“I believe I’m receiving them because I am the eldest remaining ancestor,” said Maiven. “You are noticing them because you’ve taken in enough of the ancestor broth. And perhaps because you are my granddaughter.” She was quiet for a moment. “Since your mother is . . . gone,” she said, her eyes involuntarily closing and a wave of pain washing over her face, “you and your sister are next in line for the throne.”

“What?” whispered Thisbe.

“If you wish to have the position, of course,” said Maiven, recovering and offering a wan smile. “The others here would do as fine a job as you, I’m sure. All black-eyed people are entitled to the position, but many are unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to rule.”

Thisbe sat back, the wind knocked out of her. “I don’t think I’m ready for something like that,” she said.

“Well,” said Maiven grimly, “you won’t have to be unless we can overthrow the monster who has taken up residence in my castle. But how? I still don’t have the slightest clue.”

A Message from Home

It was unsettling to Thisbe to hear Maiven Taveer, queen and commander of the military in the land of the dragons, express that she had no idea how to defeat their biggest enemy. And even more frightening to think back to her Artiméan friends and family, who also were clueless in how to fight this dragon-woman. But it made Thisbe even more determined. The Revinir was taking control of Grimere, and Thisbe believed that she wouldn’t stop with the land of the dragons, especially since she still wanted Fifer under her control. Artimé might be safe for the moment, but as soon as the Revinir figured out that Fifer was nowhere around this world, she’d venture back there.

Thisbe and Maiven stayed up talking after most of the others turned in for the night. “Do you suppose the ghost dragons would know how to defeat her?” Thisbe asked Maiven. “I didn’t ask them that before, exactly. All I know is that they are unable to kill her.”

“That seems like a good route to investigate,” said Maiven.

“But they’re so forgetful—they may not remember anything. Maybe you and I could meet with them to find out. They might remember you.”

“I’d like that,” said Maiven. “But how do we get them to meet with us?”

“We might have to go in search of them.” Thisbe tapped her lips thoughtfully. “The last time they came to help, Gorgrun told me that I called to them somehow. But I don’t know how I did it.”

“Really?” asked Maiven. “Gorgrun said you called to them? That’s fascinating. I wonder how you did it too, and if you can figure out how to do it again. I worry about traveling there. We’d be in danger of being seen on the road.”