“Well, I’m not ready for that,” said Kaylee with a decisive note in her voice. “You’re coming back home with me and Aaron when all of this is over.”

“That is my plan too. But as we both know too well, we don’t control much of anything.”

Kaylee caught his gaze and held it. Then she nodded grimly and wound up and threw another star, hitting the target dead-on.

An Important Discovery

Maiven Taveer thoroughly enjoyed Florence’s training sessions. “You are a great warrior,” she said as they stopped for a break. “I should like to have you on my side forever, and would be fearful to oppose you.” She nimbly climbed up onto Gorgrun’s back to get the box of provisions they’d brought along.

“And you are surprisingly adept after being imprisoned for so many years,” said Florence. “Thisbe told me that you’d been the leader of the military.”

“Yes. Technically I still am.” Maiven tossed the box down to Florence. “However, my army has shrunk considerably.” She pointed at the handful of Grimere children who were sitting in the shade of the Quillitary wall with Fifer, Sky, and Thisbe, waiting for the refreshments.

“Is this the extent of it?” asked Florence. She held out a hand to help Maiven to the ground.

“There may be a few more living in hiding beyond Grimere. I’m not sure. I searched one area, a palace where an old curmudgeon named Ashguard was last known to be. I suspected that area might be a hiding place for some of my people, but I didn’t find anyone. And there wasn’t sufficient time to check the village. I’ll go back upon our return if there is time. We’ll need all the help we can get to reclaim the throne.”

“Much like us,” said Florence wryly. “Do you think the Revinir will continue to destroy life as you know it in your land? How far does Grimere reach?”

Maiven took her dagger and sketched a map of her world in the dirt, putting it into four quadrants. Grimere, with the castle, city, and Dragonsmarche, was in the southeast quarter. The smaller village Thisbe, Fifer, and Seth had visited upon first arriving and searching for food and water was in the northeast quarter. These two quadrants were closest to the seven islands—the castle on the left and the tiny village on the right as one approached. Beyond them, the desert and cavelands where the ghost dragons roamed sat in the northwest, and the crater lake and vast land beyond where Ashguard had ruled was in the southwest. The great forest where the Artiméan rescue team had spent so much time was sprawled throughout the middle of the land, touching all four quadrants but much more heavily so in the northern two. Several rivers snaked through it.

“That helps me see it,” Florence said. “Thank you.” She studied it. “What is this land called?” she asked, pointing to the southwest, where Ashguard had ruled.