“Maybe this wasn’t a good idea.”
“There are lions in the Athenry Foothills. Have to stay safe.”
“That’s a myth, Ev."
“Zarya’s lost four children to lions.”
“I’m sure she didn’t notice.”
“Pasha! She’s family.”
“Your family, not mine.”
“There are twigs poking into my spine.”
“Go ahead, Rus. Be my guest. Sleep somewhere else, get eaten, see if I care or quit complaining.”
“I’m running out of sugar cubes.”
“Why don’t you just conjure some more? Isn’t that what you do?”
“How about you steal me some?”
“From who? Do you suppose lions carry sugar cubes?”
“I don’t know how long Ludmilla’ll stay peaceful without sugar. I’ve only got five cubes left.”
“Say...Ev?”
“What?”
“Matvei’s turning blue.”
“Rus, loosen his ropes.”
“Hey...”
“Speak up, bunny.”
“How do we plan on getting the donkeys out of this tree?”

Seventeen