One other thing was also becoming very clear. Dr. Wiseacre was not following Otherworld rules either. Effie wondered what was really going on. She was less and less sure that what was happening here had anything to do with real Otherworld laws at all.

The consultation room was down three staircases. It was small, dark and windowless. Effie wished Wolf were here. Or any of her friends, really. Maximilian would help Effie to think her way out of this—well, that or do some kind of dark-mage mindmagic. Raven would cast a good spell, or get some of the local animals to come to help. Lexy would say comforting words and give Effie a potion or tonic. And if her friends were here, then Effie would be able to discuss this situation and make some proper sense out of it.

“Right,” said Dr. Wiseacre. “Let’s get serious. We’ve got your cousin in another room.”

“What? Clothilde? No! Why?”

“Because it is a crime here to consort with a galloglass, which is what she’s been doing. She is being questioned right now.”

“But—”

“And we are going to ask you some questions now before removing your magic and sending you back to the island.”

“But I’m not—”

“Here’s how it’s going to work. Every time you lie, we will drain her lifeforce. Do you understand?”

Effie nodded silently.

“Right. We won’t beat around the bush,” said Dr. Wiseacre. “Tell us how to get to Dragon’s Green.”

Effie didn’t say anything for a moment. She didn’t understand what was happening.

“What? But I don’t under—”

“Oh dear, said Dr. Wiseacre. She turned a silver lever on the wall by the table. It clicked several times as it went around. “Oh,” she said, “I forgot to mention that we will penalize you for every hesitation as well. Now tell me where Dragon’s Green is. I know that Frog Hole is the nearest town. But I need the actual coordinates.”

“Why do you want to know where Dragon’s Green is?”

Dr. Wiseacre didn’t reply. She simply turned the lever again. Effie thought she could hear screaming in a nearby room. Was it her imagination? Or perhaps even a sound effect? She didn’t trust Dr. Wiseacre at all. But what if it were real? The candle in the lamp on the desk danced ominously. Dr. Wiseacre reached for the lever again.

“Stop doing that for a second,” said Effie. “Please.”

Dr. Wiseacre looked at her. “Are you going to tell me what I want to know?” she asked.

“I don’t understand why you want to know where Dragon’s Green is,” said Effie. “I thought I was here because I was a galloglass. But now it seems as if you just lied to get me here to get information about Dragon’s Green. I just don’t understand why.”

“You are a very rude little girl.”