“I was sitting here racking my brains trying to think of a way to bring Jubaldar crashing down before they killed Sasha.” She shook her head. “That was what it was all about. Protecting Sasha. Our hands were tied because everywhere we looked, there was a threat to Sasha. So we brought in Novak and Vogel and drones and all the rest of it.” She smiled bitterly. “But Sasha eliminated all of that tonight. She won’t let us protect her. So to hell with bringing Jubaldar crashing down. She was right: The only ones who have to be destroyed are Masenak and Reardon. We can work around the rest. That would cause enough confusion that Davidow and the other guards should be stopped cold. The way to kill a snake is to cut off its head. But to do it, first you have to trap it.” She tapped the map. “And this canyon looks like a good place to stage a trap to catch those cobras. That shale road down to the canyon floor is only a mile or so from the castle and connects with one that runs parallel to the racetrack. We know that Reardon’s probably already arranged to fly Sasha, Chaos, and Nightshade out of there after the race. After tonight I’ll bet he can hardly wait. I wouldn’t want to disappoint him. I think we should find a way to be down there to greet Masenak and him.”

He gave a low whistle. “I don’t mean to discourage you, but there’s bound to be a chain reaction when you try to stage a move as bold as that. Don’t underestimate it. Jubaldar is still an armed camp.”

“I can’t think about that now. You said you were almost ready to move. You and Novak and Vogel do anything you have to do about Jubaldar. But this has to come first.”

“A trap?” His sober gaze lifted from the map to her face. “Have you thought this through?” he asked quietly. “You’d have to have something pretty irresistible to bait that trap.”

“Do you think I don’t realize that?” she said hoarsely. “I haven’t been able to think of anything else. It’s scaring me to death. When I tell Sasha, she’s not going to have it any other way. Because it will do exactly what she told me has to be done. We’ve just got to make sure that they can’t strike out and hurt her.”

“There isn’t anything sure about what she could face.” His voice was gentle. “Why do you think I’m trying to make you think twice about it? I’ll do everything possible, but there’s always a random factor in a situation like this. I disappointed you before and almost got you both killed. I can’t do that again.”