“I also think we should follow Fifer’s command,” said Ishibashi. “Go to the cavelands.”

Sky spoke up. “How about we go to the cavelands to set up camp, and then send a small team in the morning to do a flyover of Ashguard’s palace and check things out?”

Florence nodded. “That sounds like the best plan so far. Gorgrun, is it possible for the dragons to hurt you?”

“It is not,” said Gorgrun. “We are more ghost than dragon.”

“But you cannot harm them, either, correct?”

“Under the Revinir’s spell, they act like enemies, but they are the future of our land. You are correct: We cannot harm them. But we can do our best to protect you from them should the need arise.”

“That’s what I figured,” said Florence. “So you’ll at least give us a safe ride overhead, won’t you?”

“Absolutely,” said Gorgrun. “Perhaps they will hold their fire and listen to us. Though, if I recall, we have not found that to be promising with other dragons under the Revinir’s mind control. If they have been given commands, they will follow through.”

“It’s a start,” Florence said, looking at Simber. “Do you agree?”

“I do,” said Simber. He looked at Maiven and Rohan. “And you?”

Rohan’s face was haggard. He seemed startled to be asked, even though he’d been a part of the conversations all along. “I… have no opinion,” he said.

Maiven pocketed his bent arm inside her own. “We defer to you,” she said to Simber and Florence. “You know the twins better than we do.” She glanced at Rohan. “Or so it seems.”

Florence and Maiven exchanged a pained look. Rohan was taking this news harder than anyone else—not that the others were glossing over its severity. The confusion of it all kept hope alive for most, but it only seemed to drag Rohan down even farther.

“Let’s go with Sky’s option, then,” said Florence. “Everybody back on your dragons. We’re heading for the cavelands.”

As she spoke, a dark purple dragon swooped low overhead. Most of the people ducked, but Simber saw who it was. “It’s Drrrock,” he said.

“Is he under the Revinir’s mind control?” Florence asked, peering up at the creature.

“He’s too farrr away to tell,” said Simber. “Let’s see what happens when we lift off.”

The ghost dragons landed in the shallow water, and everyone boarded them. Then they and Simber took off, trying to steer clear of the other dragons, which continued to fill the skies all around Dragonsmarche.

“They’re like vultures waiting for roadkill,” said Sky.

“I think we’re the roadkill,” Aaron muttered.

Gorgrun and Quince dodged and weaved between the mind-controlled dragons as they headed for their homeland. Simber kept Drock in his sights, which wasn’t too difficult, because the dragon seemed to be staying fairly close without looking like he was traveling with them.