But before Cecilia could ask anything else, Adrian approached briskly.
"Mika..." He said, slightly out of breath. "The spears are going to be ready soon. We've tied all the ropes like you said and set the readied ones to the side. What do we do next?"
"Good timing." Mika nodded.
He lifted his hand, and from thin air, a large wooden barrel appeared before him with a heavy thud.
Adrian blinked, startled, as Mika pried open the lid. Inside was a golden, viscous liquid that gleamed thickly in the light, slow to move like honey.
"This..." Mika said. "...is resin from the Apalachee Tree. It's extremely sticky. Once it touches your skin, it's nearly impossible to remove without a fight."
He dipped his finger in the resin and showed its thick stretch.
"I want this poured carefully over the knots—right where the ropes are tied to the spears. Make sure every single one gets a coat."
Adrian frowned slightly.
