Bee Count remains at 8. (Same as it's been since chapter 25.)

Patrick gets to say "Master" as much as he likes when talking about a Bianca who isn't in the room.

...or, you know, the big outdoor space. Not that you'd know it, from this page. I must've been artistically exhausted this week, I'm using every trick in the book to avoid drawing backgrounds.

[tink]

Cybele: It’s really okay, though! I’m out of the Game myself. So is . . . just about everyone they know who didn’t need to fight you today.

My Master didn’t want to trust Cohen with this at first, either. But he did, and look at me — I turned out just fine!

Walker (thinking): That sure sounds like the Rabbit. When Cohen’s supposed to have her locked up . . . and to not KNOW who the Master is . . .

He’s tipping his hand much too far! Whatever he wants to change about Blake, it must give him an astronomical advantage! If I don’t thwart them, I’ll never be able to trust my own Being again . . .

Sparrow: So, uh, I think maybe we shouldn’t call her bluff here.

Miranda: What — you mean back down? Like we came all this way to just give up?

Patrick: My Master would say . . . sometimes the best strategy in the long run is a thing called “choose your battles.”