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“Bullshit,” Hubert screamed “You can’t stop me now that I have this” He hoisted his staff above his head, the tip of it glowing a faint orange in the darkness, like an e to be fanned into life

Maybe that was it The staff was connected to him somehow, and he was the fuel for it His psyche, y Juice, like how Prudence had put it But who the hell kneas barely days into ical ite that had ruptured Hubert’s uy was clearly unstable, which presented us with no advantage whatsoever

The one good thing, however, was that he didn’t know there were three of us I lurked in the shadows, unsure of what to do, biding my ti over the erie of Hubert’s possessions strewn across the floor – especially not that suspicious open jar of amber liquid he kept by his pack roll

“We don’t want to hurt you,” Prudence said Strange words co from a woht through his head I figured that the auras around her hands were reallyat this point Prudence didn’t want to hurt the guy, but she couldn’t dohis head open I hadn’t considered that possibility, that she was so powerful, but in a way that made her powerless in this situation

“Do so, Brandt” She hissed her next words “Grab The staff”

Bastion gri Hubert at a cautious distance It was one thing to have the guy launching fireballs at the that point blank They needed room to maneuver And that’s when it hit me

“I can’t reach it,” Bastion hissed back through gritted teeth Whatever it was he could do, matter manipulation, telekinesis, call it by whatever nae, one he didn’t want closing at the risk of, well, getting his entire

face burned off Crap What the hell e supposed to do?

“Daht you can’t reach it,” Hubert screeched “You can’t have the staff But you can have this” He stretched the tip of the rod forward, then thrust it abruptly, launching a globe of flame directly at Bastion’s chest

“No,” Prudence shouted

Bastion held his hands up in front of hiloolealass A barrier?

Fire exploded just inches from Bastion’s face, the invisible shield in his hands only barely protecting hiainst the heat, stu from the impact of the blow We needed to end this, but how? I could find the sword, but we didn’t talk about killing Hubert And like hell was I prepared to do that Nobody ever said anything about murder

I groped around in the half-light, cringing as I patted down Hubert’s pack roll for any sign of the sword Wouldn’t he want it close to him at all times? It had to be there

My handscold, and hard The sword? My heart thu out from under the covers, its handle – hilt? – cold andto marvel at the majesty of –

A frying pan Shit Crazy Huberthis contraband, and there was no way I’d be able to find the sword before heon fire