“Princess?” “Perhaps if we threw some water in her face,” someone else said. Katya heard a sputtered laugh. She knew the voices, but she couldn’t quite place them. Spirits above, her head was full of sand. “What about this other one?” “Be gentle with her!” “Darkstrong took gentleness when he decided to poison Starbride’s mind. Katya, wake up!” A shot of pain rolled down Katya’s arm. Someone had pinched her, hard. She was betting on the impatient, imperious voice. Only one person did imperious like that. “Redtrue?” Katya tried to say. Her eyes wouldn’t open, held by lead weights. “See? A little force is all that’s needed.” “If you pinch her again, you’ll feel my palm across your cheek!” That had to be Dawnmother. “You wouldn’t dare!”
