Julien is the kind of Spade who doesn't challenge in a way that isn't clearly a battle. He can't imagine Julien doing what his uncle Davin did - challenging a Nine in Scrabble, for instance.

But Aleksei hasn't asked that question. He's asked one that's a bit harder.

"I think...that knowing how to defend you and yours is still integral to what Spades are," he says, looking over at the younger boy. "But if you limit yourself to just that, you miss out on what all you could be."