“I’m not sure. It all happened so fast. But Hasu could’ve used her Lore to transport them out of there. They must be all right.”

Barclay hoped so. He didn’t want to think about the alternative.

Barclay turned around and examined the island. It was smaller than any of the other isles he’d visited, little more than a knobby hill. Way up at the peak, Barclay glimpsed a number of stone pillars, too clean cut to be a natural rock formation.

“Do you think this is it?” he asked. “The Isle of Roane?”

“It has to be. And if Tadg’s here, he would’ve climbed to the top.”

Barclay took Viola’s offered hand and clambered to his feet. The two of them set off to climb the slope. A path of pebbles had been laid up it to avoid the steepest parts of the incline, and as they walked, Barclay realized it was in the shape of a spiral.

At the summit, the stone pillars formed a circle. They were so ancient and swathed in moss that the carvings on them were barely visible. But the ones he could make out, Barclay recognized as spirals—the Isle of Roane’s symbol.

In the center of the pillars was a large pool of water, the currents twisting in a whirlpool that sank deep into the island’s core.

And at the edge of the pool, staring into the vortex, was Tadg. He seemed to be debating whether or not to jump.

“You can’t do this,” Barclay said, making Tadg’s head jerk up in surprise.

Tadg scowled. “How did you two follow me here?”

“We all did—us, Shazi, Cecily, and Hasu. Ulick sailed with us. But…” Barclay swallowed.

“The Bewlah sank,” Viola finished for him. “We got separated.”

Tadg’s eyes widened. “You did? How long has it been?”

“A while,” Barclay answered. From this height, he could look far out over the water, but he saw nothing except marbled white waves.

“Hasu would’ve taken them back,” Tadg said, echoing what Viola said earlier. “The best we can do now is stop Lochmordra for good.”

“And how do you plan on doing that?” Viola demanded. “All the Guardian Keepers couldn’t stop him.”

“The Guardians were forced to hold back. They didn’t want to kill him.” Tadg stepped closer to the edge, making Barclay lurch forward. He’d wrestle Tadg to the ground if he had to. Beside him, Viola shot Barclay a worried glance. She must’ve been thinking the same thing he was.

“I remember when Root calmed Gravaldor,” Tadg said. “If Mar-Mar can do that, I can summon my electric Lore to kill Lochmordra. I’m strong enough now. It will only take one shot.”

“Lochmordra is a Legendary Beast,” Viola said. “He’s as old as the Sea itself. To him, you’re no more significant than a Firenekkie.”