“Those two suckers would have shot out, grabbed you, and yanked you onto the spike as it speared its way through your guts. Then it would have pulled you close and enveloped you. They engulf their prey to digest it.”

“Dek knows all these things?”

“Yeah, he’s pretty good in the bush. Of course, a lot of it is quetzal knowledge. Some of it is just plain luck, and a lot of it comes from sheer guts. Worst fix he was in was with mobbers out on his claim. Should have died, but through cussed willpower, he crawled out of the canyon, and Talina rescued him.”

Falise shook her head. “You talk about my brother like he’s . . . I don’t know. Someone I can’t recognize. Back in Transluna, he was what you people would call ‘shit on your shoe.’”

“Your dad shouldn’t have sent that woman he loved away. Broke Dek’s heart.”

“Kalay?” Falise chuckled. “She was a Guild girl. Her only job was to train him in sexual proficiency. They both knew that. Knew the rules.”

“You got trained in that, too?”

“Of course, I’m a Taglioni. From birth we’re trained to master a great many skills.”

Kylee was walking at Flute’s side now. She looked up with those oversized blue eyes. “Did anyone tell you that you people are really fucked up?”

“No one would dare tell a Taglioni such a thing. Not to their face. Not and live.”

“Got news for you, Falise: You people are really fucked up.”

Falise stared down in amazement. “You’d never say that in public. Not where anyone could hear.”

“Try me.”

Falise balled a fist. “What is it with you? All of you. You don’t have the first civilized sense about genteel behavior, about manners or propriety. Let alone respect for your superiors.”

“Yeah,” Kylee agreed. “We’re real shits. Me in particular. I was learning all those things you said while I was living down at Mundo with only Flash, Diamond, and Leaper for company. Of course, Leaper blamed me for Rocket’s death and would have eaten me to see what I’d learned. But then, like Dek and his girlfriend, I guess we all have our burdens to bear.” She looked up. “What are yours, Falise?”

“I have no burdens. I’ve always done my duty. Proudly.”

“Like when Ednund was eaten? Was that proud? You shrieking and fainting in the mud?”

“How dare you?” Falise’s heart took a skip, the rage beginning to burn at the base of her spine, filling her with . . .

“Because someone has to slap the condescension out of you.” Kylee seemed unconcerned as she walked, her gaze scanning the trees. “Here’s how it lines out, Falise: The old saying is that people come to Donovan to leave, to die, or to find themselves. I think you need to leave.”

“Not until I’ve ensured Taglioni control of Donovanian assets is complete.”