“Don’t panic,” Viola said, ever the leader in a crisis. “We still have time before Lochmordra rises. If we can evacuate to a nearby island…”

“Trowe is the next closest, but that’s already been attacked,” Barclay said.

“Then somewhere else. Anywhere else. Hasu, can you get the Guardian Keepers?”

“They said they were going to investigate where Ansley was studying, and I don’t know where that is! I can only use my Lore for places I’ve been—”

“Ansley,” Barclay breathed, his eyes widening. The others turned to stare at him. “Ansley is still locked in the cellar! We need to free her before Lochmordra comes.”

“But what if she’s the one…,” Hasu started, then stopped. “But she has to be innocent. She hasn’t fed the weeping tide in days. This can’t be her fault!”

They raced down the steps to the lighthouse’s lowest level. It was dreadfully dark, and the walls were a cool, damp stone, like in a grotto.

Viola shined a beacon from her palms, illuminating Ansley in her cell. Her hair looked greasy and her glasses dusty, but otherwise she seemed all right—Orla had allowed her to bring her knitting to the cell to keep her occupied. She stood up, spotting them.

“I heard the alarm bell,” she croaked. “Is Lochmordra coming?”

Barclay nodded. “The weeping tide—it’s everywhere. And we know this can’t be your fault. We’re sorry that we thought it was your fault in the first place.”

“It’s all right, dear,” Ansley said. “I should’ve told Orla about my experiments ahead of time instead of doing things by myself like I always do. Maybe we could’ve figured out the cause of this before it all got so bad.” She peered around at their group. “Where are Yasha and Tadg?”

“Yasha went out with—” Viola started, then stopped, whipping around. The apprentices gawked at one another, realizing that they were only five in number. “Where’s Tadg? Wasn’t he with us a few minutes ago?”

Tadg must’ve slipped away when they were distracted climbing to the tower. And Barclay could only think of one place that he would go. His mouth tasted salty with dread.

“I know where Tadg went,” he rasped. “He’s gone to Shipwreck Stretch. He’s gone to try to kill Lochmordra.”

TWENTY-ONE

We have to go after him,” Barclay said. If Tadg fought Lochmordra, then there was little chance of Tadg escaping the battle alive.

“But what about Munsey?” Hasu asked. Outside the Guild House, the bell tolled as loudly as ever, but even that didn’t drown out the noises of havoc. Carts rumbled across the cobblestones. People shouted. Fwishts squawked overhead, and hooves and boots stampeded past. Munsey was already the largest city of the Sea, but now it was crowded to bursting with refugees, and every one of those people needed to evacuate.