“You too, young lady.”

They returned to the autocoach. Mira instructed Bertram to go around the pit in the road and then continue to the southeast.

The autocoach trotted ahead through the night. Whenever he jerked awake, Cole peered out the window, half-expecting to see a monstrosity charging at them. But all he saw was the countryside under the dull light of a reddish moon.

“No star,” Mira said one time after he looked outside.

“No?” Cole asked.

“I haven’t seen my star since we fled through the cloud-wall,” Mira said.

“I guess that means nobody can trace us,” Cole said.

“No enemies and no help.”

“Is it almost morning?” Cole asked.

“Not yet,” Mira said. “Try to rest.”

“What about you?”

“I’m trying too.”

Just after sunrise, they heard the pounding rhythm of an approaching gallop. A quick look revealed a lone legionnaire racing along the road from the opposite direction. Jace got his rope ready.

“It’s one guy,” Mira said. “He’s probably not here for us. He may just ride by.”

The horseman slowed as he reached the autocoach. He looked like a teenager, though he might have been twenty. His uniform was disheveled. “Whoa!” he called. “You people need to turn around right away!”

Mira ordered the autocoach to stop.

“What’s the problem?” Jace asked.

“Only the biggest threat in Sambria,” the legionnaire said, panic behind his eyes. “How did you get this far without catching on? Carnag is just beyond the next hill.”

His insides squirming with anxiety, Cole instantly turned his attention to the road ahead. He saw where the lane disappeared behind the next rise. Everything looked quiet and normal.

“Is it coming this way?” Mira asked.

“I’m not waiting around to find out,” the legionnaire said. “I was part of a scouting party with eleven other soldiers. Good horsemen. I’m the only one who got clear.”

“Did you see it?” Mira pressed.

“Glimpsed it through the trees,” the legionnaire said. “It’s gigantic, I can tell you that much. Hard to speak to the details. The others wanted a closer look. They got it all right.”

“You abandoned your unit?” Mira asked.

“We’re a scouting party!” the young legionnaire protested. “Somebody has to report back. It might not be too late for you. Turn around.”

Jace looked at Mira. “What do we do?”

“Take him,” Mira said.

The golden rope lashed out, bound the soldier’s arms to his sides, and yanked him off his horse. The legionnaire hit the ground hard, his pinioned arms unable to help break his fall. The horse whinnied and reared, then settled down.

At first the legionnaire could only cough and wheeze. “What are you doing?” he finally managed.

“We’re on holiday,” Bertram replied. “My grandniece and grandnephews are helping me take in the countryside.”

“Let me go!” the soldier cried. “Do what you want, but don’t hold me here!”

“Play dead, soldier!” Mira ordered. “We have nothing to fear from Carnag. We work with it. Keep your mouth shut, or we’ll make you a sacrifice.”

The legionnaire mostly obeyed. Cole heard faint whimpering.

“Do you have some of that tea?” Mira whispered to Twitch.

“It isn’t warm,” Twitch said. “But I’ve kept some of it in water since we left Gerta’s place. It should be pretty potent.”

“Give him some,” Mira instructed.

“Feel this?” Jace asked. The rope creaked as it tightened.

The soldier cried out.

“I can make it much tighter,” Jace said. “Our friend here has a refreshment for you. Drink it, and we’ll let you live.”

“How do I know it isn’t poison?” the legionnaire asked as Twitch climbed down to him.

“Because there are easier ways to kill you,” Jace said. “For example, I could squeeze you to death.”

The soldier let out an anguished groan.

While Twitch gave the tea to the legionnaire, Cole leaned over to Mira. “If the legionnaires are scouting this thing, does that mean your father isn’t directly involved?”

“Probably,” she said. “Unless he’s keeping it secret from his own people, which is possible.”

“What . . . what . . . what was that stuff?” the legionnaire asked, his words slurred.

“Herbal tea,” Twitch said.

“Not bad,” the soldier said contentedly. “Am I sinking? Feels a little like . . . like I’m . . .” The legionnaire sagged.

Twitch snapped his fingers by the legionnaire’s ear. “He’s out. Might have been an extra-strong dose. The tea looks really dark.”

“Good,” Mira said. “We can’t have him in the way. In fact, I don’t want to risk leaving him here. Tie him up and we’ll bring him.”

Jace pulled some spare rope from the storage compartment. After binding the soldier’s wrists, legs, and arms, it took all three boys to drag him up into the autocoach.

“I wonder if I should ride the horse,” Mira said. “It might be good to have the extra speed and mobility.”

“Go for it,” Jace said.

Just then Mango fluttered down to the window. “I’m not sure if this is good news or bad, but Carnag is just up ahead.”

“We know,” Mira said. “Where have you been?”

“It’s been hectic.” Mango sighed. “I’m keeping track of many things.”

“Did you see it?” Mira asked.

“I didn’t want to get too close,” the bird said. “It’s big. And noisy. I heard people crying for help.”

“Thanks, Mango,” Mira said.

“On the bright side, I helped bring some assistance,” Mango said.

A guy on a flying disk swooped alongside the autocoach. “Better late than never,” Liam announced.

“Liam!” Cole exclaimed. “I thought you said you’d be too busy to help out!”

Liam scrunched his face apologetically. “I know. I didn’t want you guys counting on me. But I got bored.”

“You’re here because you were bored?” Jace asked.

“Why not? I like how nonchalant it sounds. You want the whole story? We had to flee Cloudvale, and Declan is settled in his new hideout, so I figured they could spare me. I’m here with permission.”