As more and more townspeople gathered and filled in every available inch of the square, Thisbe’s eyes strayed to the forest, which began just on the other side of the road they’d traveled to get here. She remembered taking the path to Alex’s grave. Finding that mound of dirt with unopened seek spells hovering above it. Having such weird feelings about it. Those feelings continued today. And while she’d made some progress, she still hadn’t fully come to terms with the guilt she carried. She and Alex had been in a fight the last time she’d seen him. And now she was doing something awful. How would he feel about it? Could he possibly somehow sense what she was doing, even in death?

A pang of dread ripped through her as Fifer came to mind. Thisbe didn’t know why her thoughts were torn away from everything else in that instant and forced on Fifer, but it was strange enough to raise her fears. Then Thisbe realized she was a lot closer to the palace now than she’d been in the castle. Was she back in telepathic range? Immediately she tried to communicate mentally with her twin. She focused on two short sentences. “I’m in Dragonsmarche. Ready to declare partnership.” She thought them over and over, but there was no sense that the words got through like she’d felt before when she and Fifer had practiced this. She must still be too far away. But the thought of Fifer stayed with her, a sharp-edged worry. Perhaps it was because of their location on this stage and the memory of what had happened.

The Revinir’s big face loomed and came into Thisbe’s space. “I’ll do most of the talking,” the dragon-woman said.

“That’s fine,” said Thisbe, trying to smile.

“But I want you to say something too, so the people know that we are in agreement.”

“Of course.”

The Revinir studied Thisbe. “All right. I’m ready to get started.”

Thisbe nodded, trying to look encouraging. Trying to appear like she wanted to be here.

“People and dragons!” shouted the Revinir. “People and dragons!”

The crowd quieted.

“People and dragons,” the Revinir said a third time, “I am here today with exciting news. As a dragon, and your current leader, I am happy to announce that I have come to an understanding with one of the few remaining black-eyed rulers. We have agreed to officially take back this land from the usurpers who have reigned these past forty years. We will restore our world to the way it was meant to be!”

She paused as murmurs rose up all around them. A few shouts rang out, but they were drowned by a smattering of applause.