“And think back to the slave pens,” Evin whispered. “I didn’t recognize anybody at first, but then memories of all of those people came back to me in a rush. Why wouldn’t we think about or worry about people we supposedly have known all our lives? And the things the gnolls said about their meat not being good, and how the ormyrr said the gnolls had magical things with gears. I don’t think those people were real—just like my brother wasn’t real. They were magical machines!”

“I …” Jorick began.

“Did you two need a break?”

Evin jumped. Bet was there, finally having walked all the way back to them. She looked between the two boys, wide-eyed.

Evin knew he was scowling, but he couldn’t keep himself from doing so.

“No,” Jorick said. He offered Bet a smile. “Everything’s fine! Now come on, we need to go save our families.” Giving Evin a pointed look, he said, “I know my dad was taken by the gnolls to the chimera, and I will save him.”

“That’s the plan.” Bet said. She touched Evin gently on the shoulder. “Is everything all right?”

Evin flinched and pulled back. Jorick wasn’t convinced. Not even a little bit. Evin would need more proof than just his own scattered, confused memories. And until he had that, he couldn’t confront Bet.

He shrugged. “I’m fine. Just still a little shaken up about what happened down below.” He plastered on a fake smile. “We should hurry before we lose the sun.”

Bet turned around to continue following her glowing blue trail through the yellow grasslands. Shaking his head at Evin, Jorick followed her quietly.

Evin watched them go. Now that he had voiced his thoughts, he knew everything he said had to be true. He had seen his fake brother’s arm get cut off to reveal magical gears. Bet had cast some spell over him to make him forget. And the vague memories that were surfacing now in his dreams—of a life outside the wall in an orphanage—seemed more real and true to him than any of the memories he’d had the past few days.

Jorick’s memories were as messed up as Evin’s were, he just knew it. Now, all he had to do was find a way to prove to his friend that their quest was a sham. And then maybe he could finally figure out what was really going on.

Chapter Twenty-One

I’m going to make sure there are no gnolls around while you two set up camp. I’ll be right back.” Bet offered a wave and a smile before she disappeared behind a cluster of dark trees. Evin watched her go from beside their campfire.