Mindful they didn’t have whatever papers Bridgeford insisted they have to walk down the street in Glenwood, Anna and Michaela made their way down the side streets, avoiding anyone who looked like they might remotely be involved with guardsmen. Certainly they couldn’t count on being saved by the resistance again.

“I didn’t expect to find our way to two political rallies today,” Michaela said under the fog.

Anna nodded. “I wonder if we’re too late.”

“What do you mean?”

“The Witch of Money has been exiled. Even if we manage to get Oscar reunited with his Mind and Soul, will that stop the conflict? Bridgeford seems set on it and the Witch of Puppets is the one who did it in the first place.”

“Even if it won’t stop the conflict, we can’t leave him like that.”

Anna nodded. “Agreed.”

They emerged from an alleyway to find they’d come upon the park where they’d met only an hour or so before. The fog hung thick here, making the trees in the distance little more than shadowy columns.

“We’re back where we started,” Michaela said.

Something moved at the edge of Anna’s vision on her left and almost behind. At first she thought it was an animal. A large dog perhaps. But when she turned to look, she realized it was further away than she’d thought and therefore bigger.

It was boxy and the size of a small house and it moved on a pair of tall, spindly legs, or so it seemed to Anna through the fog. And as she watched, the creature turned a small circle and again, like a dog preparing for a nap, and settled to the ground at the edge of the park with a muted thump and a bit of crackle. A light slowly brightened, a diffused golden-orange through the fog.

“So much for having to find Ivan,” said Michaela. She grabbed Anna’s hand. “Shall we go say hi?”

Anna nodded. She wondered how Ivan had known they were looking for him. That they’d figured out where his little brother was. Or maybe it was simply happenstance.

They walked through the fog toward the small shadowy cottage. As they approached, the stone outline sharpened, the open-air window through which the light shone brightened, and the stout wooden door opened with a quiet click and a faint scree. Ivan stepped out to great them.

All of Glenwood had seemed quiet, muted, drained of color, but Ivan Agayaba was brilliantly vibrant. His blue eyes were bright, his blond hair shining, his multi-colored coat cheerfully garish. He stepped into the fog and to one side, gesturing for them to enter.

“Ladies,” he said by way of greeting.

The girls walked through the small, stone antechamber and into the richly appointed sitting room where Lux the lamp glowed cheerfully. It nodded at them with a quick squeak.

Ivan came in after them and sat expansively upon a blue, gold, and green patterned couch. It matched his style if not his colors. He gestured for them to sit on the couch opposite. Anna still wasn’t sure she trusted Ivan but he did not make her uncomfortable the way the Witch of Puppets or Minister Bridgeford did. She sat and Michaela sat with her.

There was a shrug and a shudder and Anna knew the cottage was on the move.

“So,” she said, “The Witch of Many Colors. Are people actually calling you that now?”

Ivan shrugged with a smile. “You did.”

“What about Max?” said Michaela.

Ivan raised an eyebrow. “Who?”’

“The dog-headed pirate boy who captured us. Is he all right?”

“I did not hurt him,” said Ivan. “After the two of you snuck off while he and I…” he blushed and cleared his throat. “Had our public display of aggression, I treated him to a coffee and croissant by way of apology and sent him back to his captain. He seemed to think his captain would be irritated with him for losing his hostages, but I have no authority over pirate captains.”

Michaela sighed. “That’s as good as can be expected, I suppose.”

“But I doubt that’s why you were looking for us,” said Anna. “You were looking for us, weren’t you?”

Ivan shrugged with one hand. “After a fashion.”

“What does that mean?” said Michaela.

Anna suspected she knew. “Have you been spying on us?”

Ivan shook his head and his pretty golden hair swished gently. “Not at all. I’ve just been… keeping tabs.”

Michaela crossed her arms. “How’s that different?”

“Well. I’ve not been watching your every move or listening to your every word. I have been keeping a sort of magical ear out, should you mention my little brother. And less than half an hour ago, you found him. Or at least, you think you found him. Thus perked my magical senses. As I was nearby…” he shrugged again.

Anna wanted to be mad for the magical spying, but she couldn’t be. It seemed to her Ivan was only worried about his brother.

“There’s a scarecrow on the far end of Clayfield Street,” Anna said.

“Is there?” said Ivan. “I don’t recall a scarecrow.”

