“How far away is Humburgh?” Knox asked.
“Too far to walk,” Kendra said. “But we have friends in high places who will smuggle you there through the same passage the Giant Queen uses. It will take a matter of minutes.”
“We know Seth is in Humburgh?” Newel asked.
“We suspect he is,” Kendra said. “It is a large town, and this will be a challenging job. If you find him, he might not be happy to see you.”
“I’ll do it,” Knox said. “I was worried you were going to give me busywork or something. Finding Seth is the main reason I came here. You can count on me.”
“And as long as Knox takes full responsibility, we’re in too,” Newel said.
“I really want to see Seth again,” Doren said. “Even if his memories are wiped.”
“I’ll go too,” Tess said.
“Good,” Vanessa said. “Your sensitivity to magic will be an asset there.”
“There are other pressures to worry about,” Tanu said. “The Perennial Storm will hit Titan Valley within a day or two.”
“Are you kidding?” Doren exclaimed.
“I wish,” Tanu said. “It’s a magical storm of unfathomable power.”
“I know,” Doren said. “I remember cowering in a shelter during the Perennial Storm years ago. My uncle Igor disappeared in that storm.”
“We have reason to fear Ronodin has plans against Titan Valley,” Vanessa said. “He earned the Giant Queen’s favor and was here not long ago.”
“And we got news this morning that Polar Plains has fallen,” Warren said. “The more dragon sanctuaries fall, the more Titan Valley becomes the main target.”
“And the more dragons can join the fight,” Tanu said.
“When do we put this plan into action?” Knox asked.
“Now,” Kendra said. “Gather whatever you want to bring. Warren, Tanu, Vanessa, and I will see you off, and then we will depart as well. We’re out of time.”
“I was just beginning to worry today would be boring,” Knox said.
A steady breeze flowed from the west, sometimes gusting enough to make the flags and banners along the street flutter and snap, or even to blow off hats. Seth made his way down the avenue alongside Virgil, with the invisible presence of Reggie nearby.
“Are there magical barriers or sensors that could block Reggie from getting inside?” Seth asked.
“He is technically part of somebody who resides in the coliseum,” Virgil said. “I don’t see how anyone could protest his entrance. With him traveling formless, the hardest part for the guards might be detecting him in the first place.”
“Worst-case scenario, I still have my pass from the rabbits,” Seth said.
“I doubt you’ll need it,” Virgil replied.
“Are you sure you don’t want to come inside today?” Seth checked.
“You’ll be working behind the scenes,” Virgil said. “I think my time would be better spent trying to get Calvin an audience with Sable.”
“Excited, Calvin?” Seth asked.
“I don’t have words to explain it,” Calvin said. “Today could be the day I have dreamed of for years.”
“I have a good feeling about it,” Seth said.
The avenue delivered them to the plaza, where crowds were beginning to gather in the morning light. Seth felt jealous of a woman taking a bite of a baked apple dusted with cinnamon. Without warning, a hand clamped down on his shoulder from behind and whipped him around. The grip squeezed as Seth looked up at a dignified older man with steel gray hair and a close-cropped beard. He wore a chain-mail shirt and carried a broadsword.
“Celebrant,” Seth said.
The hand on his shoulder tightened painfully, making Seth crouch a little and arch his back. “Do not utter my name,” Celebrant demanded through lips that barely moved.
“Lighten up or I’ll shout for help,” Seth replied through gritted teeth.
The grip remained firm but stopped being painful.
“You’re still after the stone,” Seth surmised. “You were there in the castle after . . . I forgot myself.”
“You also still hunt the same prize,” Celebrant accused.
“I just want my memories back,” Seth said. “Wait a minute—back at Stormguard Castle, you mentioned somebody who lost an arm.”
“Now two arms,” Celebrant said.
“Her fault,” Seth said. “She tried to kill me. She’s a dragon too?”
Celebrant nodded toward somebody, and a powerful man with a ponytail of brown hair seized Seth by the upper arm. Celebrant kept a hand clamped on his opposite shoulder, and together they marched Seth away from the plaza.
“Wait a minute,” Virgil said, stepping in front of Celebrant.
The Dragon King briskly shoved the satyr to the ground and kept walking.
“Help!” Seth shouted, but before he could call out again, the man with the ponytail covered his mouth. Seth thrashed, but the men holding him were too strong.
Shall I intervene, Master? Reggie asked.
“Yes,” Seth yelled as best he could into the palm over his mouth, jerking his head in a nod.
The guy with the ponytail lost hold of Seth and sailed through the air, landing in a tumble. Celebrant launched sideways, bouncing and sliding over the cobbles of the plaza, bowling over a young couple who had been holding hands.
“Stay on them,” Seth called as people cleared away from the supernatural fight.
“Get him, Kerzian,” Celebrant ordered.
The man with the ponytail charged at Seth but seemed to collide with an invisible wall. He barely had time to register his surprise before he was hurled backward, his body skipping a long distance over the cobblestones.
Celebrant regained his feet and faced Seth, hand on the hilt of his sword. “You are making the wrong enemies, whelp,” Celebrant threatened.
“So are you, grandpa,” Seth replied.
As Celebrant started to draw his sword, his legs lurched sideways, and he slammed down violently, the metal of his sword and armor ringing against the timeworn stone.
“Prevent those two from following me,” Seth instructed. “Then come find me.”
Consider it done, Reggie replied.
Seth hurried swiftly toward the nearest of the arena entrances. Virgil came up beside him. “Sorry I was little help back there,” the satyr apologized. “I’m not much of a fighter.”
“It’s all right,” Seth said.
“It’s almost too bad you can’t keep Reggie in his present form,” Virgil said. “He’s quite powerful.”
“He deserves to be
