He shot her a sharp glance, but Dex interrupted. “Sister Ellen is alive as well? The news continues to improve! After the bridge collapsed, I feared the worst.”

“I think so,” Alice cautioned. “I don’t really know what I’m doing.”

“Very few of us can claim that we do, Sister Alice.”

Alice shook her head. “Soranna? Are you okay?”

“I believe I am,” Soranna said, looking shyly at Isaac and Dex. “Just tired.”

“I am amazed you reached us, Sister Soranna,” Dex said. “That was very brave.”

“I . . .” Soranna swallowed. “Thanks.”

“Alice?” Isaac said. “Do you think I could have a word in private?”

“I thought you weren’t speaking to me,” Alice said.

“That’s . . .” He glanced at Soranna and Dex, and gave her a pleading look.

Alice climbed wearily to her feet and walked away from the other two, and Isaac followed.

“Are you planning to explain yourself?” Alice said, lowering her voice to a whisper.

“I’m sorry,” Isaac muttered. “It’s . . . complicated. Look, this isn’t the time, all right?”

“Fine. But you owe me an answer.” Alice crossed her arms. “What did you want, then?”

“The way you’re doing all this. It’s the Dragon, isn’t it?”

Alice nodded. “Do you know anything about these labyrinthine?”

“A little bit. My master always said to be wary of them.”

“It’s Esau’s labyrinthine, Torment, who has been trying to kill us.”

Isaac frowned. “How do you know?”

“He came to talk to me. Taunt me, I guess. I’m not sure why.” Her brow furrowed. “You have the Dragon thread too. The Dragon hasn’t said anything to you?”

“Nothing.”

“Well, it talked to me. And now it’s giving me this power. I don’t know why it’s helping. Maybe it just wants to keep us alive.”

“If so, it has my support.” Isaac hesitated. “Did Torment say anything about Jacob?”

“Jacob came to see me as well, actually. Or maybe Torment brought him along, I’m not sure.”

“You saw him?” Isaac blurted. “Was he—I mean, what was he like?”

“He seemed . . . addled,” Alice said. “I’m not sure he’s in his right mind.”

“That makes sense. You’d have to be out of your mind to attack your own master, knowing what would happen afterward.”

“Yeah.” Alice paused. “That was a good trick with the iceling. You probably saved us all.”

“Oh. Yeah.” Isaac scratched the side of his nose. “The tree-sprite was good too. And carrying Dex like that. I mean . . .” He paused. “I never said thank you, did I? For coming to get us.”

“No,” Alice said. “But we’ve been a bit busy.”

“Sorry. And thank you.” She thought she could detect a bit of a blush in his cheeks, and felt a touch of heat rising in her own. “I’m glad you found us, Alice.”