“When a Dragon has a tantrum, it causes harm,” Terrano told her. “Look—you can talk to the ghost all you want after we pull it out of the Dragon’s body. The Dragon has done nothing to deserve possession.”

Kaylin looked, briefly, at Terrano. “Imelda,” she said, voice soft, “we can’t hurt a ghost.”

Mrs. Erickson shook her head. “You can. He can.”

“And you?” Teela asked, abandoning whatever conversation—if it could be called that—she was silently having with Terrano.

“I never would. I never would.” The words were louder.

Hope squawked. The possessed Dragon had alighted, and he now stalked toward them. Had he been Sanabalis, he could have covered the distance with ease; he appeared to be struggling to walk now.

Sanabalis was still there, and Sanabalis did not want to reach them. Or rather, didn’t want whatever was in control of him to reach them.

Hope exhaled beside Kaylin’s ear; it was the wrong ear, the one she couldn’t cover. When he lifted his voice, when he spoke, Kaylin heard...nothing. It was a long nothing, given the tension in the claws that gripped her shoulder.

Whatever it was he said, Mrs. Erickson flinched, and the possessed Dragon halted in its tracks. Its eyes remained white. Kaylin noticed that the inner membranes had been lowered. When it opened its jaws, it spoke.

This time, Kaylin understood the words; she heard them in Elantran.

Help us. Help us. Help us.

Mrs. Erickson flinched. “I’ll try. I promise I’ll try. You don’t need the Dragon to speak with me. I can see you. I could see you before you approached him. We need the Dragon back, if you can release him.”

Help us.

“Yes,” she said, her voice softer, her tears once again falling freely. “I will do everything in my power to help you. To help you all. But...leave the Dragon. Please.” The last word, low, was emphatic. A request, not a command. But Kaylin recognized it as a negotiation. Mrs. Erickson didn’t believe that Sanabalis would return to them on his own.

Hope squawked, this time very, very loudly. It was almost comforting because it was normal.

Sanabalis’s eyes remained white.

“Corporal. Kaylin. You have to let go of my hand now.”

“Not a good idea,” Teela snapped.

“Trust me. Jamal is strong—you said that yourself. Jamal is a kitten in comparison to them. I know you can’t see what I see—but you can see something. If you want your friend back, you need to let go of my hand.”

Kaylin shook her head as Hope squawked.

“If you’re worried about me, don’t. If I’m possessed—as your Dragon is possessed—I can do far less harm. Far less.”

“Do. Not. Let. Go. Of. Her.” It was Sanabalis. Sanabalis’s voice, broken and strained.