They let Mishtali talk with Shay telepathically while Remtani spoke with the guard. “There’s been an attack on the palace. She wants us to meet her at the home.” Mishtali reported a moment later. “How will we get there?” Remtani asked. “From here, I can transport eight.” Morina volunteered. Chapado shook her head. “Sorry, I’m not recovered enough to transport anyone.” “I can do five,” Mishtali said. “With Ann’s help, I’ve done nine,” Andy said. “No.” Ann shook her head. “I’m not strong enough yet and we don’t need you blind.” “I can do four,” Pt’this offered. “I can do the rest with help,” Nim said. “Are you sure?” Jo asked. “I’m sick, not drained,” he assured her. “I’ll help you,” Kar volunteered. Nim nodded. “Okay, we’ll meet at the children’s home in Sen-gan,” Mishtali said. “Transport inside in case they’re watching the place. Shay will have the curtains drawn.” A short time later, they were all at the home. Once there, Shay hugged Mishtali and both her children. Tylan was there to hug her children, Andy, and Jaidu. Sapphire sent Lamdi and Ruzi upstairs. She had Jaidu go with them. Those from the palace included Tylan, Tolin, Merton, Fists, and Bacna. “What happened?” Remtani asked Tolin. “We don’t know exactly. It was just after the healers left, yesterday. There was a commotion near the front gate. We went to investigate. When we returned, there were half a dozen immortals, a squad of foreign soldiers, and some nobles taking over. Someone transported Emeton out of the throne room, right under the guard’s noses.” “The throne room is warded from that,” Ann said. “It’d have to be an immortal.” “There were plenty there. Kortu is missing too,” Tolin added. “Sniveling coward. Probably hiding under a bed somewhere.” Remtani scowled. Tolin shook his head. “I don’t think so. We still had him in custody. We think he had help escaping.” “He’s involved,” Ann said. “Rejenn is meeting with a c-contact to see what he can find out. Janta t-took Chormi to the p-palace to see what they could access through the hidden p-passages,” Bacna added. Ann noticed he was using his cane. He didn’t do that much anymore. She wondered if he’d been hurt. “You let a kid go in there?” Pt’this growled. “I did,” Tolin said stepping in. “He was still small enough to fit. We also were able to get Irkali out. She’s at Piena’s house, and a guard went with so hopefully, they will be safe.” Remtani nodded. “Best we can hope for.” He turned to the others, “Dragons, Chapado, Morina, Shunati, Mila, Jo, Sapphire, Darkham. This isn’t your fight and you’re not soldiers.” “Do not think about asking us to leave,” Mishtali growled. “My family’s Menthanlan. We will stay.” “My family is too,” Kar added. “How can you say this isn’t our fight? It’s our king that needs help.” Sapphire insisted and Jo nodded in agreement. “Unless you’re ordering me, I’m staying. I’m an army healer. There seems to be a lack of those right now,” Darkham said. “What battle can’t use an extra healer?” Bob asked. “They’ll come after Baj-tisk next anyhow.” Shunati and Mila’s expressions indicated they felt similar. “Actually, I am a soldier and this is our fight too. I’m responsible for arresting any renegades on foreign soil. Besides, he’s our brother,” Morina said. “We’re all helping whether you like it or not,” Chapado said. Remtani nodded. “We’ll need to find Father first and foremost.” Morina nodded. “Agreed. He’ll be used as a hostage for sure.” “Kortu’s involved. He’ll know where he is,” Ann said. “Where is he?” “The north tower,” Rejenn said returning with Janta and Chormi. “Where’s Lamdi?” Chormi asked, seeing the others had been returned. “Is she okay?” “She’s fine. She and Jaidu are in her room,” Sapphire said. “What did you learn?” Remtani asked. “Kortu’s in the north tower. They have guards on the third-floor balcony and all the entrances. They haven’t sealed off any wings or stairs. I was limited to the north and east passages. The west and south ones didn’t connect and they have someone in the rooms for those entrances. “For now, they’re not worried about Irkali and Piena. The nobles and servants that aren’t helping them have all been gathered in the banquet hall. I saw Sinta, Cesni, and