Rein finished telling her story, and there was silence as the miracle worker processed everything she’d said.“That is quite the tale.” He rubbed his chin, contemplating. “And you were there during this discussion between this naiad and the fairy queen.”“Yes,” Rein answered hesitantly. “I wasn’t supposed to be.”“Well, I won’t be visiting the Maja Forest anytime soon, so you can trust your secret’s safe with me.”The miracle worker considered for another moment. Rein’s shoulders tensed. Every passing second chipped away at her hope, sharpening her suspicion. At this point, she was certain he wouldn’t lift a finger unless something was placed in his palm first.“Do you believe her, Pryce?” the miracle worker asked.Pryce shrugged. “She seems honest enough to me. Everyone knows pixies hail from the Maja Forest.”After one last moment of paralyzing silence, the miracle worker nodded his head. “All right, I’ll take the shackle off.”“What do you want in return?” Rein asked.“Assuming what

The dark figure watched Rein, its yellow eyes glowing like embers in the black. It didn’t move. Neither did she. She held her breath, every muscle frozen tight, afraid that even a twitch might provoke it. In the silence, her eyes adjusted and the outline sharpened. Coarse fur. Twitching whiskers. A rat. A huge one. Her pulse thudded louder. Pryce stood vulnerable behind her. She had to do something before it decided to attack.“Can you talk?” she asked.The rat didn’t relax its position, but answered her in a low, intimidating voice. “I can.”“I don’t want to fight,” Rein said. “I’m not a threat; you have my word.”The rat was unswayed. “Then lower your weapon.”Rein hesitated, but obeyed and held up her hands. The rat dropped down to all fours.“Why are you here?” he asked.“We realize we are intruding, and you have our deepest apologies,” Pryce explained. “But we came here to save a friend, and this was the quickest alcove we could find. We were hoping it wasn’t occupied.”“Who’s you

Emperor Mentir spun around, eyes locking on the coin bag lying just a few feet from the mouth of the mouse hole. Before the emperor had a chance to react, Pryce vaulted back into the drawer and slipped into the one beneath with practiced ease. In that heartbeat, Rein streaked out from the hole like a flash of gold, snatched the coin bag, and vanished back inside. When she made it back in, Lusitania took the bag and bolted down the tunnel. Rein didn’t follow. Lusitania noticed, and stopped.“What are you doing?” he asked. “Come on! We gotta go!”“I have to make sure Pryce makes it back safely!” Rein replied.“Pryce is done for, Rein!”“I’m not leaving here without him, Lusitania!”Lusitania paused, then gave a heavy sigh. “Fine. In that case, I’ll try and help.”A hand shot inside the mouse hole, groping madly, but Rein leapt out of the way just in time. She drew her dagger, and drove it into the hand while Lusitania sank his teeth into it. A shout of pain erupted from outside and the h

Blood shot everywhere with the dust and shards, all of it showering over Rein while she ducked for cover. The sound of her heart echoed off the tunnel walls as she dared to peer over her shoulder. She saw Pryce’s arm and leg: the only parts of him that weren’t crushed by the rock. They dangled there by their tendons. Crimson poured from the mangled limbs and surged down the wall like a stream.Rein couldn’t move. The world blurred, spinning around the shattered image before her. Her legs gave a warning tremble before buckling, dropping her to her hands and knees. Something clogged her throat, tight and rising. Was it a scream? A sob? She couldn’t tell; she couldn’t breathe. Then instinct took over. She staggered upright, and stumbled through the tunnel like a puppet with cut strings, her hands scraping the walls for balance. Then she got airborne. Cold wind slapped her face as she burst from the palace, but she didn’t stop. Not until she hit the edge of Sirene Lake and dove in. The icy

Guided by the torches illuminating the courtyard, Jorge made it to the top of the stone wall and climbed onto the overhanging branch of a tree. Twilight had passed, and the light of the orange moon was all Jorge had to aid his way through the Lucierna Forest and the thick snowfall. Ahead, he could make out the dim glow of a campfire, and he ran toward it. He only morphed back into his original form once he had arrived.“Captain!” Travis exclaimed. “Where have you been?”“Spying.”“Did you learn anything?” Jole asked anxiously.“They’re going to search the forest for us tomorrow.”“And what of Gerry?” Calder interrogated.“Gerry’s scheduled to be executed at noon in Cair.”“You were supposed to come back with him!”“Well, it didn’t work out that way! I thought some pixie was going to handle it!”“A pixie?” Travis repeated, wondering if it was the same pixie he had seen in prison.“That’s what I said. She came out of nowhere to help with the jailbreak, and her plan was actually successfu