Page 82 of The Tribes of Magic
“Funny, I thought you only dumped avalanches on yourself.”
I stuck my tongue out at him.
Dante guffawed. “I still say Kato’s a show-off.”
“That’s an interesting comment coming from you.”
“When have Ievershown off?”
I smiled over my braided fingers. “How about the three times you apparently tried to do a backflip off the roof?”
Nevada laughed. “I totally forgot about that. Yeah, that wasn’t one of your best moves, Dante.”
I looked at her. “Wait, how do you know about this? I only found out about it last week.”
“I think most of Bayshore knows about it. I was actually there when he did it.”
“And you didn’t try to stop him?”
“Since when has your brothereverlet anyone stop him from doing whatever stupid idea he got into his head?”
Dante nodded along, like he was very proud of that. “She’s right, of course.”
I sighed. Then I returned my attention to the TV. Senator Gaines was on the news again, and he was absolutely livid about the stolen supplies situation.
“Security is General Lynch’s responsibility, and he failed at that. He allowed criminals to go unchecked in the city. After the Brotherhood of Earth was revealed to be a terrorist organization, the General should have hunted down every last one of them. He said he would hunt them down. He promised he would hunt them down. But did he hunt them down?” Senator Gaines laughed tightly. “No. He did not. The General failed this city. He should be removed from all positions of power, effective immediately.”
I looked at Dante and Nevada. “It seems Senator Gaines is aiming to take Prince Fenris’s place as the General’s number one enemy.”
“Yeah, well, can you really blame the Senator for hating the General?” Dante said. “The General is not exactly the most likable guy. And besides, Senator Gaines is right. Security is the General’s responsibility.”
Dutch sat down next to him. “It’s not that easy. The Fortress is a big city. And the General has a lot to do. He’s in charge of the Watchersandthe Knights.”
“Yeah, I’m totally hoping the President takes some of that responsibility off his plate,” Dante said. “Surely, there’s a better choice to run the Castle than a man who hates teenagers. Maybe we’ll finally get someone reasonable. Like that Senator Gaines fellow.”
“Ok, but what do we actually know about the Senator?” I said.
Dante shrugged. “Only that he seems way more reasonable than the General.”
I couldn’t argue with that.
“And you’re basing that on what?” Dutch asked him. “Thirty seconds of seeing him on TV?”
Dante poppied a grape into his mouth. “Na, I already knew he was better than the General within the first five seconds.”
“Shh.” Dutch looked around to make sure no one was listening. “The General will hear you and punish you. And punish all of us by association, just for hearing your treacherous words.”
“Relax, man. Who here is going to tell the General that no one likes him?” Dante’s brows lifted. “You?”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing. You just seem like the sort of guy who might snitch.”
Dutch turned bright red.
“Leave him alone, Dante,” Bronte said.
My brother lifted his hands in the air. “Hey, I didn’t start this. It’s not my fault thatheis paranoid.”
