Miss,

I hope Demetris finds you! When the scroll from the headmistress arrived in the ladies-in-waiting quarters, I feared the worst. I don’t understand your banishment, miss! Most of the students (other than then wretched Clarissa) don’t either! To help me cope, I decided to practice Princess Rule 43: “Never let the world see through your mask! A princess always looks happy and ready to face whatever challenge is at hand!” (I marked the page for you.) So instead, I went to your quarters to gather some of your important things.

Alas, I was too late. The headmistress must have sent someone in there already, because everything was gone. I regret not getting your animal care kit out in time.

She seems mighty angry, miss, and while her proclamation tells the students to steer clear of you all, I fear she won’t do the same. She’s been calling for things from her quarters all night, and Ms. Crooksen has been frantically running up and down the halls. She’s afraid of something, miss, and I can’t figure out what it is, but I know it must have to do with you. Please stay hidden until I can learn more about what’s going on.

In the meantime, I got a copy of the Royal Academy Rules book for you. Just because you aren’t at school doesn’t mean you can’t stay polished!

Stay safe!

Your lady-in-waiting,

Brynn

I hand Brynn’s note to Sasha while Raina grabs the book and holds it to her chest. “The Royal Academy Rules! Thank the fairies we have something civilized to read out here!” I can hear her mumbling rules to herself as she walks off. (Princess Rule 15: When you can’t find a polite way to say goodbye, don’t say goodbye at all. Allow someone else to offer your regrets for you.)

“That should keep my sister calm for a while,” Heath says. “Until she remembers she’s still banished.”

“Princess Rule 22!” we hear Raina recite from nearby. “‘You can never pack too much for a journey. Will your final destination be balmy or breezy? Weather is unpredictable, so you should always be prepared for any type of—’ Ahhh!”

Raina’s high-pitched scream sends a swarm of bats flying out of a nearby tree, causing Logan to drop back down to the ground. The rest of us go running toward the sound of Raina’s voice. I push my way past the trees Raina just disappeared into and find…nothing.

“Raina?” I swat away a few lingering bats (What’s all the ruckus? I hear them screeching) as Sasha echoes my call. “Where are you?”

Heath shushes us. “Stop shouting. You’ll give away our location.”

“To whom?” Logan’s voice wavers.

“Anyone!” Heath uses a large stick to swat palm branches in our path. I follow his example by grabbing a branch from the ground and doing the same. “We should stay out of sight till we figure out our next move. What if Olivina is watching us?”

Logan and I stare at the skyline worriedly.