[b]Jessamine![/b]

You collapse into the grass, gasping. The fire protection charm boiled off you in the last stretch, and then there was nothing for it but forcing your way through. The heat stole the air from your chest, made you squeeze your eyes shut and grope blindly through the crack, and even now, heat radiates off you. You lie there, heaving in sweet breaths, listening to the groans of the princesses you led into the Bazaar.

The princesses.

You push yourself up, force your teary eyes to open, and look around. Helya is lying with her back on the grass, doing breathing exercises, staring upwards. Of course she’s recovering fast; she’s even participated in the races they do at the Gulch. Tashanna is holding Ninian close to her chest as they lie gasping in the grass. This is your warband, and you couldn’t ask for better, especially with Hornet safely outside.

You take a moment, closing your eyes to let your stomach settle, and that’s when the giant glass snake smashes through the ceiling of the glasshouse. It slams hard against the earth in a torrent of filthy dark water, narrowly missing Ninian and Tashanna with a swipe of its tail, and begins hitting its head rhythmically against the ground. That’s when the ground begins to shake ominously.

Something’s coming, and fast. If you could see through the downpour, you might stand a chance against this thing...

***

[b]Adila I![/b]

Princesses.

The ones in this chamber are a good example of the breed. They’re exactly clever and resourceful enough to get in well over their heads. Luckily for them, you need them. Their status as uncursed free agents means that they will be excellent distractions for Eupheria.

The plan is coming together. Now, all you need to do is save these princesses, convince them to follow your orders, and bring them to the next inane sports event Eupheria has up her sleeve.

Go ahead. Do what you do best.

***

[b]Mittens![/b]

On the hill, there is a tree. On the tree, there are three golden apples, hanging from a branch.

Around the tree is a giant googly-eyed glass dragon in all the colors of the rainbow, sleeping fitfully. Around the dragon is a garden full of the worst plants in Hyperborea, a nightmare of vines and princesstraps and sleeping nettles. Around the garden is a wall, smooth glass without handholds.

You’re the second one here. Halfway up the hill, you can see the bright clothes of your Momma—

And that’s when a trapdoor opens in the grass nearby and Kazelia and Kyouko get tossed out in the [i]tackiest[/i] tourist wear, locked in pillories and gagged with “I <3 The Labazaar” scarves. Well, there’s some help.

But there’s only three apples.

Eupheria is starting to make the competition a little fiercer now.

(If you just left Kyouko behind, you and Kazelia and Momma could all win!)