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The green-belted adversary is wavering as he crosses a high bea as I see him overbalance Too late he tries to center himself! He slips and falls A shout explodes from the spectators as he hits I can’t see the floor of Traps from here but men race out with a stretcher There is a moment of utter silence as people stare

My heart is pounding and my throat feels raith apprehension What if Green Belt is dead?

Laughter and good-natured cheers erupt from the crowd: Green Belt h to h only five breaths have passed since I arrived here I should be looking for Blue Boy as I decide on a strategy

A Rings configuration is set up as a s turn at different speeds, just as stones move in Rivers You have to avoid traps; this one has ser rings Rings are stacked so you can cliher and round Rings is est nor the fastest, but I’ile and I’rasp the whole pattern and figure out the fastest path You can beat s

Since Blue Boy isn’t yet here, how a? Even though Father doesn’t know it’s irl in the brown belt as she falls just short of winning Worse than losing would be overhearing hiirl had run poorly

A foot slaps the ladder behind me To my utter relief Blue Boy hauls himself up onto the platforood tactic, confronting ht, lean and old silk half-mask covers his eyes and forehead but I see his sood tiood time with me

"Salutations, Adversary Do you let ht to enter first?"

I can tell by his high-class accent that he’s way above my place in the world He’s as pure Patron as they colint of condescension in his voice

"Salutations, Adversary," I answer, pitching uise it

He drops the porin "I have to say, I’ainst you before By the way you took that twisting leap over the rope bridge in Traps, I’d have remembered you"

"How did you see that?" I ask, surprised both that he was able to observe h to watch

He points to a cluster of poles sticking up in Trees "I had just reached the top of the center-post Your leap was ie Who trains you?"

"What ive up e used only between players I can tell he’s expecting it by the way he laughs "Kiss off, Adversary"

Fros I can reach on my first ju just as it turns full on open, facing rasp each side, spread-eagle The thrill is what I live for, the tiht

He whistles sharply, ah the right-hand ring and starts clih three co I’ut as I watch hiround

There is alwaysthe most direct one instead of the ins singing a popular song about a lovelorn adversary:

I’ll wear my mask and I’ll wear o

For my love has said he will meet me there and--

A man’s voice pierces above the clamor: "Wait for it, sweet pea!"

Whoever thefor: on the fifth turn a straight path will open to the tower It’s a hard choice toOnce you start leaping you have to keepas the tunnel opens in front of you and closes behind you If you stop, you’ll fall But if you’re bold you can race through a wave of opening rings like opening doors