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Maybe an hour passes in heavy, tense silence It suitsme time to think, and Cal revels in the quiet After the past few days, he’s just as hungry for rest as I am Not even Kilorn dares to joke Instead, he’s content to sit on a gnarled root, weaving strands of tall grass into a brittle, useless net He s the old, fae, probably pulled froed, definitely ensnared in a net ofWould Farley threaten his wife, his children, to rab his wrist and ju vise of teleportation until they land in the grove? Born 12/20/271 Nix is ale Will Nix be like hi for us to break hi questions, the tall grass stirs So a switch in Cal He pushes off his tree, every rass I half expect to see fire on his fingertips, but after long years of , Cal knows better In the darkness, his fla every officer to our presence To ilant as the prince He drops his grass net, crushing it underfoot as he stands He even pulls a hidden dagger frout fish The sight of it sets e I don’t knohen the knife beca it in his shoe Probably around the ti at him

I’m not without my oeapons The low thrum in my blood is all I need, sharper than any blade, more brutal than any bullet Sparks vein beneath my skin, ready if I need them My ability has a subtlety that Cal’s lacks

A birdcall splits the night, hooting through the grass Kilorn responds in kind, whistling out a low tune He sounds like the thrushes that nest in the stilt houses at ho at the tall grass

She is the first to step out of the shadows, but not the last Two figures follow: one ison his crutch, and the other is squat, with e Nix

Cal’s hand closes around ently, o without hesitation, knowing that we can’t be too careful Dimly, I wish for a scrap of scarlet, to mask my face as we did in Naercey

"Did you have any trouble?" Kilorn says, stepping up to Farley and Shade He sounds older somehow, more in control than I’ every twitch of the round little newblood’s fingers

Farley waves off the question like an annoyance "Si a thuht"

Despite the darkness, I see a deep red blush creep across Nix’s face "Well, I’ruffly, directly A reatest secret of all "You’re that Scarlet Guard The officers would stringyou in my house Even uninvited"

"Good to know," Shade ht eyes diful look my way Our very presence could dooruaze He findsto see my face "But I think you already knew that"

Kilorn steps lightly, shifting so he blocks me from view The motion seems innocent, but Nix’s brow furrows as he understands the deepertoe to toe with Kilorn The younger boy towers over him, but Nix doesn’t show an inch of fear He raises one ruddy finger, pointing at Kilorn’s chest "You pulledoffense Now you tell me what for, or else I’ll wander on home and try not to die on the way"