Florence raised an eyebrow. “Could be a good technique. Maybe not quite yet, though. We want to reassure Fifer in case she’s really in a dire situation.”

“We have to at least act like we believe what Fiferrr is telling us,” Simber said. “In case Rrrohan’s position is corrrect.”

Simber’s comments made Rohan feel a little better. But what Fifer had said about Thisbe being more evil than good stuck in his craw. He’d waved off that argument since the beginning. But he remembered when the Revinir had announced it—he’d been with Thisbe in the catacombs, near the river. And Thisbe had clearly been bothered by it then. But he thought she’d gotten past it. Maybe she hadn’t after all. Had the dragon-woman worn her down so much that she’d started to believe her?

“What other way could there possibly be?” Rohan asked suddenly. “Surely Maiven or the ghost dragons would know if there’s another way to take over the rulership of the land of the dragons.”

“Without support from either body of residents,” Maiven explained, “there isn’t another way. I’ve been racking my memory trying to think of what she could possibly mean.”

Florence tapped her chin, making a clacking sound. “Perhaps she thinks the rest of you can be coerced to vote for her.”

Rohan and Maiven looked at each other with doubt in their eyes. There was no way any of the black-eyed children would turn their backs on Maiven Taveer. It was impossible. And Thisbe knew it.

Rohan began to despair again. “Nothing makes sense.” he said.

“Any thoughts on how I should respond?” Florence asked.

“We rrrespond as if we believe Fiferrr,” said Simber. “Whetherrr she’s telling the trrruth or trrrying to send us a hidden message, we must go along with it to keep herrr safety intact. She’s intelligent. I don’t believe this is a game in any way. Something’s verrry wrrrong, eitherrr with Thisbe orrr with Fiferrr.”

“Or both of them,” said Sky.

Florence glanced at Maiven and Rohan. “Agreed?”

“Yes,” said Maiven.

Rohan hesitated, then added, “Is there a way to give her a clue that we are skeptical about all of this? So she knows we’re not swallowing it whole?”

“I think so. Let me work on this.” Florence wrote her response and showed it to the others:

Fifer,

We’re shocked beyond belief. We are on our way to Ashguard’s palace, hoping to arrive tomorrow morning. Don’t despair—we’re coming to help.

Florence

The group agreed that the “beyond belief” part conveyed what they wanted to say while still being clear that they sensed the danger she was in and were taking it seriously. Florence sent it, and they dispersed to brood individually.