I turned back to Dimic.

He shrugged again. “Cion thought you could benefit from a game of Hands of Thieves,”

I threw up my arms. “And what do I need to know about this game?”

“It teaches you to hone your reflexes and keep different opponents in sight.”

I put my hands on my hips. “I meant, what are the rules?”

He smiled. “It only ends when you get the bag from us.”

Without a word, I turned back into the fray. The boys took particular delight in showing off their skills. Some would toss it behind their backs to another kid when I lunged for it. Others shot it through their legs.

“Too slow, Princess,” one supplied as I dove into the carpet, narrowly missing the bag as it soared away.

“Try harder,” another quipped. They were enjoying beating me a little too much.

I was sweating by the time I caught the bag from a small kid who hadn’t thrown it quite high enough.

But I’d seen the benefits of the game. Sometimes the boys would toss it. Sometimes they would all gather into a huddle around me so I couldn’t tell who passed it. I’d scramble to find it as they all pretended to throw it to someone else.

It really did keep me on my toes. No wonder Cion was as good as he was.

But I wasn’t there yet. I tossed the bag back to the kid I’d stolen it from.

“Again,” I said.

By the time Cion returned, I was under a pile of boys, fighting to maintain my grip on the bag I’d rightfully grabbed after a boy named Yeri tossed it behind his back as he’d done every other time. I’d been ready and snagged it midair.

Of course, Yeri claimed no one could catch one of his pitches, causing him to fight for it back.

Although it wasn’t a fight in the true sense of the word. There was a lot more yanking, shoving, and name calling than actual brawling.

But above it all was laughing as the other boys joined in.

“Enough, enough,” Cion called over the melee. He yanked boys off by their shirt collars.

“I see you’re all getting along well,” he said with a grin as he helped me up.

“Did you expect anything less?”

He looked around the room. “Well, I half expected at least one of them to pull a knife on you.”

“Glad I didn’t know that before you left,” I said.

“I told them they could trust you,” he replied. “I told them you promised not to restrict the water levels anymore.”

I swallowed. I’d forgotten about the water levels. A pang of guilt raced through me. These boys were helping me, and I’d promised them nothing in return because those controls couldn’t exist.

“Right,” I said, unable to meet his eyes. I could always give them access to a well or something similar. Plus, I’d work to make things better around the wells too.