Flashback ( PDFDrive )

leaving a muted Keefe shell. “No need to fling so many worries at me,
Foster,” he said.
“Then tell me how he’s forcing you to do this,” she countered.
He shrugged, raising one defiant eyebrow as he glanced up to face
her. “You’re looking at it the wrong way. My dad sooooooooo hasn’t
thought this one through. Do you have any idea how miserable I can
make him?”
“Probably about as miserable as he can make you,” Sophie noted.
“Nah—he also has me,” Ro jumped in. “And I have parasites.”
“Speaking of which,” Elwin said, clattering into the room carrying
the silver basin they’d been using for their skill lessons and a tray of
colorful balms, “I’m surprised Lord Cassius hasn’t hailed me about
another round of stomach issues. Does that mean you decided to go
easy on him?”
Ro batted her eyelashes. “Give it a few more hours.”
Elwin grimaced. “Are you going to at least tell me what you gave
him this time?”
“Now, where would the fun be in that?” Ro asked. “Besides, it’s
good training! The traitors who defected from my father might use
this stuff against you someday. Better learn how to recognize it.”
“Unfortunately, I suppose that’s true,” Elwin said, setting the basin
on the floor between Sophie’s and Fitz’s cots.
“Is it ooze time, is it ooze time, is it ooze time?” Ro asked, bouncing on
the balls of her feet and clapping her hands.
Elwin nodded, turning to Fitz and Sophie. “Who wants to go first?”
“Foster volunteers!” Keefe said, with a smirk that so deserved a
pillow to the head.
“You good with that?” Elwin asked her.