“Okay.” Thisbe nervously checked her pants pockets for the collection of magical components she’d need later. Then, wanting to keep the two busy with work so they would look less suspicious if caught, she pointed to the fires and the buckets of water. “Can you put the fires out?”

Prindi said something to Reza, perhaps translating, and they reached for the buckets. Thisbe went to the main hallway and peered down it anxiously. She desperately wished for her component vest. The vest made it so much easier to organize her components, rather than stuffing them all into her front two pants pockets. Plus the vest offered a magical degree of protection. But as she had pointed out to Aaron, the Revinir knew all about the vests that Artiméans wore, and Thisbe couldn’t risk wearing it and tipping the dragon-woman off.

Seeing no one in the passageways, Thisbe returned to the kitchen. She picked up a couple of canteens that the soldiers had left lying around and filled them with water, then handed them to Reza to carry. Reza and Prindi spoke quickly with each other. Then Prindi asked Thisbe if the dragons outside were dangerous.

Thisbe assured them that as long as the dragons were being mind-controlled by the Revinir as the slaves had been, they were not dangerous unless the Revinir told them to attack.

“But . . . if we leave?” asked Reza. He seemed doubtful about escaping. “We have everything here.”

Thisbe stared at him for a long moment. “How long have you been down here?” she asked softly.

“Always.”

Prindi nodded—she too had been there as long as she could remember.

“And . . . you don’t remember being out of here? At all? Ever? Not even recently while the Revinir was controlling you? You don’t remember fighting me and my friends in the castle? Or flying to my world to find me and Drock? None of it?” Thisbe was astounded. They didn’t know what the world was like. It was beyond Thisbe’s comprehension.

Suddenly Prindi’s eyes widened in fear, and she pointed. Thisbe whirled around and saw two soldiers on their rounds coming in to check on them. Reaching for her pocket, Thisbe found a few components.

“What are you two doing in here?” shouted one of the soldiers. “What’s going on? Where’s Dev?”

“Something’s wrong,” said the other. “They’re acting different.”

Thisbe didn’t hesitate. “Freeze!” she shouted, pointing at them. Then she sent shackle components, securing them to the wall in their frozen state.

Prindi and Reza stared.

“We need to hurry,” Thisbe said to Prindi, hoping she’d understand. The shackles would hold the soldiers for hours, but the freeze spell would last only fifteen minutes or so—they’d be able to call for help after that.