Michaela looked at Anna. “You said it’s been there for a long time on your side of the fog?”

Anna nodded. “And when I looked at the scarecrow though the Truename Spyglass, I saw a young man looking much like you, though more innocent. We think the Witch of Puppets got to him. He’s stock still, vacant-faced. There’s no light in his eyes. He seemed…”

“Puppet like,” Michaela said.

“We saw a demonstration,” Anna said. “The Witch of Puppets turned a guardsman into a doll. She said she cut his Mind and Soul off from his Body.”

Ivan shuddered. “I’ve seen her do it.”

“Could that be what happened to Oscar?” Michaela asked.

Ivan nodded. “It could be. And that she’d hide him out in the open like that is just cruel.”

“So, you’re the Witch of Many colors,” said Anna. “Can you undo what she did?”

Ivan shook his head sadly. “I have no power over the Realms of Mind, Body, and Soul. Mine is a magic of bright colors, happy noises, and whimsy. Of imagination. If my power comes from anywhere, it’s from the Realm of Dreams.”

Anna wanted to ask what that meant. What the Realm of Dreams was and how that might lend one such as him power.

“What about your mother?” Michaela asked.

Ivan nodded. “Her connection to the Realm of Mind is prodigious. It’s how she won her wealth. She always told me she was more powerful than Auntie Yulanna. I don’t know whether that’s true, but the point it moot. Mother dearest is locked deep within her own dungeons.”

“The newspaper said she was exiled,” said Anna.

Ivan chuckled and shook his head. “There’s no way that rat, Bridgeford, let my mother free. He’d want her where he could keep an eye on her and keep her magic in check.

“So, a prison break?” said Anna

Ivan put a finger to his lips. “Maybe. But that seems risky.”

“Don’t you want to rescue your mother?” Michaela asked.

Ivan nodded. “I’ve a lot of affection for her, despite that she’s cruel, manipulative, and maybe we’re all a little safer with her locked away. Including her.”

“I take it you have a plan, so where are we going?” Anna asked.

Ivan grinned. “I don’t suppose either of you packed eveningwear?”

Anna’s eyes went wide and her chest tightened.

“In what?” said Michaela.

“Why do we need eveningwear?” Anna asked.

“My father is King Richard of the Cape Lynette city state. He was a student of my mother and auntie back when they hated each other significantly less, and he is attuned to the Realms of Mind, Body, and Soul, though his talent for magic is lesser. And while he’s nowhere near as fond my brother as I am, given Oscar has a different father, I am certain I can appeal to his better nature.”

“What does that have to do with eveningwear?” Michaela said, and Anna noted a hint of eagerness about her.

“The cottage is fleet of foot, but not as fast as the train. We will arrive in Cape Lynette just in time for dinner. And dinner with the King of the City requires nice clothes. I have a large closet and would be happy to help you pick something out.”

Michaela stood eagerly and clasped her hands behind her back. “Show us the way, Witch of Many Colors.”

Ivan grinned at her. “Excellent.” He stood and clapped his hands and led them to the stairs.

Anna tried not to grouse. She wasn’t fond of dresses or formal clothes or stuffy dinners. And she was fairly certain they could talk to Ivan’s father without any of those things. However, Michaela seemed excited and Anna didn’t want to spoil her fun.

They followed Ivan into a lushly carpeted chamber and a plush couch. Through a half open door they could see into a dim, thickly-curtained, cluttered bedchamber. Ivan opened the other door onto an impossibly large walk-in closet, neatly ordered on racks, drawers, shelves and so on. He led them through the aisles to a small round room with three full length mirrors set up at angles so, standing in the right spot, one could see herself from all angles. Two racks of dresses in all manner of color and style stood nearby.

“I’ll leave you ladies to it then. We’ve got plenty of time before we arrive.” Ivan left and they heard him close the closet door softly, several aisles away.

Michaela began sifting through the dresses on their racks, flipping through them like files in a cabinet, stopping to examine one for a while, then flipping through them again. After several moments of this, she pulled a pale blue dress with no sleeves and small pearls detailing the collar off the rack, hanging from its glossy wooden hanger. It swayed gently as Michaela held it up to her chest.

She turned to look at Anna. “What do you think?”

Anna shrugged. “Looks great, I guess. I don’t really know.”

