Then Aaron spoke gently to his sister. “I appreciate that you want me on your panel,” he said. “But I will decline. I’ve caused too much contention with the dissenters already. You’ll present as a more unified jury without me in the mix.”

Samheed frowned, but then his face relaxed, and he said with a hint of kindness, “I think you’re right, Aaron. That’s big of you to see it that way. But”—he stiffened slightly, as if regretting his generosity—“your opinion of the questionable ones will actually be valuable.”

“I agree,” Fifer said, turning to Aaron. “Will you at least be nearby to listen in?”

“So now we have spies?” asked Aaron sharply.

Fifer’s lips parted. Then she closed them. “Yes, Aaron. I’ve got no problem with spies. This is a serious situation. And we have precedence for that. Charlie and Matilda spied on you in Quill for years.”

Lani laughed aloud.

Aaron’s lips contorted as he tried not to. “Good point. Very well, then. I will be a spy.”

Thisbe stayed quiet, sipping her tea. Then she offered, “One Stowe on the panel might be enough.”

Fifer glanced up. “You don’t want to help?” she asked.

“That’s not what I said,” Thisbe replied. “I just think the panel needs to be more impartial. If we put the whole family up there, it could be seen as unfair. I think having you is enough.”

“That’s an excellent point, Thisbe,” Lani said. “This isn’t a family rulership, and we don’t want to paint it as such. Fifer alone is in charge. No one should think otherwise.”

“Oh,” said Fifer, feeling torn. “Yeah. I see that.” She was losing important panel members left and right. “But what about the dragon knowledge you have about the good and evil levels? Rohan, can you do it?”

“I don’t have any dragon qualities,” Rohan reminded her. “Not to mention I need to be invested in my training sessions with Florence and the others. And remember that just because someone contains more evil than good, that doesn’t necessarily make them a bad person.” He glanced at Thisbe.

Thisbe shifted uncomfortably. She felt self-conscious about that. Like people didn’t really understand what that meant—even she didn’t really know. But it wasn’t as simplistic as it sounded. She frowned as she thought. “I agree that having insight like that could be useful. Why not use an actual dragon? I think Gorgrun and Quince would feel honored to help, if you ask them.”

“Over and over, since they won’t remember,” said Samheed under his breath. Lani gave him a look.

“That’s… actually a great idea,” Fifer admitted. “They’d be good to have around anyway—not only are they wise, but they’re intimidating, and they’ll provide an extra element of seriousness to this.”

“If I may make a suggestion,” said Rohan, “perhaps Maiven Taveer would be an excellent impartial judge of character as well.”

“Now, that’s a fine idea,” said Samheed, sitting up. “She’s a wonderful human being.”

Lani agreed. “She’d be perfect.”