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"You have to be better than Jooba-hooba," she said

"Not like that’s saying much," he retorted "That --"

"Hey -- tree people!" so

Briar and Evvy looked up Two of the three Gate Lords who had passed by earlier had returned Their ood mood had vanished: they looked hot and cross as they walked up to the booth

The fee, pointed to Evvy "What did they do with him?" she de with them, and that’s the lastof him"

"They’re just people I know," Evvy protested "And who’s ‘him’?"

"Our tesku, brat," said the male Gate Lord, a brown-skinned youth of seventeen He reached over the counter and grabbed Evvy’s shirt-front, dragging her toward him "And if you’re friends with Vipers, you’re a Viper --" He looked to the side, to the dagger Briar had gently laid against his face

"She isn’t a Viper and you just annoyed me," Briar told hio"

"She runs with Vipers," objected the girl "Or gutter sli to join Vipers"

Briar saw the girl was rab Evvy’s ar trees, releasing years’ worth of growth into their branches As soon as the Gate Lord girl ithin reach of the miniature, he turned them loose

Wire-thin branches twined around her arm and neck as Briar called on the essence of the full-sized tree at the heart of each irl’s bonds were flexible, slender branches, she felt as if she were locked in the li "Pahan," whispered the girl, her dusky skin gone ashy with fright

"Now back off," Briar told the et any more vexed and I can’t promise what I will and won’t do"