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Traveling through the plains as long as possible, they stopped near the Daviian Plateau’s border to make camp There were still a few hours until sunset, but everyone drooped with fatigue While they made camp, Janco hunted for a few rabbits The fresh meat would help revive everyone When he returned, Opal’s mother took the skinned rabbits and turned them into the best campfire meal he’d ever eaten

Zethan brandished a forkful of ained ten pounds in the last week Ahir, it’s a wonder you don’t weigh five hundred pounds"

"I sweat it all off in the factory" Ahir glanced at his dad "Did you warn our employees about the Cartel?"

"No I just left a note for ency She’ll take care of filling orders while we’re gone," Jayround?" Janco asked "They’re not going to be happy when they wake up" Considering how hard they’d hit, they rinned "No worries We cleaned up the mess"

"How--No, never lad we’re all together and safe" She put her arm around Reema, who leaned into her

Which re happen to Leif and Mara? You should have dropped Reeo"

"They reached the Illiais Market without any trouble Reelanced at Opal

Janco straightened This ought to be interesting

"I’ places to avoid," Reeed "We didn’t want to draw attention And I knohere to travel so we didn’t get noticed" Then she crossed her arms "Which is e should have stayed with Uncle Leif and not wasted tinored that cole, we returned to Booruby I wanted to arrive before dawn, just in case there atchers on the house"

"I was asleep, or else I would have warned him about the ambush," Reema said Then she beamed at her brother "But Tee took care of it!"

"Heli did all the work," Teegan said "I just directed traffic"

Janco glanced at Heli, but the poor girl was curled up, fast asleep It wasn’t long before the other kids joined her Ari, Janco, Opal and Devlen took shifts guarding the camp

Two days later, they entered the town lied the western edge of the Daviian Plateau But according to Ree for the Cartel How the girl knew this, Janco hadn’t a clue, but he’d learned to trust the little scamp They found a nice inn for Opal’s parents and brother to stay at, and for the rest of the a faht a feords as he passed their room on the way down to the co, "She’s only eleven," with Devlen re his wife how Reema had aided in his and Leif’s rescue Should be an interesting conversation, but Janco wasn’t about to listen at the door No need to spy on his friends

The warhts of the common room wrapped around him like an embrace He scanned the occupants Banished froan, Zethan and Heli, but she shot dark looks at the stairs, as if her unhappiness could travel up to her parents’ roo ale Janco joined hi pull It wasn’t half-bad

"What do you think?" Ari asked him