Thinking about family got me thinking about Sveta, and about Kenzie and Kenzie’s family, or lack thereof, and about Kenzie’s new pseudo-family in her new team… and Chicken Little’s issues with her. In a perfect world I’d talk to Jessica about that, but Jessica wasn’t talking to me.

Tattletale cleared her throat.

At least this time she didn’t disrupt my thoughts with a pointed reminder of the worst possible things. It made it easier to align my thoughts, as Snuff drove us along the dirt road, up past buildings and toward the peak of a hill.

“We were talking about Dido,” I said. “Right.”

“Dido doesn’t matter, and we don’t have time for a full briefing. I can fill you in as necessary,” Tattletale said. “If you’re listening and not wallowing. Are you going to focus while we’re inside?”

“Yeah,” I said.

“Game face. Don’t kill anyone, both of you.”

I let the statement pass without commentary, and I put my mask on.

“If I kill someone it’s probably going to be someone close to me. Probably you,” Sveta answered. When Tattletale twisted around to look at her, Sveta smiled. “But I won’t. I’m… controlled.”

She put her own mask on. A standard mask that covered nose, surrounded eye sockets, and covered the brows, but with twirls and hooks and decorative elements branching out and following the curve of her face. It was dramatic and artistic and whimsical, and it didn’t match the look in her eyes.

At the top of the hill, a fair distance from the settlement, there was a lodge nestled in the trees. Signboards were propped up and hanging on the wall by the door.

“Swansong mentioned this place,” Sveta said. “The Lodge.”

“I ended up screwing these guys over once or twice. They aren’t happy, so we play nice,” Tattletale said.

“Are you capable?” Sveta asked.

“We’re going to see. There’s a step by step process here. Be patient. Your relationship with Bluestocking will help.”

Snuff pulled into an empty parking space in a corner of the lot without any vehicles. Gravel had been raked out and the light snow filtered in between the pieces.

We got out of the vehicle.

“How intimidating do we want to be?” I asked.

“Don’t put that aura of yours on full blast, don’t crack any skulls.”

“There’s whole lot of options before that point,” I said.

“How about you let me take point. Don’t overshadow me, that’s the line you don’t want to cross. If you’re not sure about something, take my cue or look to Snuff.”

“This is feeling less like a partnership.”

Tattletale sighed. “You can stand shoulder to shoulder with me if that makes your ego feel better.”