Chapter 9-Answers

"Aruna Ni is dying?" Ralya asked in shock. "What do you mean? What happened to her?"

"We don't know," replied Mara. "We tried to figure out what was wrong, but she seems to be perfectly healthy, apart from the fact that she's unconscious and we still haven't been able to wake her."

"Was she like that when she arrived?"

"No," said Luke. "She was semiconscious when we first saw her. She managed to say one word."

"What?"

" 'Ralya.' "

Silence. Then: "We have too manyquestions," said Ralya. "What we need are some answers."

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Ralya sat by Aruna Ni's bed, holding her cousin's hand. "You're gonna be okay," she whispered. "I'm gonna find out what's wrong
and I'm gonna fix it. You're gonna be okay." She spoke more to convince himself than to console Aruna Ni, who probably couldn't hear her anyway.

"We're gonna find out who did it," said Brekk from behind her.

"Go away, Jacorim," she said weakly, but he could tell by her tone of voice that she didn't mean it.

"Maybe if we could find a connection between this and your dream..." Brekk's voice trailed off.

"Maybe it's not about the dream. Maybe it's just a weird coincidence."

"I don't think so."

"Neither do I."

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