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I suppose they chose Molindra because she belonged to House Orphos, I said cautiously. It must have had something to do with Lunaya.

Oh, Lunaya, my mother sighed. Don’t get me started on that poor dear girl.

Poor dear girl? My heart sped up. So Lunaya’s alive, then? You’ve seen her? I thought of Lysander. I could tell him. But would he even believe me?

Seen her? My dear child, she’s ridden atop my back. A pause. Not very well, but I suppose it can’t be helped in her condition.

In her condition? What does that mean? What’s happening to her?

Oh, horrid things. The poor girl is not entirely herself, just like the old scaly one here. I could practically picture her patting Molindra’s rotting scales.

You’re a strange trio, I murmured.

Another sigh. Yes, aren’t we? But never fear. I have a plan.

My heart hammered. A plan? Mother, please. Perhaps it would be best if you kept your head down. Metaphorically speaking, I mean. They don’t know you’re even there.

Keep my head down? Oh no. That isn’t my style at all, dear heart. Orcades gave a tinkling laugh that reminded me she was a fae princess. My heart clenched. How I wished I could have seen her in all her glory! If my mother was this vivacious as a disembodied voice, she must have been truly something in the flesh. I’m going to save her, you know. I’ve absolutely committed myself to that.

I could almost see her nodding emphatically. My heart soared and sank. I’d heard that tone before—I’d used it myself. When anyone said that, it usually meant someone was going to die.

All right, I sighed. I wish you luck. How can I help?

Help? Ah no, Daughter. It is I who shall be helping you.

How can you help me? I said, a little amused.

By delaying the inevitable, of course. Stalling tactics. Sabotage. Molindra is on board—at least, I think she is.

Of course the dead dragon is in your corner, I muttered. How reassuring.

Well, it should be. Don’t look down on her simply because she’s necrotic, Medra. Someone should have taught you better manners than that.

I rolled my eyes.

Now, you know of the Veil, of course, Orcades went on.

The what?

A pause of disbelief. By the Three, child. Didn’t they teach you anything back in Aercanum?

They taught me a great deal, not that I was there all that long, I said, a little grumpily.

Very well. I shall enlighten you as best I can, she said with a sigh. Now, I do take it you know what a portal is? You may know them as archways?

Of course. I saw them in Camelot. We traveled by them sometimes.

Excellent. Think of the Veil as a portal. But one which connects worlds.

I stiffened. Marcus and Catherine are trying to get to another world?

I don’t believe travel is on their mind, precisely. Think of the Veil as a wall between realms. A pause. Sangratha is a very strange place, you know. Different in so many ways … and yet, familiar in others.

My stomach did a somersault. What do you mean? Familiar how?

I haven’t quite put my finger on it yet, but you’ll be the first to know when I do, she said cryptically.

Fine, I said impatiently. And this Veil? Why does it matter what Marcus and Catherine do to it?