“No, probably not—but if you consider any of the things that have happened in the past week a good sign, you have deeper problems. Jamal, bring your friends. We need to let that space collapse as soon as possible. If we can leave this place with Mrs. Erickson, we can guarantee her safety—but she won’t leave without you.”

Jamal hesitated, but when Mrs. Erickson nodded, he turned back and shouted an all clear to the other three. Esme came out first, but she was followed quickly by Callis and Katie.

“Terrano, let go.”

“He’s trying,” Mandoran said. “Don’t worry about him. I’ve got him. I’m not letting go.”

Chosen. Kaylin turned to Hope. Call your partner.

Her partner was in the room. She blinked, and then said, “Severn—I think Hope wants you to draw your weapons. Mandoran—come back to where the rest of us are.”

“I can’t—I might lose the idiot.”

“What is he doing?”

Kaylin turned to Teela, who was less likely to offer an explanation that made no sense to people who were safely ensconced in reality.

Teela didn’t answer. Something flew past them all, leaving a strong wind in its wake. Had Hope panicked in any way, Kaylin would have been far more worried; as it was, the familiar rolled his eyes in resigned disgust.

“Was that Sedarias?”

“What do you think?” Teela muttered a Leontine imprecation under her breath—probably because she was too close to Mrs. Erickson and she didn’t want to offend. She relaxed her hold on Mrs. Erickson’s shoulder. “Mandoran is useful as an anchor, but Sedarias has always been best at pulling the idiot back to safety—probably because she’s terrifying when she’s worried. Her worry is far worse than her anger.”

Kaylin could see that, almost literally; while Sedarias wasn’t visible to her eyes—even with Hope’s help—the detritus of her passing, or her presence, lifted anything not bolted down in the room except the people.

Teela moved suddenly, without warning; she gestured and the room’s door—the room they’d first entered—slammed shut. Kaylin felt it as a slap of strong magic.

The windstorm that was Sedarias began to calm, the movement of small bits of furniture—and two chairs—slowing as she did. They fell to the floor in more or less the right orientation, although one teetered on two legs before righting itself.

The Barrani cohort leader then appeared out of the folds of moving air. Her eyes were indigo, and they were glaring murder at Terrano, who appeared at her side, his hand in the pincer grip of hers.

“What?” he said, meeting that glare head-on. “The kids are free and I’m not trapped, either.” He winced as her hand tightened.

“If we had any hope of remaining undetected,” the Barrani Hawk said, “it’s gone.”

Hope squawked.

“I said hope.”