That’s why staying in Artimé wasn’t quite as painful as it could have been, though he knew Thisbe had been captured again. He agreed with Florence and Thisbe that there was only one chance to beat the Revinir. And at first it seemed like their chance had been fumbled or lost because of Thisbe and Fifer’s capture. But Florence and Maiven didn’t waver, so neither did Rohan. The two of them knew that they all had to be at their strongest in order to continue on. And Rohan wouldn’t stand by and let anyone eclipse him. This was his duty to the land of the dragons, and his duty to Queen Maiven Taveer and the crown. He wouldn’t let the Revinir or anyone supporting her stand in his way. He was ready to be a great warrior like Florence. To assist Thisbe and Maiven. And to eliminate anyone who sided with the evil dragon-woman, for no doubt she was recruiting people left and right while holding all the dragons hostage. There was no question about putting an end to her. And he would convince his fellow black-eyed slaves of this too. They had one chance to knock out this monster, and they had to succeed. There was no alternative except to lose everything, including wiping the black-eyed rulers out of existence. And with so much life left to live, Rohan wouldn’t take that as an answer. The upcoming weeks would be the greatest education Rohan had ever received. And he was ready for it.

There was nothing that could possibly make his faith in Thisbe and her people waver. They were going to win. He could feel it—things were going to go their way eventually. But in the meantime, without Thisbe there, the chasm of loneliness in Rohan’s heart was growing deeper by the day.

He only wished he could talk to her. Just once. Just for a moment. He had a slew of send components now, but he knew what Florence had said. Under no circumstances should anyone contact Fifer or Thisbe. It could endanger their lives. So with great reluctance, Rohan kept his components safely tucked away next to his heart.

Meeting of the Minds

A week passed in the palace surrounded by red dragons, and every day Fifer had to fight Thisbe to not call on Florence to come for them. To convince her to hold off from communicating at all for now. “We only have a few send components,” Fifer argued. “We have to save them for when we really need them. But right now, Florence is probably training everybody and making our army stronger, and you and I are living a pretty good life here with Dev while the Revinir thinks we’re suffering. Do you see what I’m saying?”