With a crash, the trapdoor in the corner of the room flies open. I see a flash of bright blue as Mitch heaves herself into the room, banging her tail down with a wet thud. Her neck is loaded with bottles and amulets and her eyes are wild. When she sees it’s just the two of us, she shouts, “What have you done with Rose?”

“Hati took her,” I say.

She stares at me in disbelief. “And you two are just standing here?”

“She tied us up and took Rose away on a massive ship!” protests Win. “What were we supposed to do?”

Mitch turns toward the window. “That’s MY massive ship!” she bellows, then looks at me and Win and she actually growls.

Win edges closer to me. “Arthur, the situation did get worse!”

Chapter 46

While Mitch brainstorms a plan of action, Win stares through the telescope and gives us a running commentary on Crowky’s progress.

“He’s so close I can actually see the straw flying off him!” he says.

Mitch drums her webbed fingers on the floorboards. “I’ll swim straight after the Alisha,” she says, “sneak on board, grab Rose, and bring her back.”

“But you can’t swim back with Rose,” I say. “She’s not like you. She’ll freeze in the water!”

Mitch’s face lights up. “I saw this boat-swan thingy. I’ll take that.”

Just then Win gasps. “Crowky is FLYING, Arthur! Nope. He’s down again.”

I shake my head and try to ignore Win and focus on what Mitch is saying. “Look, even if you do manage to get Rose off the boat, it won’t help. Rose can’t run away from Hati Skoll if she’s going to get rid of her, she’s got to stand up to her.”

Mitch groans with frustration. “How do we get Rose to do that? And why didn’t she do it the moment Hati Skoll climbed out of the Box? Hati’s a girl. Rose controls dragons!”

“We’ve not got long until they are here,” says Win. “Do you think it will be your fear coming out of the Box, Arthur?”

I take a deep breath, and try to push down the panic I’m feeling. But it’s as out of control as the situation we’re in. I know I should be worrying about the Box, but right now all I can think about is the fact that Rose is gone and unless I can speak to her she might never come back.

“Mitch, I think I know what to say to Rose, but you’ll have to get me to her. Can you do that?”

Mitch frowns. “Maybe . . . Give me a minute to think.”

Win thrusts the telescope into my hands. “You’ve got to see this.”