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At that, Zafir struggled against the chains that bound his large shoulders, and the chair beneath hi sounds, and I thought surely they would crack at any ed to hold, and after astill

"Tell me," I said simply "H-how did you knoho I was?"

The ether "We’re Scablanders, Your Majesty, not i grin oncethe door, the sa for us out in the alley behind the tavern His pitch-colored eyes glittered "Not all of us, anyway Jerelanced up at the ister the words--or the insult He looked at each of thelazed, his mouth slack as if it were difficult to keep his lips, overfull like stuffed sausages, closed around his crooked teeth He scratched his head, his thick fingers finding their way beneath the fitted leather hat he wore, the one with goggles like pilots used to wear back when air travel was still possible in Ludania Back when fuel was plentiful, and transportation wasn’t as restricted as it was now He gave an indifferent shrug when he realized he wasn’t actually expected to respond, turning back to his duty

"News travels out here," the crooked laise "Especially news that our new queen has skin that shines like the sun" His black eyes appraised me and I shrank away "And like I tried to tell your aze on Zafir--"solow of yours"

At those words, Zafir’s entire body went rigid He flexed again, thrashing violently The chair splintered beneath hiiving out And Zafir, no longer shackled to the flis, shot to his feet just as quickly as he’d fallen

Before I could blink, he was charging forward, hurling his entire body weight against the bentteeth The iant like Zafir, even with his arainst his sides The man’s eyes ide, and I heard hiuard I knew Zafir was crushing--possibly killing--the old man

"Zafir, stop!" I shouted as Jereerous than soames Confusion was evident in Jere him Get off!"

I reached out to push Zafir myself, but he didn’t sojust as perplexed as Jeremiah did

"Let’s at least hear what he has to say," I explained, no longer worried about Jere dawned Jeremiah was merely a prop He was harh burlap tied at Zafir’sso I could reach the restraints at his back instead My fingers furoaned

I dropped to my knees, so my face was even with his His black eyes ide and pleading "The keys," I insisted "Tell me where to find the keys and I’ll have hiain, like a fish extracted froulps of air "Zafir, ease up a little," I demanded "Let hiasp was audible, and nearly undid uard to be free I needed to knohat this et me

"M-m-myp-o--" His breath ca its way froht a whiff of that breath, which was exactly hoould i fro back "Your pocket?" I answered for hiers brushing his trousers, searching When I felt it,with the sine that so could imprison someone soso mammoth

My hands trembled as I rushed around to unlock Zafir, before ere interrupted by sohter than, say, Jeremiah Someone with a more effective weapon than a club

When his wrists were free, and he holly unbound, Zafir got up, releasing the man pinned beneath hiasping for breath as his skin changed froray to a flushed and claained his co not just me, but Zafir as well "We need answers," Zafir de the walls around us quake

The man held up his hand in surrender "Fine Yes, I--I’ll tell you everything, just don’t sit on ain"

My lips twitched I didn’t blame him, really, I wouldn’t want Zafir to sit on me either "What’s your name?" I asked, --than Zafir’s