Michaela frowned and put the dress on the rack with a clatter. “Vivianna, are all right? You look frightened. I’m sure this King of the City will be able to help his stepson. We’ll be able to return the spyglass, exchange detailed information, and go back to our side of the fog to find each other. Then everything will be fine.”

Anna nodded. “Sounds great.”

“It’s not meeting with the king that’s got you spooked, is it?”

Anna shook her head and gestured futilely at the dresses. “I don’t know…” Then she gestured at herself. “The most formal I get is a collared shirt and a woven belt with my jeans. This is beyond me.”

Michaela giggled.

Anna blushed. “Please don’t laugh at me.” She couldn’t stop tears shining her eyes. She tried hard not to blink.

“I’m sorry,” said Michaela. “I’m not laughing at you. It’s just, you’ve been so brave through all of this, and now I get to be the brave one.”

Anna hunched uncomfortably. She did not think she’d been brave through any of this. She thought she’d been foolish, she thought she’d been terrified, she thought she’d let her smart mouth fire off. Michaela was the one who wanted to go to festivals and sing in front of crowds and entertained the notion of becoming a pirate.

“Do you trust me, Vivianna?”

“Of course.”

“Then allow me the honor of picking out your clothes and I promise to make sure you look as stunning to everyone else as you do to me.”

Anna’s flush deepened, a few tears escaped down her cheeks, but she nodded. She sat upon a well-cushioned chair while Michaela flipped through the dresses.

In the week they’d spent together at Castle PAC, Anna had grown used to changing clothes in front of Michaela, though she’d never really gotten over her bashfulness. This, though, was different. At Castle PAC, they’d deliberately turned their backs to each other to afford some semblance of privacy, even in so close a space. Here they were trying on clothes for each other. And as it was just one big closet, there were no changing rooms.

Michaela pulled several dresses off the rack and tossed them over the arm of a nearby couch: the pale blue one with the pearls, a bright green one with a blue and red detailing along the cuffs, a deep-pleated, flowy, pale silver one with no sleeves and a plunging neckline. Anna didn’t know the first thing about analyzing clothes. They all looked equally ridiculous and gorgeous to her. When she’d pulled a tidy stack from the rack, Michaela kicked off her shoes and pulled her comparatively plain tan and blue dress over her head. She didn’t even give Anna a chance to turn her back.

Anna turned away a bit, but she could still see Michaela from the corner of her eye, noting her underwear matched not only each other, but her dress. Anna had never cared about matching her clothes. Would Michaela care? Should she care if Michaela cared?

Michaela pulled on the blue dress with the little pearls. It fit her snuggly, like it was made for her, which seemed an unlikely convenience until Anna reminded herself they were in a wizard’s walking cottage. Michaela stepped up to the mirrors, turning this way and that, the skirts swishing, her great mass of perfect auburn curls bouncing. She looked at Anna through the mirror. “What do you think?”

“I think you’re beautiful,” Anna said. And she blushed. “I mean the dress is beautiful. You are beautiful in the dress. It looks good. Is what I mean.”

Michaela giggled and turned a quick circle. “It looks nice, but I don’t think this one will do.”

“What? Why not?” Anna asked.

“It just doesn’t have… something. Besides, you’re never supposed to go with the first dress you try.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” said Anna.

“That’s all right.” Michaela waved her hand at the stack of dresses. “Now you pick one.”

“I thought you said you’d choose for me,” said Anna.

“Since you never go with the first choice, it’ll be fine. Choose, Vivianna.”

Biting her lip, Anna went to the stack of dresses and chose the one on top. It was pale orange, like sherbet. It had long sleeves with stiff cuffs and poufy shoulders. It had a firm bodice with a modest neckline and ruffly skirts that dropped to her ankles. Anna kicked off her shoes and undressed to her underwear, neatly folding her clothes and laying them on the couch. She didn’t look at Michaela as she changed but she wondered if Michaela was looking at her. She blushed again.

Anna pulled the dress over her head and let it settle on her shoulders. She had to push her hair out of her face. She wondered if Ivan had something to hold her hair back then realized of course he would. She turned to look at Michaela who was steadfastly looking at herself in the mirror.

“What do you think?” Anna asked, spreading her arms and taking a step forward.

