Aurelius was halfway down the pit wall, swinging from a rope that wasn’t going to be long enough. A few minutes won’t matter one way or the other during a test I could have passed when I was nine. He let go of the rope, dropping into a crouch not far from the unconscious girl. Pebbles hadn’t roused her, so he was risking a closer look.

All Pred hunted with their hair knotted, but the accident had knocked hers loose. Aurelius stole closer and plucked a comb from amidst m...