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blade for too long.
    Fawbry stood in front of Tommy and tried to reach the boy. He told jokes and stories and even danced a little. Nothing evoked a response. At one point, Malja glanced over to see Fawbry's arms tangled up.
    "You okay?" she asked, worried that Tommy had conjured Fawbry into a knot out of annoyance.
    Fawbry untangled his arms and walked over. "I'm fine. Just playing a simple game to show him that our minds are strange and sometimes unreliable. I'm hoping he might be able to come back to us if he realizes he has more control than he's using."
    "How's a game going to show that?"
    Cracking his knuckles, Fawbry said, "Give it a try. See what happens."
    Malja set Viper down and stretched her arms. "What do I do?"
    "Put your arms straight out in front of you and place the backs of your hands together. Now, cross your arms so that you can clasp your hands together. Good. Now, bring your clasped hands to your chest and roll them towards you so that you are staring at the tops of your fingers."
    Following the instructions, Malja ended up with her own arms tangled together. "I still don't see how this is going to show me —"
    "Shh. Pay attention." Careful not to touch her, Fawbry pointed to one of Malja's fingers. "That finger there. Move it."
    Malja shrugged and tried to move her finger. It didn't move. She stared at it a moment, but her brain couldn't quite figure out how to reach it. When she finally managed to get some motion, she not only moved the wrong finger but the wrong hand as well.
    "You see," Fawbry said. "It's not so hard to confuse a brain. Maybe that's all that's going on with Tommy. Maybe his brain's gotten all confused from the magic, and he just needs to untangle. That's what I'm hoping, anyway."
    Malja played this finger game a bit longer. "If it works, great. You've got until we find Cole Watts. Then she better be able to help him."
    "Thanks," Fawbry said and went back to Tommy, tangling up his arms once again.
     
    * * * *
     
    The next day, as they traveled through the swamp, Fawbry rode next to Tommy, continuing to play mental games in his effort to bring the boy's mind back. Malja said little while she led Tommy's mare along.
    She tried to keep track of their route despite the numerous twists the dead swamp took. When her stomach grumbled, she checked her saddlebag and counted another two days of food — mostly hard rolls and a few potatoes.
    "Let's take a rest," she said. "Have something to eat."
    Fawbry hopped off his horse and walked toward her, reaching out for the reins to Tommy's horse. A long-wailing siren pierced the air. Fawbry's horse spooked and galloped off. Fawbry still held the rein and was snagged along with it. Reaching down fast and gracefully, Malja grabbed Fawbry's robe and yanked him free. He stood on the ground, pale and breathing heavy.
    "Thanks," he said. "That could've been bad."
    "What is that noise?"
    Fawbry's horse galloped back their way — whinnying its confusion and fear. With its head low, the horse barreled right by. As the siren continued its long tones, the ground swelled, causing the panicked horse to rear on its hind legs.
    "M-Malja," Fawbry said, staring at the horse as the ground opened up. The horse fell in, cried out in agony, and the sound of crushed bones and chewing followed. "Get me out of here."
    Malja released Viper from its special sheath. The swollen earth settled back, but Malja remained vigilant, her eyes searching for any sign of another attack. In mid-wail, the siren cut out, its final call echoing into the distance.
    Shaking, Fawbry said, "What happened? What was that?"
    Just behind them, dirt spewed into the air along with half-digested horse bones. They came up with forceful puffs of air, spraying grit in all directions. Malja bent down to pick up Fawbry, but the smell of horse flesh terrified Horse. She bolted forward, her mind completely taken over by instinct, and ignored Malja's attempts to control her.
    They dashed by the hovering