Michaela turned with a smile. “Not bad. A bit orange for my tastes, but it fits you nicely.” She stepped up to Anna fiddled with the collar, took her by the shoulder, and turned her around to do up the buttons in back. Anna shivered but did not shy away. Michaela turned her back around and led her to the mirrors.

“What do you think of how you look?”

Anna looked at herself in the mirrors. The dress fit her perfectly as she’d suspected it would. She turned this way and that.

“It’s nice,” said Anna, “But I’m not sure it’s suits me. Whatever that means.”

“It is cute,” said Michaela, “but we’re going for better than cute.”

Michaela took off the silver dress and tossed it to the couch. Though Anna had her back to Michaela, she could easily see the other girl in the mirror. Her cheeks warmed as she watched her friend walk to the couch, toss the silvery dress on the other end, and look through the remaining dresses for something else.

After a while Anna stopped blushing.

A bit later, they settled on a pair of dresses.

Deep striking purple for Michaela with a light silver shawl and matching belt. Anna thought she looked like an amethyst studded ring come to life. For Anna, Michaela chose a pale yellow dress with a black shawl and belt. The cut of the dresses weren’t identical, but they looked like they’d dressed to compliment the other’s style, like they were a pair, meant to go together. And though Anna felt a bit like a bumble bee in her yellow and black, she trusted Michaela’s assurance.

“You look fantastic, Vivianna.”

Anna pushed her hair out of her eyes. “If you say so.”

Michaela rummaged through a chest of drawers until she withdrew a black handbag with a thin strap. She held it out to Anna.

“What’s this for?” Anna asked.

“Your shoulderbag doesn’t go well with the dress, but you’ll want to take the spyglass to the dinner, won’t you?”

“Right. Good thinking.” Anna retrieved the Truname Spyglass and tucked it into the handbag.

Michaela continued her rummaging, and withdrew a shiny black headband. Anna let her put Michaela put it on her head.

“Okay, I think we’re ready.” Michaela hooked her arm through Anna’s. When they descended into the sitting room, Ivan stood, dressed in a simple black suit under his multi-colored, patchwork coat, and nodded.

“We’ve just arrived,” he said.

Anna clenched her jaw, but Michaela nodded.

When they emerged, they found the cottage had settled into a large garden courtyard.

“I’ll introduce you as my apprentices,” Ivan said. “Sisters, perhaps.”

“Sisters?” Michaela asked.

Ivan cleared his throat. “The upper class of Cape Lynette are remarkably prudish. They will find your closeness… inappropriate.”

Anna blinked at Ivan, stunned. She’d never heard of such a thing.

Michaela held Anna’s arm a little tighter.

“Not to worry, ladies. I’ll get us a meeting with my father, you’ll explain what you saw, we’ll all go back to Glenwood and rescue my brother. Then everything will settle back to normal.”

“Will it?” Michaela asked.

But Ivan was already walking through the courtyard to the well-lighted room on the far side. String music wafted over the babble of conversation.

A pair of men in red and green uniforms with shiny sabres at their hips and stiff cylindrical hats atop their heads stood outside the doors leading to the bright ballroom beyond. As the trio approached the guards tensed.

“Curtis, Rene, it’s me, Ivan.” Ivan stepped forward arms spread, smile winning, eyes sparkling. He looked like a figure out of legend: tall, proud, and bright.

One of the men stepped forward and bowed. “Your Highness. His Majesty did not tell us you’d be coming this evening.” His tone was just this side of nervous.

“Or that you’d be arriving from the courtyard,” said the other, tone sardonic.

Ivan gave a shrug. “I may have forgotten to let him know I was coming. No need to announce me, my apprentices and I would prefer an understated entrance.

The sardonic of the two snorted. “If we don’t tell the boss his son is here, we’ll be in deeper than we already are, Curtis”

The other guardsman, Curtis, gave his compatriot an exasperated look. “Did you really just call King Richard, ‘the boss’?”

The sardonic one, Rene, shrugged. “He is the boss.”

“You two in trouble again?” Ivan asked mildly.

Curtis crossed his arms. “Someone got overly enthusiastic in investigating a little old lady’s herb shop.”

“She’s pushing illicit charms, Curtis,” Rene said.

“And you searched all through her unmentionables drawer and found nothing, Rene,” Curtis responded.

