“Yes,” Brady said. “They can’t take me home yet. They said it’s too far.” Leaning forward, he whispered, “I think maybe they’re kidnappers.”

“They are,” Mira said. “Don’t worry. We’re here to help you.” Mira turned and lowered her voice. “Can somebody distract him?”

Dalton went forward, knelt down, and began asking Brady about the picture he was drawing. Brady responded cheerfully to the attention.

Mira addressed the others. “That kid had serious power. Back in Sambria, they could have made another Carnag.”

“Wouldn’t we have heard of it?” Twitch asked.

“It may not have happened that long ago,” Joe said. “How long has Brady been here?”

“A few weeks,” Oster said. “He could have been held elsewhere before. I don’t know the history.”

“They might have more control of the creature this time,” Joe speculated. “It may not be rampaging.”

“Why bring Brady here?” Jace asked.

“Whatever they did with his power, it can’t reach him in Elloweer,” Mira said. “It would only work in Sambria. Maybe they wanted to keep Brady far away.”

“They probably took all of his shaping ability,” Cole said. “You know, like Carnag tried to do to you, Mira. If Brady volunteered, they could have completely separated him from his power.”

“Then why would they need him?” Jace asked. “What good is he without any power?”

“I don’t know,” Mira said. “There must be a reason. We need to learn more about how shapecrafting works.”

They heard noisy footsteps on the stairs. Minimus entered the room, breathing hard. “We’re under attack,” the Halfknight announced, panting. “The town offered little resistance. Guardsmen are trying to open the castle gates from both sides.”

“Blast!” the Rogue Knight exclaimed. He whirled to Oster. “Do you know the other prisoners up here?”

“There are only a few others,” Oster said. “This tower is for unnamed captives. None are known to me.”

“Will you help Mira and her friends escape?” the Rogue Knight asked. “Can you smuggle them away from Edgemont?”

“I know three hidden ways out of the castle,” Oster said.

“We can help,” Skye said. “Sultan and I will cloak us in seemings.”

“That would give us a fighting chance,” Oster said.

The Rogue Knight laid a hand on the Halfknight’s armored shoulder. “Minimus, stay with Mira until we find each other again. Serve her well. Protect her at all costs. Oster, help them escape, then return to me once they are away.”

“We have to check the other prisoners,” Mira said anxiously. “Just in case.”

“Very well,” the Rogue Knight said. “Be swift. We are greatly outnumbered. Our enemies will overrun this castle shortly.”

“We’ll hurry,” Mira promised.

The Rogue Knight drew his sword. “I must join my knights.” He hurried from the room and bounded down the stairs. Cole suspected that anyone else who tried to run in armor like that would end up in a dented pile at the bottom of the stairway.

“Come on, Brady!” Mira called.

The boy looked up from where he sat with Dalton. “We’re leaving?”

“Yes,” Mira said.

“A hostage could prove useful,” Oster mused.

“Not a hostage,” Mira said. “We’re freeing him.”

“Are you sure?” Skye asked. “Joining us may be a rough road for the little guy.”

“He is clearly of high value to our enemies,” Sultan said. “And he doesn’t belong to them.”

“We can’t leave him behind,” Mira insisted. “Who knows what they might do to him?”

“I agree,” Sultan replied. “I’ll watch out for him.”

Holding Dalton’s hand, Brady followed them out of the room. They started down the stairs, stopping at the next iron door. Oster tried a few keys before he found the right one. The room was empty.

Behind the next iron door they found a man chained to the wall. Blindfolded and gagged, his hair was long and disheveled.

“I know this one,” Oster said. “He was an Enforcer and a powerful enchanter. He lost his mind. We don’t want dealings with him.”

They shut the door and moved on. From a distance, through barred windows, Cole heard the clash of combat. A man screamed in pain. Other voices shouted orders.

Cole understood why Mira wanted to check the cells, but the castle was falling. What if they couldn’t make it out? He tried to ignore the churning nervousness in his gut.

Oster unlocked another door to reveal an empty room. The next door opened on a swarthy woman seated at a wooden table. When her eyes found Cole, she glared and snarled. “You?”

“Secha?” Cole exclaimed. “What are you doing here?”

She brushed hair away from her face. “Where are the Enforcers?”

“You were back in Carthage with Ansel,” Mira recalled.

“Aye, missy, until the Enforcers came for us. Where are they?”

“No Enforcers here,” Joe said. “We’re in charge for now. You vowed not to follow us.”

“Mayhap I did,” Secha said. “But I never counted on you ruining us. Some Enforcers caught up with us just a few days after you left. Charming lot. One called the Hunter was ready to kill Ansel for information about Miracle Pemberton. And Ansel was prepared to die to keep his oath to you. So I intervened. I volunteered to go with them and help them find you.”

“Is the Hunter here?” Joe asked in alarm.

“Not right now,” Secha said. “Moves around a lot, that one. You’ve made yourselves quite an enemy. And you spoiled my life.”

“Ansel spoiled your life,” Cole said. “He should have left me alone.”

“I reckon he entertains that thought as he rots in a Carthage dungeon,” Secha said darkly. She squinted at Cole. “You’ve changed a bit. You’ve a hint of power in you now.” Her eyes considered Mira. “You’re the royal scion they’re after?”

“How long have you been here?” Mira asked.

“Only since yesterday.”

“Rings true,” Oster said. “Leastways, they brought in a new prisoner last night.”

“How did they plan to use you?” Mira asked.