“Maybe we’d better try helping Aaron instead,” said Seth dryly.

“She’ll come around,” said Fifer with determination. “I know my sister. At least . . . I used to.”

“She’ll come around? The Revinir is coming to abduct her! She’s got a lot on her mind right now besides you.” Seth just shook his head at Fifer. “Not everything is about you all the time. You know that, Fifer?”

Fifer stared at him, unable to think of a comeback. Why couldn’t she get anything right? After a moment, Seth left. He pushed through the crowd to where Florence was standing, acting as a bodyguard for Aaron, and asked if there was anything he could do to help. Fifer frowned after him, not sure what to do.

Fifer’s sadness turned to indignation as she mentally reviewed what had just happened. She knew very well that not everything was about her. It made her mad that Seth would say such a thing. Fifer also knew that this situation was really serious—why else would she step up and apologize to get back on Thisbe’s good side when the whole “getting a new room” thing wasn’t even totally Fifer’s fault? She was just trying to quickly clear up that little altercation so they could work on the real problem, which was obviously the Revinir. But they had at least a little time before the dragon-woman would be here. Fifer had figured a few minutes patching things up wouldn’t make a difference.

But Thisbe hadn’t appreciated the gesture, much less understood it for what it was: an effort to get them on the same page so Fifer could help stop the Revinir. So now what? After a moment, Fifer plowed after Seth to Aaron’s side, determined to get something right. Because everything she did lately seemed like a big mistake.

“Hey!” Fifer shouted, heading for the protesters. “Everybody just stop it! Stop acting like a bunch of babies! Do you seriously think now is a good time to get rid of the head mage? With the Revinir on her way here? Let me tell you what she’s like, in case you haven’t heard.”

But the dissenters didn’t want to listen. Especially Frieda Stubbs, who turned to Fifer and got right up into her face. “Your family is the reason the Revinir is coming here!”

Fifer felt her face get hot. “We’re trying to fix this!”

“You caused it,” said Frieda, “and the only way to fix it is if you go away. So I say you should all leave!”

Fifer gasped. Frieda’s people started to chant: “Leave! Leave! Leave!”

Frieda smirked at her. “See? The people have spoken. You must leave! Or else we’ll hand you over to the Revinir when she gets here.”

Threats and More Threats