“That’s HEAS’s newsroom,” Prue explains as she lays a small map out in front of us. Notes are scribbled all over it. She pulls out several small scrolls and passes them around. “Your identities. Learn them. It took me all night to create each of your intern backstories.”

“My name is Zol, and I’m originally from Cloud City?” Logan repeats. “Who is going to believe an ogre comes from Cloud City? I thought they liked dark places…and being on the ground.”

“Yeah, like mine at least makes sense because I’m from Volcano Bay,” Heath scrunches up his puffy green nose. “And my parents named me Ash, which is kind of cool.”

Prue gives us a withering glance. “May I finish?”

“She spent hours researching the hiring habits of HEAS,” Tara tells us, “and Prue is never wrong. If your ID says you come from Cloud City or Volcano Bay, there’s a reason why.”

“Thank you,” Prue says. “Moving on.” She pours a stack of coins from a small satchel and places one in each of our grayish-green palms. “These are your identification chips. Do not lose them as they allow you access to different areas once you’re inside.”

Sasha claps her large ogre hands. “Finally! I’ve always wanted to see the printing press they use—and give that Misty Scorchfire a piece of my mind!”

“No veering from the plan.” Prue points to the map with a long, brown fingernail. “Avoid the cafeteria, obviously, where most ogres will be from twelve to one, and the main conference room. There’s a surprise birthday celebration there for Gangia Gordo. She’s turning thirty.”

“Ooh! What kind of cake?” Logan asks. “Fairy-lemon? I prefer fairy-lemon over charming chocolate.”

“Anyway, you’ll want to move quickly, avoiding areas of congestion and congregating anywhere that may cause suspicion,” Prue continues. “Even as interns, you need to know where you’re going. You would have toured the place before.”

“How are we supposed to do that?” I ask. “No human has ever been inside. It’s all ogre-run.” I pick up her map with all the notes and cross-outs on it. She has poor penmanship. Who could read this? “Even if we could memorize the map, it’s hard to know where we’re going without having seen inside ahead of time.”

Prue nods knowingly. “You’re right. Which is why you’re not going to be alone. I’m coming with you! Sort of.”

She pulls out a small case. There are lots of holes drilled into the top. When she opens it, I see several small, gray creatures lounging on velvet pillows. They notice Prue and look up, which makes their enormous ears flap against their small bodies. They look exactly like we do as ogres, except in miniature! Several begin talking at the same time. Their voices come out like whispery squeaks. Lily pops her head out of my pocket and flicks her tongue at them. I can’t tell if she’s hungry or intrigued. I’m afraid to ask.

“I know! I know!” Prue is saying impatiently. She pulls something out of her pocket. It’s a chocolate brownie. “I didn’t forget. Sugar up. Your next assignment starts momentarily. And turn on your mirror mimickers before you forget.” I notice them light up small, shiny mirrors that are dangling around their necks like jewelry. “Meet your kobolds.”