Toadles didn’t so much as blink.

“Did your dad know how to coax the Lore out of a Beast?” Barclay asked. Tadg’s father was usually a risky subject, but Tadg had already brought him up himself. “He must’ve, since he studied so many of them.”

“He probably would’ve said you had to befriend them. Feed them a special treat. Or tickle them in the right spot.”

Tadg tried to tickle Toadles underneath his armpit.

Toadles croaked once more, loudly.

Croak! Croak! Croak!

The boys laughed again, and Barclay forgot all wishes to spend the day alone in the library.

Until two people chorused, “Happy birthday!”

Viola and Yasha strolled through the mouth of the cave. Viola beamed and held out a present. It was wrapped neatly in parchment, with a piece of fishing twine tied into a bow.

“I-is that for me?” Barclay asked. The only birthday presents he’d ever received had been from Master Pilzmann, and they usually were tools for mushroom foraging. Last year he’d given Barclay a sensible pair of gardening gloves.

“Of course it’s for you,” Viola said. “It’s not every day you turn twelve.”

“Why didn’t you tell me it was your birthday?” Tadg snapped. “I would’ve… I don’t know…”

Barclay’s cheeks flushed from all the attention. His hands were sweaty as he tore open the present, revealing a stationery kit.

“Thank you,” he said, even though he was confused. Who was he going to write letters to?

“Postal dragons can be very sneaky, you know,” Viola told him. “I thought maybe you’d like to write to your old teacher in Dullshire. The one you always used to talk about.”

There was no teasing in Viola’s voice, and yet Barclay instantly felt self-conscious. He might’ve missed Dullshire at times, but missing his old life and rekindling it were two very different things. If he was caught, Dullshire would probably send him back a parcel full of dung or rotten fruit.

Eager to change the subject, Barclay asked, “Does this mean you’re finally writing to your father?”

Viola made a pinched face. “No. It doesn’t.”

Even Yasha had a brought a gift—a whole pack of Fillitot’s Beast Treats. They might’ve been more for Root than Barclay, but Barclay felt so guilty about keeping Root cooped up in his Mark again that he was grateful for a chance to cheer him up.

Barclay barely got the chance to thank Yasha before Tadg impatiently cleared his throat. “It’s about time you both got here. We want to show you something important. It’s about the Isle of Roane.”

Barclay retrieved the adventure book from his satchel and flipped to the story about Maedigan and her golden trident.

“She didn’t sail to it?” Viola asked, furrowing her brow as she read. “She went beneath the Sea instead?”