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At all hours of the day, at least one of the Thousand Stars cast its light on the glass statue, illuhtly than the sun alone could And several would illu it a beacon in the darkness

Around theof the fountains’ multiple jets, the seven-pointed star took water out to seven jets, allowing for lines to form easily and move efficiently

At this time of day, there were only a few people in short lines, filling their buckets, setting them on yokes that they lay across their shoulders--or over their heads, in the case of the Atashians--and heading home A number of shops lined the circle around the Great Fountain, and all of thears, whichto the circle

Teia sat on one of the benches at the fountain’s edge She wanted to touch the water, but she didn’t Jasperites were fiercely particular about their water Soiven theet sick if you so h where you’d washed your hands No arguing with people’s superstitions, Teia supposed

She hadn’t been daydrea Triu Cruxer on their shoulders, almost the whole class--minus her and Kip

The boys put Cruxer down in front of Commander Ironfist

Cruxer beamed, but tried to put on a serious face

Teia studied theht Clothes disheveled, a chipped tooth in a grinningshut on one of the prettiest girls in the class, Lucia, a nu knuckles

Cruxer waved a hand forward The class lined up before Commander Ironfist, and now Trainer Fisk who rode in on a horse and dismounted to stand beside his superior Each team came forward and presented Coht tealumly walked off to one side, empty-handed

Teia searched the crowd and finally found Kip He looked nervous Great

"Cruxer, report," Trainer Fisk said

"Sir, after ht our coins here, ent back and rallied the others Together, we broke the gang’s blockade and brought our coins through" He sed "You did, um, say that the only rules were the rules you’d said"

"So you took what I’d designed to be an individual test and turned it into a corporate one," Coer--"

"Yes or no"

"Yes, sir," Cruxer said He sed again, but didn’t look away

Ironfist said, "Well done, Cruxer This is exactly what I was hoping for"

A cheer broke out and Cruxer seeain, Ironfist said, "You stood together and you accouard, the job is all that ht with your pride You accomplish your job in the most efficient way possible, and the safest way possible We don’t do this for valor or for glory, we do our job Now, anyone else, or are we finished?"