Cole could not stop worrying about his friends. When Liam had moved Quima to a new underground cell near the cottage, she had refused to respond to any inquiry. With her blank expression and her dazed manner, she had seemed unreachable.

Lacking further information, all Cole could do was wonder and fret about Dalton and Jenna. If the High King took their shaping power, he would have to keep them alive, or the power would be lost, right? Would it bother his friends to lose their power if they only had it briefly? Or was the problem something else? Quima had referred to experiments. Given all that shaping could accomplish, the experiments could involve almost anything.

Mira and Liam had shared vague assurances that they would help, but, really, they were all waiting. They needed more information.

Fluttering down from the sky, Mango landed near the cottage door. Cole got off the stool. “What is it?”

“I need to tell Mira that a rider approaches,” the bird announced.

“Is it Joe?” Cole asked.

“Of course, silly. I’m not raising an alarm!”

By the time Cole had retrieved Mira, Liam, Jace, and Twitch from inside the cottage, they could hear hoofbeats. Cole clung to a faint hope that Mira’s messenger might reveal something about how he could help Jenna and Dalton.

Before long the horseman rode into view. He cantered across the field to them and dismounted. Cole recognized the man who had come to Skyport just before the legionnaires arrived, his whiskers longer, his leather jacket further dulled by dust. Joe pointed at the cottage. “Looks like you’ve settled in!”

Liam shrugged. “It’s far from any convenient roads.”

“I saw Carnag,” Joe said. “What was left of it. Thanks for waiting. Glad I could help.”

Liam lifted his hands apologetically. “Did you notice any legionnaires on the road?”

“That was only part of the fun!” Joe exclaimed. “Do you know how hard I rode to get here? I galloped through the night, trading horses, spending money like a compulsive gambler, and using every trick I knew.”

“Mira, meet Joe MacFarland,” Liam said. “Joe, this is Miracle Pemberton. These three boys are her friends.”

Joe gave a respectful bow. “I’m at your service, Your Highness.”

“Nice to meet you,” Mira said uncomfortably. “Just call me Mira, please.”

“Whatever you prefer,” Joe said. “I’m glad to find you safe.”

“I’m glad you’re safe too,” Mira said. “Thank you for trying to warn me about the legion back at Skyport. Was there more to your message?”

Joe glanced at Liam. “I learned about the legionnaires while on my way to find you. The message regarded other matters.”

Mira looked surprised. “What?”

Joe looked from Cole to Jace to Twitch. “I was supposed to take you and Durny to confront Carnag. If we succeeded, we had a second assignment. It concerns one of your sisters. Would you rather I tell you in private?”

Mira paled and rubbed her lips with both hands. “I haven’t had direct word about my sisters since we all parted. Are they all right?”

“This only involves one of them,” Joe said. “She’s in trouble.”

Mira faced the boys. “Then this is up to you. I can’t begin to thank you for getting me out of Skyport and coming here with me. It went beyond my wildest hopes. If you want to leave, now is the time. I won’t take it personally. We’re out of immediate danger. I expect this news will mean traveling to another kingdom.”

Joe nodded. “Since we’re among friends, I’ll reveal that responding to this message would mean going to Elloweer.”

“I’m with you, Mira,” Jace said. “I told you to stop trying to get rid of me. Although I’m not sure my rope will work well outside of Sambria.”

“It’s very powerful,” Liam said. “But outside of Sambria or maybe Junction, it will barely function, if at all. Other shaping disciplines govern the other kingdoms. Almost all Sambrian renderings would become inert. In Elloweer, shapers are called enchanters, and their abilities are mostly foreign to me.”

“I’ll be less useful,” Jace said. “But I’m willing. Where else would I go?”

“You’re free now,” Mira said. “You could build a life. With that rope alone, you could go far here in Sambria.”

“Any of you would be welcome to join me,” Liam said. “Our new hiding place should remain secure for some time. We could certainly make use of you. And I wouldn’t mind company with the chore of transporting Quima.”

“Would you rather get rid of me?” Jace asked Mira, almost timidly.

“I want you to do what you want,” she said. “Staying with me will definitely lead to trouble. Maybe even death.”

“Then count me in,” Jace said. “I’ve had so much trouble in my life, I’m not sure what I’d do without it.”

“I haven’t told you everything about me,” Twitch said. “I left Elloweer with a purpose. My people are in danger. Slavery was an unplanned detour. I have to go back and see what I can do. So I can join you for at least part of the journey. But maybe I should avoid hearing details, because I might have to eventually part ways.”

“Whatever you’d prefer,” Mira said.

Twitch hopped away, wings fluttering. He only stopped once he had given them plenty of space.

When Mira looked at Cole, he had never felt more like a hero. She stepped toward him and gave him a big hug, which he returned. “Your friends need you,” she said. “I wish we had a better idea what they’re up against.” Releasing him, Mira stepped back.

“What friends?” Joe asked.

“My friends who came here as slaves from my world,” Cole said. “Some had shaping talent and were sold to the High King.”

“Slaves who can shape?” Joe asked. “Do you know their specialties?”

“No,” Cole said. “But the High King may want them for experiments.”

Joe rubbed his jaw. “The High Shaper has been sending his slaves with shaping talent all over the five kingdoms. They’re going into training wherever their talents are strongest.”

“Since when?” Mira asked.

“For the past several weeks,” Joe said.

Liam scrunched his face in disappointment. “That means your friends could be anywhere.”