(Untitled)

[walksthebounds]

After this, there's been a lot of talk between Jamie and Uquar, and a lot of explanations Jamie only half-understands.

But the long and the short of it is this: there are more Homeward Bounders than there are of Them, now. And that means that if Uquar summons all the Homeward Bounders together - not just four or five children new to the Bounds,

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[uquars_gadget]

Helen is near the back of the crowd, and already squirming her way through, but once there's people calling her name to the front she starts pushing more.

Finally she's pushed through to the front and she sees Jamie standing there, cool as a cucumber, and pushes the hank of her hair in her face back. "Jamie!" She blurts, not expecting to see him leading the Homeward Bounders--

--but then she sees who he's with, and she kneels at his feet, stiff and respectful (and very, very proud). "You are called Uquar. We have a statue of you in chains in the House of Uquar. They say your bonds are our Bounds, and you were bound for telling us the ways of the worlds. They say only one without hope can undo them."

[walksthebounds]

"That's right, Jamie undid them," Uquar says, while Jamie examines his fingernails and does his best to look nonchalant (stealing glances at Helen every so often, to see how she's taking this.)

"Helen, get up and use the Hand of Uquar for us. We must get in there and destroy as many of Them as we can." He raises his voice, pitching it to carry. "When we get in, each of you is allowed to destroy one of Them. That is Their rule."

[uquars_gadget]

Helen glances at Jamie after Uquar speaks, startled. Without hope? Then she stands, lifting her head austerely.

"All right," she tells Jamie. Then her voice goes fierce, "Only if you make a mess of it, I'll never forgive you!"

One Konstam is enough, thank you.

Helen concentrates, her arm turning to a pure bar of spirit. And she shatters the door at the weak spot marked out by Shen.

[son_of_khans]

Konstam has been pushing his way forwards from the moment he arrived with everyone else. While he certainly does not doubt the determination of everyone here to fight and kill Them-

They are also demons.

"Wait!" As soon as he has gotten close enough to Jamie, Helen, and the other figure he sees by the door Helen just carved open.

And if there is one thing Konstam knows-

"They are demons. You must kill each of Them twice!"

It is exactly this sort of business.

[walksthebounds]

It's important information to know, and Jamie hopes everyone hears -

But as all the Homeward Bounders push forward in a chaotic rush, intent on getting their hundreds or thousands or millions of years worth of revenge, it seems extremely doubtful that they all do.

(And though Jamie doesn't know it at the time . . . that's enough to seal his fate right there.)