Instead, Cyril declared, “Shazi, Hasu, Cecily—the four of us are leaving.”

“What?” Cecily asked, helping herself to the bowl of sweets on a nearby table. “Already? But it’s the middle of a party!”

“And the Sea still needs so much help,” Hasu said. “Couldn’t we—”

“I’ve written to the Grand Keeper about what happened, and he is concerned that, even if Audrian Keyes was thwarted from bonding with Lochmordra, this is a pattern, and he is dangerous. We have every reason to believe he will strike again somewhere else. While he and I investigate that, you’ll be continuing your training in the Mountains.”

The apprentices all exchanged sorry looks. Even after competitions, rivalries, and disagreements, the six of them had become good friends over the course of this adventure.

“Really, Cyril—” Orla started.

“We’ll be leaving immediately,” Cyril said tightly, “so say your goodbyes.”

After narrowly escaping danger the day before, Barclay didn’t see why they couldn’t stay and rest one more night. He suspected it had to do with the way that Cyril looked nervously at Runa when she wasn’t paying attention.

At this, the three girls turned to the other apprentices. But before they could say anything, Cyril strode between them and cleared his throat.

“Viola?” he said. “I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment in private.”

Viola stiffened. “Me?” She glanced at Runa anxiously.

“It’ll only be a moment,” Cyril said.

Runa placed a protective hand on Viola’s shoulder. “Fine,” she told Cyril. “But you better choose your words perfectly—you’ve had half a year to dwell on them.”

While the two of them left to speak in a quieter corner, Hasu threw her arms around Barclay and Tadg. “I’m going to miss all of you.”

Shazi, who wasn’t the sort for hugs, held out her hand to shake. She squeezed Tadg’s so hard that his skin whitened. “Next time we Dool, I won’t take it easy on you.”

Tadg snorted. “I was taking it easy on you.”

Saif and Root also said their goodbyes, which included a very hesitant butt sniff. Oudie’s shadow tickled Barclay underneath his arm.

“Bitti will be sad she slept through it all,” Hasu said. The tiny Beast’s wings fluttered on Hasu’s nose, as though she was having pleasant dreams.

“Oh! This reminds me!” Cecily said brightly. “I should probably give all these things back to you.” She shrugged her bag off her shoulders and began pulling out various items, so many Barclay wondered how she’d fit them all in a small sack. She crammed them into Barclay’s and Tadg’s arms. A loose sock. Several of Viola’s gold pins. Tadg’s leather bracelet. A lost button from one of Barclay’s shirts. Many snacks. Even Conley Murdock’s massive sack of fan mail, which fell to the floor with a heavy thump.