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"I have an idea," I said "We should drive the Bag them"

Finn tapped a spot on the map "I coulda funnel into Evie’s briars"

"My wolves could nip at their heels, driving the on theauntlet of briars, snapping wolves, illusions, and arrows "If this works, those cannibals would be dead, and the Bagmen would drink from them for days We’d have plenty of tiet ready?"

How long for h to create a plant feature like that? "Two hours?"

In French, Jack said to irl and find out if any of this is even approaching true"

13

Crunch

I grih a bone

After co our preparations, we’d found a nearby cave, unable to do anything but kick back and wait for the battle to come Lark’s falcon would keep us updated on any arrivals Once we’d settled in, her wolves--Scarface, Cyclops, and Maneater--had disappeared for a while, co back with old bones Huotta eat Corpses are AF Alpo"

To distractout atof beauty, if I did say so h walls, thickly tangled Iainst the ashy black earth Thorns jutted out protectively, each a few inches long

I wanted to live a the stalks, but I doubted Jack would want to live with ainst his chest Blood loss had leftup from the heat of him and fro at the flames, while Selena tweaked more of her makeshift arrows

Lark sat shoulder to shoulder with Finn, with the wolves spread out behind her We’d learned that these olves had heightened intelligence, ferocity--and apparently appetites

Crunch Crunch

Jack see all this insanity well Earlier, when I’d rolled up my coat sleeve to make the first slice of my skin, he’d been uneasy

"Are you sure you want to see this?" I’d asked, hesitating with my claws above one wrist

Lips thinned, he’d said, "Ouais"

I’d sliced He’d winced

"It’ll heal, Jack"

"But it’s still got to hurt, no?"

Bloodletting always hurt like hell I’d gritted h the pain as I sliced my arms up and down As my skin had healed, he’d watched, riveted I was dizzy and chilled through by the time it was done

He’d rubbedfood for your rave;re"

While orked on the chute, Selena had been scouting the area for any holes to be plugged Matthew had rested under a nearby overhang, almost obscured by a thick veil of water Not far away, Finn had been practicing his illusions, with a wide-eyed Lark at his side

I’d heard sohted that he’d recovered his beautiful bullshit "I’ravely "Due to some self-esteeh that, though Helphim too Maybe they did have soave me a tendril of hope If they fell in love, we’d have another pair of Arcana ould never hurt the other One more stick of dyna about hookups at a time like this But these mini-alliances were critical

Now Selena asked her, "What do you know about the game, Lark?"

"You want to talk about the specifics in front of a Muggle?" She hiked her thu," I assured her "What can you tell us?"

"My fa her claws They weren’t like , talonlike Plus, hers never disappeared coh "Oh, really? See, I heard you got capped first in the previous game Numero uno When would you have had time to set up a centuries-old paper trail for your falowered "Ease off, Selena"

"No, it’s okay," the girl said "Granted, I know s are up to"

"Big dogs?" I asked

"The players with the most bite, like you and Selena Like Death and Tess"

"We met her What do you know about her?"

Matthew muttered, "Bad cards"

"She’s the World Card," Lark said "The fifth eleo They must’ve taken her on as an ally Smart move on their part, since she can pretty much control space and time One problem: the chronicler of her line dropped the ball, so she doesn’t understand why she levitates every tiets turned on, time races and stuff"

Finn looked captivated with Lark, resting his chin on his hand as he gazed at her "How’s that work?"

"Don’t ask me I’hed, but then her sirl Cried a lot though, and bit her nails till they bled Not understanding your powers must be a bitch"

It was I re why plants responded toto help her

"But I’ame, if they haven’t already" Lark pointed to Matthew "The Fool’s got a big target on his back too He knows everyone’s weaknesses and powers"

Matthew blinked at her "Arsenals"

"And Evie?" Jack asked

Lark turned to ame want to keep you alive so you can take out Death But there are some who don’t know better And now that you’re worth a pair of icons" She trailed off, eyeing "

Two icons, mine and the Alcheht be teave hi into her coat pocket, she pulled out a la archaic writing on yellowed parchrease-pencil notes

"It’s a list of players with their formal titles," she said "I’ve written in the current names that I know and updated the losers"

-- The Players --

The Fool, Gaician, Master of Illusions (Finneas)

The High Priestess, Ruler of the Deep

The Empress, Our Lady of Thorns (Evie)

The Emperor, Stone Overloard

The Hierophant, He of the Dark Rites (Guthrie)