The Revinir held up both front legs and rested on her haunches. Her tail swished around from side to side, occasionally curling around Thisbe’s feet as if to warn her there was no way out. She waited for silence. Eventually it came.

“I declare here and now that I, as ruling dragon, have entered into a partnership with Thisbe Stowe, the ruling black-eyed human. We agree to come together for the good of our land. Thisbe is a competent leader and… she is my friend. We will work very well as a team.”

Thisbe was surprised by the Revinir’s soft, complimentary words. She glanced over and noticed the dragon-woman almost had a sheen in her eyes. She’d really meant it. And while that was touching, it was also a little strange, seeing as how Thisbe had been playing her hard all this time. She almost felt guilty. But then a new thought struck her: Maybe the Revinir was playing Thisbe just as hard. That helped chill Thisbe’s heart a little.

The Revinir was staring at her, and Thisbe suddenly realized she was supposed to speak now. “Yes,” she said loudly, and glanced around, looking for Rohan. He was on the ground nearby, staring vacantly into the crowd. “I am excited to represent all people in this fine land,” she said. “Our partnership restores a symbiotic system that has almost been forgotten. A ruling body that is unique to this land. And I’m honored to step in as co-leader with… my friend, the Revinir.” Thisbe’s eloquent words drew light applause. She turned to the Revinir but continued as if to the crowd, “And so I declare that our partnership should commence immediately.”

“Commence the partnership!” said the Revinir, with great flair.

The crowd waited. It seemed like something should happen, but the Revinir didn’t know quite what.

Thisbe frowned. “Did it work?” she whispered.

“I’m not sure,” muttered the Revinir. “I expected the dragons to return to normal, if not the humans—like I told you, we might need some of that ancestor broth for that.”

“Are there any ghost dragons in the skies that you can see?” Thisbe asked. “If they’re gone, that would be a sure sign it worked.”

The Revinir frowned. “I don’t see any, but they don’t usually come around here. Except when you humans are up to your tricks.” She eyed Rohan thoughtfully. “He’s the only one of the black-eyed people present here who has lived in Grimere his whole life. I wonder if he knows the history of how the rulership works.”

“Rohan,” Thisbe said.

Rohan turned toward her like an automaton.