Page 6 (1/2)

"Reainst that old soldier?" he asked Without waiting for an answer, Roden added, "It’s because I knew he’d stop if I won I’ood with a sword"

"Maybe you can use soet us out of here," I mumbled

"You sahat he did to Latamer" Roden was silent for several minutes, then whispered, "They just killed hio, then they killed hi to kill?"

"He’s planning a revolution," I whispered back "Conner is going to use one of us to overthrow the kingdoht, I tried to roll over inon my ankle awoke me and I sat up to find rabbed a pebble and flung it at Mott’s face His eyes flew open and he sat up, glaring at me

"What?" he snarled

"You chained me up?" I said "Not the others, only ht" Mott lay back down "Go to sleep, or I’ll knock you out cold"

"I’ve got to go"

"Go where?"

"To go I’d have just taken care of it "

Mott cursed "Wait for "

"Wish I could I’ve been cursed with ain, furound for the keys to the chain, then unlocked hirabbed his sword and directed round to some bushes a little ways from camp

"Go here"

I did rabbed the collar of my shirt and shoved ain and I’ll hurt you"

"As long as you have ht," I said "I’m not a quiet sleeper"

He replaced the chain, tightening it, I noticed, from what it had been before I stretched and yawned and rolled over, pullingas far forward as I could Mott yanked it back Even though I knew I’d pay for it the next day, I couldn’t help but grin as I pulledMott ot a kick awake, but so did Roden Tobias was up walking around, so he must have been awake already, and sroan in our blankets

Roden seemed to have recovered froht, or at least, he was back to his old self, assuring Tobias and me as we cleaned up that he intended to be the boy Conner chose Tobias and I glanced at each other Tobias’s expression was clear -- he intended to win too, only he clearly planned on pursuing that goal more quietly than Roden

"I have bread for breakfast," Conner announced "A mouthful for any boy who correctly answers my questions" He broke off a piece of bread and asked, "Who are the current king and queen of Carthya?"

"Eckbert and Corinne," I said quickly

Tobias laughed "King Eckbert is correct, but the queen is Erin"