Sky set down the book and went over to the girl. Fifer reached her arms around Sky, and without knowing precisely why, started crying into Sky’s shoulder. There were so many things. Alex’s death after they’d finally become friends. The demotion from leadership just when she was starting to feel so attached to Artimé and its future. Thisbe growing distant, having newfound purpose in the land of the dragons, and having new friends like Rohan who seemed closer to her than Fifer was these days. Simber ignoring her and her quarrels with Seth. And none of the others seemed to be affected by these things that meant so much to Fifer. It made Fifer feel like she didn’t belong anywhere. Like she and her goals and desires weren’t important at all. “I’m sorry,” Fifer sobbed, even though she wasn’t sure why she said it.

Sky patted her on the back and whispered, “There, there,” to her and let her cry. She didn’t ask what was wrong. She remembered being thirteen, and she knew that Fifer would tell her whatever it was when she was ready.

After a while they separated. Fifer thanked Sky and apologized for getting her shirt wet with tears.

“I think my shirt is glad to be of help,” Sky said with a crooked grin. “It has seen a lot of tears lately.”

Fifer sniffed and wiped her face, feeling better just to let it out, even if she didn’t have any solutions to her problems. At least Sky was there, and it gave Fifer comfort to know she could go to her whenever she needed to. They went back to sorting through the books and crates and packing up the things they needed to study further.

By the time they were ready to head back to Karkinos, they were already getting a better idea of who Emma-Eagala-the-Revinir was. And what had led her to become such a bitter, power-hungry person. They loaded everything up in the hammock, and Fifer sent the birds to Karkinos. Then they took the boat and followed, eager to continue their studying.

But once they neared Karkinos, they abruptly realized that something was amiss. Because Karkinos was deserted, and they could just make out that Artimé’s lawn was covered with people and statues and creatures. And they all seemed to be fighting each other. The magical world had gone mad.

Great Strides