But of all the sights, the most incredible by far was the Guild House. It towered over Munsey, and no matter how exhausted he’d been, Barclay didn’t understand how he hadn’t realized yesterday that it was a lighthouse. Then he realized the beacon wasn’t lit.

Inside, numerous Lore Keepers and Beasts gathered amid the tables and rocking chairs, including Runa and Viola.

“Who are all these people?” Barclay whispered to Yasha.

“Guardians,” he answered. “Orla summoned them here from all across the world.”

Barclay examined them in awe. He had never seen so many Guardians in one place. He recognized Edwyn and Ulick, who sat side by side on the bottom steps of the spiral staircase. Next to Orla stood an old, cross-eyed man with a cane crusted with barnacles. A woman paced near the fire, wearing the most interesting cloak Barclay had ever seen, embroidered with shimmering designs of all sorts of Beasts. Another woman lounged at the feet of her massive brown-and-gold dragon.

They all looked as fierce and impressive as Barclay imagined Guardians should be—though none had a presence as fearsome as Runa’s.

While the Lore Masters spoke, Viola motioned the boys to join her at a table in the back.

“This is the fourth island,” the woman with the cloak said heatedly. “That leaves only five remaining. You’ve already turned off the lighthouse beacon out of fear of catching the Beast’s notice. This has gone too far. We must evacuate.”

“And go where?” growled someone else. “The Woods is a long journey away. And we all know Erhart can’t accommodate—”

“Have the Grand Keeper send carrier dragons. Send a fleet of them—”

“It’s dragon breeding season!” hissed the woman beside her, who stroked a chameleonlike Beast on her lap. Its scales rippled in an array of colors to blend into her tan skin, long black hair, and red leather jacket. “You can’t expect him to—”

“Enough,” Orla said sharply. “We of the Sea are a proud people. We won’t be abandoning our homes just yet.”

Then Orla began calling off a roster of names, separating the Guardians into groups. To the first several, she ordered, “I’d like us to interview the refugees from Glannock. We’ll see if there’s anything they saw last night that could be enlightening.” And then: “You two. You can take your ship out with Runa and Edwyn. I need you four investigating the area where Lochmordra reportedly rose. Ansley will give you Polypops in case you dive. But be careful—the Jawbasks are fond of the waters near Glannock. And you six… there were also reports of Muirmarú destruction from the Isle of Orn. See what you can find there.”

All of the Lore Keepers and Beasts shuffled out of the Guild House. One Beast, a massive serpent that was nothing but skeleton, lingered behind. It slithered across the floor to the sounds of click click click.