“What is it this time?” asked Rohan nervously. His world had turned upside down in an instant. Was this just one more thing?

“Now Fifer says we shouldn’t go to Ashguard’s palace, which is where she supposedly is. She says it’s too dangerous, and…” Florence looked up with grave concern. “She says the dragons have just killed Shimmer and the rest of Fifer’s birds.”

“What?” whispered Rohan. The birds? He caught Seth’s troubled gaze. Neither boy knew what to think.

“Nonsense,” said Simber. “Now I’m cerrrtain the Rrrevinirrr is dictating these messages. She doesn’t want us to come.”

Florence studied the note. “It sounds like Fifer’s way of speaking, and it’s her handwriting. But you’re right, Simber. This is too suspicious. Maiven?”

“If she’s telling the truth, the dragons could harm us if we approach. Is she suggesting an alternative location?”

“The cavelands.”

“That seems like a reasonably safe place,” Maiven pointed out. “But I agree the sudden change seems suspect.”

Rohan looked at the note. “So, wait. I’m confused on where we think everyone is. If we believe Fifer to be at Ashguard’s palace, and we believe the Revinir is holding her hostage there and forcing her to write these notes… where is Thisbe? Also at Ashguard’s palace, despite Fifer telling us she went to the castle?”

“Potentially,” said Simber. “If so, the Rrrevinirrr has set up a strrrange and unnecessarrrily complex rrruse to keep us frrrom finding them.”

“Why would the Revinir tell Fifer to make us come, and then try to keep us from finding them?” Florence shook her head wearily. “This is getting complicated.”

“I’m starting to think we’re the ones making it complicated,” said Ishibashi in a quiet voice.

Aaron looked at the man. He knew the old scientist didn’t speak often in situations where someone else was leading. But when he did, it was usually something impactful. So Aaron took Ishibashi seriously. “The simplest answer is often the right one? Is that what you’re saying?”

Ishibashi’s lips tightened into a line. “I don’t want it to be true, but perhaps it is.”

Rohan was growing more distraught over it all. And the evolving discussion now seemed to swing in the direction of all of this really being true. He had to get some answers. Find out the truth about all of this. His broken heart longed to know, one way or another. Was Thisbe really betraying all of them? Or was something else going on?