Leavon. They’re all scared, but fine,” Chormi reported. “What about Vaila?” Shunati asked. “He’s upstairs,” Shay said. “He’s been getting cold so Sinta brought him here. I’ve been doing alternating hours of heat and a blanket.” Shunati let out a sigh of relief. “Solvnor said he thinks the king is still in the palace,” Chormi added. “Solvnor?” Remtani asked. Tolin nodded. “He, Crito, and Mikna stayed behind to try to get us information.” “Did he tell you anything else?” Chormi shook his head. “Okay. It’s late. Off to bed with you,” Remtani said. “But…” “Chormi, you promised. If we let you help, you’d do as you’re told. We’ll probably need you again in the morning,” Tolin reminded him. Chormi nodded. “I can fit in the passages still,” Ann said once he left. “We have another job for you, if you’re strong enough, find Dad, scry him,” Remtani said. “He’ll be shielded,” Morina said. “So we find the shielded area. That will narrow it down at least.” Remtani reasoned. Morina nodded. “Are you ready to do this?” Andy asked. Ann nodded. “It’s just a scrying spell.” She cast the spell using a mirror Dae had brought. First, she tried scrying him directly but as they assumed, that didn’t work. Then, Ann cast the scrying spell encompassing the whole palace using any reflection in the area and stitching them together to make a panoramic collage. She had done that before when the palace had been attacked and also just before the battle against Lyra. “These blank spaces here indicate areas protected from scrying,” Ann explained. “Some are meeting rooms, my lab, Nim’s study, and the potions room.” She indicated each as she listed them. “These others, including this big one here, are new.” The big one she mentioned encompassed half of the west and south wings. “It’s likely he’s in there. That’s why it’s so huge. It would take hours to check.” Remtani reasoned. “Or, that’s what they want us to think. It would take just as long to check the other areas.” Ann added. “How we are going to find him?” Remtani asked. “Give me a moment,” Ann said. She ended the spell. “You can’t break through his protections,” Morina said. “I’ve broken through scry blocks before,” Ann told her. “The caster was a quarter immortal.” “You almost increased your rip,” Thailyn told her. “If you do it again, you will rip yourself. We need everyone at full strength.” “Cramda’s spells will be stronger than a crossbreed’s. I agree that you’ll hurt yourself,” Morina said. Ann nodded. “Can you do it?” “No.” Morina shook her head. “How about this? He’ll know where Father is.” She recast the spell focusing on Kortu. “Where is he?” Remtani asked. “Looks like your audience hall.” Ann’s said. “What’s he doing in there?” Remtani asked. “How did you find him? We’ve been looking for hours,” Shay said. “You were scrying for him. I scried that pendant he wears to show his office. I swear he sleeps in that thing. He would have had to take it off when they cast the spell to shield him. It has too many other spells.” Ann explained. “So now what?” Remtani asked. “We grab him and question him,” Morina said. “Thailyn, may we borrow your cloak? Ann’s going to need it.” Remtani requested. Thailyn raised an eyebrow but unfastened his cloak. “Now wait a minute,” Ann said. “That’s not a good idea.” “You’re the only one small enough to play her,” Remtani said. “Play her? No.” She knew he didn’t really mean pretend. “Play who?” Tylan asked. “He wants me to pretend to be Drepal,” Ann explained. “Can you do that?” Tylan asked. “Until it actually comes time to question him. I don’t have the stomach to do what she does.” Remtani pulled her aside. “We need her.” “You’re asking me to become a monster.” “We need to find Dad, stop these other monsters.” “Dad won’t allow it.” “Dad’s indisposed of. I’m regent.” “Mom’s regent, then Tolin, then you.” “I’m of age. I come before Tolin. I wouldn’t ask if we had any other choice,” Remtani pointed out. “She won’t without permission.” “Mom, can we do this? You’re regent.” Remtani turned to Tylan. Tylan nodded. “Whatever it takes.” “Don’t say that,” Ann said, cringing. Andy came and put his arm around her. “Maybe her presence will be enough. He’s a coward,” Remtani