Idly Thisbe wondered how they’d travel. Simber would fly, of course, but the rest of them could take a ship and have Simber ferry them across the gorge. Or they could go on Spike’s back. Or perhaps they’d take the faster route through the Island of Fire volcano. That seemed like an easier way for Florence to get to Grimere, if she was planning on coming. Thisbe hoped she was—Florence would be great against the Revinir, she thought sleepily. If Florence took a ship, she wouldn’t be able to be flown across the gorge—she was too heavy for Simber to carry.

Thisbe closed her eyes and turned to her side. Hopefully, Florence and Fifer and Aaron would have come up with a solution to eliminate the Revinir by now. That would leave Thisbe free to figure out how they were going to save Dev.

She drifted off.

•  •  •

In the morning when Thisbe woke up, a strange, small orb glowed in the air above her face. It wasn’t a seek spell—it was much more compact, and it hadn’t exploded into a picture of anything. Thisbe blinked hard and wiped the sleep from her eyes, making sure it wasn’t a dream. She slid out from under the orb, not quite daring to reach out to touch it. It swung lightly through the air, staying an arm’s length away at about chin level. Sitting up, Thisbe studied it. Could Florence and the others have improved the seek spell? Or was this not from them? Was it a trick? Had the Revinir somehow tracked her down?

Feeling relatively certain that the Revinir had no means to do this type of magic, Thisbe reached out tentatively with one finger and touched the spot of light.

Instead of exploding like a seek spell, it melted and slid into Thisbe’s hand. The light faded, and a brilliant white piece of folded paper remained on her palm, with a thin pencil beside it. Thisbe opened the note, a small smile blooming on her face. Florence had indeed figured out how to improve the seek spell while Thisbe had been away. And she’d sent an actual message!

But her smile faded as she read the words.

Dear Thisbe,

Artimé is in a civil war. I’m so sorry—we aren’t able to help you right now. But if you and Drock can return to help us . . . we could really use it.

Your friend,

Florence

PS Use the pencil to reply. The verbal component is “send.”

A New Direction