CHAPTER SIX
Phoenix swore inventively and pushed Cadoc aside to check for himself. He laid his fingers on Jade’s slender, white neck and felt for a pulse. Nothing. Next he pulled her dagger out of its sheath and counted the rubies in its hilt twice. Sure enough, of the seven life-rubies with which she had started this game, only five were still sparklingly intact. The other two had dulled and cracked to lifeless chips of pink stone.
He shoved the knife back with a groan and glared at the Player. Cadoc stared back, his grey eyes clouded with regret. He laid a consoling hand on Phoenix’s arm. After an internal struggle, Phoenix suppressed his anger enough to speak grudgingly, through gritted teeth.
“It’s not your fault. I’m sorry about your friend, too.” He stood up and went to
