Thisbe’s muscles went weak. Fifer? She’d thought the Revinir had forgotten about her sister by now. Was she going to go to Artimé after all and ruin Thisbe’s great sacrifice for her homeland? And . . . why didn’t the Revinir say Rohan? Thisbe knew she valued him—according to her he was mostly good and worked very hard. It made more sense for her to want him than Fifer. Or had she already done something to him? The thought made her waver and her eyesight grow dim.

She fought through it, trying to breathe normally, and managed to squeak out a suspicious-sounding story, but it was the best she could come up with. “Fifer left yesterday for the Island of Fire. She used the volcano network to get back to your land. She . . .” Thisbe hesitated, then continued blindly, hoping she wasn’t making a big mistake. “She’s planning to fight and conquer you to return the land to the old rulers.” She paused. When the Revinir didn’t speak, she added, “We’ll have to capture her there.”

The Revinir seemed to believe Thisbe. And why wouldn’t she? All the other black-eyed slaves told the dragon-woman painfully honest truths while they were under her control. Thisbe would never come willingly—nor would that troublesome dragon, Drock, if their minds weren’t being fully affected by her.

Thisbe blinked and continued with her dead stare, feeling cold sweat break out, like she might faint. The Revinir spent a painstaking moment studying her, then faced forward and ordered the fleet of dragons to abandon the mission of attack. “Return to Grimere!” she roared. “If we come across Fifer Stowe, capture her and bring her to me.”

Thisbe stood steady, but her insides were collapsing. Everything had just gotten a thousand times more horrible. But at least they were turning away from Artimé. That was the main goal. Now . . . if only there were a way to tell Fifer to stay clear of Grimere forever.

As the party flew to the west and the sun rose behind them, Thisbe started to feel a little calmer. She’d gotten through the moment and had accomplished what she’d intended. And hopefully Simber or Spike or someone from Warbler would notice and be able to tell the people of Artimé and Quill that the Revinir was retreating. She’d bought them more time. She and Drock had succeeded. And Artimé would be functioning normally again in no time.