reasoned. “So put him in with the dragons, let them growl at him.” “Let her do it.” Ann had been waiting for that. “There are too many here who don’t know who I am.” “Who doesn’t know?” “Kar, Tor, Tolin, Bacna, Janta, Merton, Bob, Morina, Chapado, and Mila.” “Tolin and Kar know. Tolin and Bacna figured it out figured it out when Governor Carem attacked the palace. Janta overheard them. Andy told Kar in Ertonia. If Kar knows, he’ll tell Tor. Shunati’s probably already told Mila. Merton will do as I tell him, and Bob can be trusted. “What about Chapado and Morina?” “Maybe we can distract them so they don’t know what’s going on.” “Ann, may we talk to you a moment?” Chapado requested. Ann went to where they had been huddled whispering. “If this upsets you so, why not just let Drepal do it?” Morina asked. “Um, she’s not here.” “Nonsense. I don’t know what they know, but I was in Lerjao. I know what Lyra did to you and I saw what you did.” “You were the one to shield Kith’s body,” Ann guessed. Morina nodded. “And I swapped out the spell books you were looking for with the immortal texts for you to find.” “You do what you need to. Don’t worry about anyone else.” “We’ll take care of them if needed,” Morina added. “Fine.” Ann nodded. “You’ll want these,” Sapphire offered her a change of clothes; more like what Drepal might wear. Ann looked at her in surprise. With Sapphire having been one of her victims, Ann had tried to keep her way from when she had to do that to others. Ann went to go change. “We still need to get Kortu,” she said returning. There was a flash. Nim appeared with a death grip on Kortu’s arm. Ann hadn’t realized he’d left. By the reactions, she doubted anyone had, except perhaps Jo. She was sitting off by herself staring at nothing. “How?” Ann frowned. “You said where he was. Chapado taught me to get past blocks. They’ve messed with my family for the last time,” Nim said. “If you don’t want to question him, I will.” Look at his eyes reminded Ann of Drepal. He had been pushed to the breaking point. “I’ll do it. You don’t want to cross that line. See to Jo. She needs you,” Ann said. “Draw her a picture of a garden. She likes gardens.” Remtani took hold of Kortu who was looking confused. Ann pulled up her hood and allowed Drepal to take over. “You think a costume will scare me?” Kortu laughed. “I’ve seen you play Drepal before.” Drepal looked at him from under her hood. He blanched at her icy stare. “Who’s been playing?” “Where can we do this?” Remtani asked. “My employers have a shed that isn’t used.” Morina offered. Drepal nodded. She and Remtani took Kortu out there. It took some time, but they were able to learn that Cramda and Morcri were there, and had Emeton prisoner in the catacombs. They went back to the house. Everyone was sitting around Andy who was telling a story. It was a retelling of a movie Ann and he had watched on earth. Sapphire handed them each a bowl of stew. “People’s nerves were getting frayed. Rejenn said he used to tell stories at the orphanage to keep the kids calm. This was one nobody except Jo and Nim had heard,” she explained. Jo and Nim seemed to have calmed some. Jo was running her fingers through Nim’s hair and he was purring softly. Pt’this, Tolin, and Merton detach themselves from the group. “Did you find out where he is?” Tolin asked. Drepal glared at him. “Where is he?” Pt’this asked, knowing better than to question Drepal’s success. “The catacombs,” Remtani said. “The catacombs? It could take forever. I don’t think even Nim could learn that place.” Pt’this said. “I heard that,” Nim called. “I know where he is and how to get there,” Drepal said. “It’s where Ann’s would hide from her brothers.” “Is that where you’d go?” Remtani asked. Drepal nodded. “She would. She learned several of the passages.” The catacombs were tunnels and caves that ran under the palace and prison. They were a maze that ran for miles. Few ventured there for fear of getting lost. Even navigation spells were unreliable. The shades originated in them and could throw off the spells. “So, how do we get him? Once he’s free, our soldiers can rise up against theirs,” Tolin said. “I’ll take care of it,” Drepal said.