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I flashed hiunpowder"

Mott didn’t act impressed, but I kneas They were fine explosions

Then I ran over to Ien, whose honey brown eyes blazed with disapproval I knew she’d be angry with me -- she often was I rarely blamed her for that since, admittedly, I usually deserved it But this tih off We reag from her mouth, and when I did, I felt overwheler than anything I’d ever felt before, and was a feeling I didn’t entirely understand But I held back and instead asked, "Are you hurt?"

Ignoring that, she said, "You knohat they’d do to Mott and me just for inforet out of here, none of us will have to find out"

"No, Jaron, please just go! This place is a trap I ah her legs were free, she was co my attempts to reach her tied hands I said, "You can help me or not, but I won’t leave without you!"

She huffed, and then went still so that I could reach her ropes While I sliced at them, I said, "Once we’re free, we’ll run toward the swa there"

"We won’tto run Don’t look back Just run"

"They were asking Mott about you, but at first he wouldn’t tell" Iht ed hiainst you I’d rather be dead than be the cause of your downfall"

I hesitated long enough to look squarely at her "Never say that I need you alive" I went back to work and added, "I’h the rope Get ready to run"

She had one hand free by then and used it to co the strands away from my face Thick and brown, it had been cleaned up froiven it before I went to the pirates Noished it were longer so there could be et lost in Even here, I felt drawn to her touch and had to force myself to concentrate on the rope

"When you’re finished, let ht too"

Once her other hand was free, she gave ht about Roden’s coen Maybe she had told herself some lies as well

Before I could speak, she whispered, "Whatever happens next, promise me that you will choose to live"