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"I thought you wanted sohtens "Of course!"

I start tapping ainst the earth in a steady rhythm "Because there are s, the rate of turn reaht be a quick one-two-three one-two-three one day, and another day it ht be a slower one-two-three-four Find a way to identify that rhythe the pace of the turns That’s how I ti" With a hand I indicate Dusty and Gira as I tap my foot loudly to ee by eye rather than beats

"But the rings aren’t all turning at the sa starts up at a differentmovement But they all turn at the sa and then a beat later the second one starts, and a beat later the third starts… Does thatnumbers as he counts, "One-two-three-four… but that one--no wait, I see what you’re saying This is a six-count turn" Because he’s staring with such concentration and I’ him, I don’t notice Darios come up behind us until the baton slaps my butt I’m so startled I jump and stumble and have to catch myself on Kalliarkos’s arm

"I told you to run with Dusty, Spider!"

"Her shoelace ca s He doesn’t let go ofstoppinginto the abyss of terror for my family

"Yes, sorry My shoe I told Gira to go ahead of !" The old lares directly at where Kalliarkos’s warly around my elbow Kal releases me and steps back like a chastened child "You two are up Move!"

The beat of these rings already runs throughI used to show Kalliarkos But he hesitates, blinking, and as he starts counting all over again like he didn’t already do it before, I flinghoop I beat him easily, and Darios sendsKalliarkos back to run Rings again

When the break co shelter with Dusty and Mis She is teasing him about the way he planted his face in the water on Rivers His nose is bleeding but not cracked I pretend to laugh In another life, the one in which my mother and sisters haven’t just been buried alive, I would be laughing with my heart and not just rab aof broth and sit

"You seeht?"

I want to break everything on the table, slances toward the counter where Kalliarkos is bantering with the serving girl as she hands him a bowl of broth "He flirts with everyone, Jes He doesn’tby it He likes people to like hi shelter, spots hs "I mean this in a friendly way, Jes Don’t play with that fire Nothing good will come of it"

She stands up and makes way for him to sit down He nods at her in the same friendlyher to stay seated with us, nor does it see

"I worked on counting I was just starting to get the pattern of it and then Darios told ure out a way to iht you?"

"I just always did it, fro and take it "You said we can help each other I need your help"

The rim of the bowl has just touched his lips but he lowers it without drinking Stea "With what?" he asks

"Help hrab it before it spills

His eyes go wide "You can’t see him Uncle Gar told ain, on pain of death He was only allowed to retain his military people"