strong>be</strong>th nodded - every movement was pained. "Aye, my precious one..."<br />

She winced as she <strong>to</strong>ok a breath. "Seeing ye here... it is like an echo. Little<br />

time remains... the threads, these Ravels... they are unraveling as we speak."<br />

"Are you in pain?"<br />

She nodded. "Yes... yet it is the irony which hurts the most..." She gave a<br />

sickly smile. "An act <strong>of</strong> kindness, thrice repaid... it is the way <strong>of</strong> the Planes<br />

that my few acts <strong>of</strong> kindness should <strong>be</strong> the <strong>death</strong> <strong>of</strong> me." She laughed s<strong>of</strong>tly.<br />

"Yet I have no regrets..."<br />

"I have questions, Meb<strong>be</strong>th. I need <strong>to</strong> know who did this <strong>to</strong> you. Can you t--"<br />

She held up her hand <strong>to</strong> silence me. "Precious man... I would have ye hear<br />

me, this last time..."<br />

"Meb<strong>be</strong>th, there's <strong>not</strong> much time..."<br />

"Precious man..." She sighed. "All's I wished <strong>to</strong> <strong>do</strong> was set the Lady free <strong>of</strong><br />

her Cage... for ye, all's I wished for ye was <strong>to</strong> live... and for me daughter, I..."<br />

She sighed. "There is a saying on the Planes... that a hag's kindness is<br />

crueler... than her hate, and poisons all it <strong>to</strong>uches..."<br />

"I'm sorry things turned out as it did. If I could have saved you, I --"<br />

"I am dying now..." She blinked her rheumy eyes. "My end... it's traveling<br />

from all <strong>of</strong> time's directions, all <strong>of</strong> Ravel's threads are unraveling..." She<br />

coughed. "Yet..." Her gray eyes locked upon mine. "Mayhap <strong>not</strong> all is lost...<br />

one <strong>of</strong> my black-bar<strong>be</strong>d seeds from the maze... did ye bring one with ye?"<br />

"Yes. Here."<br />

"Ah..." She <strong>to</strong>ok the seed gingerly, and she slipped it in<strong>to</strong> her graying locks.<br />

"So the Unity-<strong>of</strong>-Rings is served..." With a flickering glance, she raised her<br />

hand and <strong>be</strong>ckoned me <strong>to</strong> come closer.<br />

She whispered something s<strong>of</strong>tly under her breath, then clasped my head in<br />

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