“There are risks there, too,” said Aaron. “If the dragons aren’t being controlled, will they turn on anyone who gets in their way? We’re dealing with something so much bigger than anything we’ve ever faced before.”

Frustration built as solutions remained elusive. And their worries grew for Thisbe. How was she holding up? Was she able to avoid being caught or fed the dragon-bone broth? And was Drock doing okay in that environment? They hoped he was handling obeying everything the Revinir asked him to do.

The shaky state of the unknown contributed to the stress of coming up with creative spells. Forcing creativity during a stressful time was hardly conducive to the process, and all of them at one point or another lashed out, especially Fifer, who was dealing with a myriad of feelings lately. But the Artiméans had solved big problems before, and they’d have to figure out how to do it again.

By now they had several finished obliterate components from Florence’s team in Artimé. She’d procured a limited number of them and had put each one in its own tiny protective box that had to be magically opened with a whispered password, so that if anyone dropped one accidentally or if it fell into the wrong hands, it wouldn’t leave an accidental mass grave behind. But would they be enough?

Sky, who stayed quiet most of the time as she observed and assisted, returned to Aaron one day. They’d talked once before, shortly after Thisbe left, about Eagala’s inner workings, and Sky had been thinking about it ever since. “I keep coming back to what Thisbe said,” she told Aaron.

“About what the Revinir’s weaknesses might be?” asked Aaron.

“Yes.”

“I’ve been mulling that over too. Do you have an idea?”

“I’m not sure. But I want to go to Warbler and see if I can find anything she might have left behind that would give us better insight into how to beat her. I feel like there might be something to the idea, you know? Since her magic and this ability is mental, perhaps we need to approach the solution in that way too.”

“Yes, I agree. But how?” asked Aaron.

“I’m hoping Warbler will tell me her secrets.”

Aaron nodded slowly. “Do you want company?”

“It might be wise to ask Fifer to come along with me if you can spare her.”

Aaron tipped his head slightly. “Why Fifer?”

Sky glanced at the girl, who was sitting with her head down not far away. “She could stand to get away from here for a little bit,” she said lightly. “She’s been through a lot of confusing things lately—going from leading the group after Alex’s death to basically sitting here not being heard. I think she could use a break.”