“Evin, thank the gods you’re here!” A woman’s hand reached through the bars and grabbed his arm, and Evin looked up into the kind, tired eyes of Mary Wright, the mayor’s wife. As she said his name, a rush of whispers began behind her in the cage before spreading to the pens nearby. The villagers were muttering, “It’s Evin!” and “The innkeeper’s son!” and “The boys have come to save us!”

Evin stopped fumbling for the lock. He felt so overcome by all these frightened, dirty people relying on him that he couldn’t move.

Behind him came the echoing footsteps of Jorick and Bet. The cage grew brighter as Bet neared. Mary Wright and the other villagers shielded their eyes.

“Dad?” Jorick called. “Dad!” He stood in front of Mary Wright and clutched her hand. “Have you seen my father?” he asked.

Mary shook her head. “He’s not in here, but he’s in one of the cages. They put us all here and they’re going to … oh gods. …”

“Don’t worry,” Evin said. “We’ll get you out of here. All of you.”

“Stop talking!” a voice cried out from the thick of the crowd behind Mary. “Those monsters will be back any moment!”

From beside Evin, Bet said, “I’m inclined to agree. You all are being far too noisy.”

Inside the cage, Mary Wright blinked back tears and turned to the people behind her. “You heard the girl,” she whispered. “Keep quiet.” The whispering subsided, but Evin could almost feel everyone staring at him. All that trust and hope felt crushing. Adventure or no, this wasn’t fun at all.

“I’m going to look in the next cage,” Jorick said. Before Evin could tell him they should focus on one cage at a time, he disappeared into the hazy darkness.

Shaking his head, Evin resumed his search for the first cage’s lock. He peered among the bars, doing his best to ignore the villagers who were watching him. Bet held her light up high. At last he spotted the lock on the north side of the cage, in the middle of the bars.

“Here!” Evin called, and Bet crept in closer.

“Are you sure you can get it?” she asked. “I could—”

“My brother showed me how to do this. It’s easy.” Evin pulled free his dagger and stuck the point in the keyhole. He twisted the blade side to side.

“Please,” a small voice said from inside the cage. “They’re going to eat us all.”