Ivan stepped in. “Gentlemen, I assure you I will announce myself to my father and will neglect to bring up we came in through the courtyard. Your reputations shall remain as spotless as ever they were.”

Curtis sighed. Rene shrugged. Ivan opened the doors and let them in.

The ballroom was immense. At least three times as big as the gymnasium at school, Anna thought, and that was the biggest room she had for reference. The floor was stone tile polished to a sheen, all in shades of gold, from off-white to deep honey.

The pale tiles were patterned to create an intricate knot work repeated thrice across the room, and above the center of each knot was a massive, three-tiered chandelier of dangling crystals bathing the room in light and banishing all but the faintest of shadows. Doors at regular intervals lead to courtyards on the near side and hallways on the other, in between which were hung thick velvet curtains in the same red and green of the guardsman uniforms.

Finely dressed men and women filled the room, some milling about tables laden with refreshments, some standing in small groups at conversation, some in a wide space before a group of musicians upon a dais playing a variety of stringed instruments.

“I need to find my father. Will the two of you be all right for a few minutes?”

“Of course,” said Michaela.

Anna didn’t feel so sure. Not only was this a large gathering of people but they were also finely dressed and well comported and she was sure she stood out as one who didn’t belong, sure it would be obvious to anyone who looked that she was an interloper.

Worse, there was music and dancing and though they’d danced together at the festival, Anna was certain she wasn’t up to the level of refined movement on display. She was certain embarrassment would consume her if Michaela asked her to the dance floor. She was certain she didn’t want to say no.

“Vivianna?”

Anna looked at Michaela whose expression was wide and hopeful.

Anna grimaced.

“If you don’t want to…”

“I don’t,” said Anna. “But more than that, I want you to be happy. And dancing makes you happy.”

Michaela nodded, but she said, “Dancing with you makes me happy.”

Anna let Michaela lead her to the dance floor as one piece finished. She showed Anna where to put her hands.

“Just look at me and listen to the beat and move where I direct you.”

The music of the festival had been deep and raucous and fun. The music of King Richard’s dinner was high and precise and pompous. But it had a steady beat and Anna found herself able to move to the rhythm even if she didn’t always anticipate how Michaela would move. After the third time Anna moved forward when she should have moved back, bumping into Michaela and disrupting her rhythm, Michaela giggled, smiling.

Anna couldn’t help but glance around and found more than one disapproving look, more than one satisfied smirk.

“Ignore them,” said Michaela. “It’s not our fault they’re more interested in looking good than having fun.”

Anna laughed, a quick, delighted sound that melted her anxiousness. She let Michaela pull her close as a new piece started, this one slower, smoother, with a sway to the beat. Michaela lead her in a slow, simple, back and forth that was much easier to follow than the last. Michaela’s great auburn curls fell forward to frame her face and help hide whomever might be looking at them. Anna bent her head forward, not quite touching.

“You remember, on the train?” Anna asked.

“Uh huh.”

“You said, um… You said you might like it, um…”

Michaela nodded, her lips quirking to a small, soft smile. “Yes?”

Anna swallowed hard. “But Ivan said the people here…”

“Who cares what they think? They live on the other side of a foggy veil. We’ll never see them again after tonight.”

“Right. So. I was wondering. Would it be okay…”

The slow piece ended. They stopped swaying and Anna took a deep breath.

Someone tapped her on the shoulder. “Pardon me. I wonder if I might cut in.”

Startled, Anna spun about to find Captain Tahoe in a long black jacket with shiny brass buttons and yellow scroll work along the high collar. He was looking particularly masculine this evening, foxy muzzle square, white-tipped browline strong. His thick tail swished behind him. He grinned at them, showing his small, sharp teeth. Anna noted he wasn’t wearing his long-handled sword but wouldn’t have been surprised to learn he had more than one weapon secreted upon his person.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite hostages. Please do not tell me I wasted those tickets on you.”

Anna shook her head quickly. “We just got back into town,”

“And what brings you back to within the notorious clutches of the Pirate Ace Coalition?”

Anna cleared her throat uncomfortably. She wasn’t sure how much she should tell the vulpine captain.

“Just a bit of inter-city politics,” Michaela said lightly.

“How intriguing.”

“And what brings a pirate captain to His Majesty’s palace?” Anna asked, faking confidence. “Unless I’m mistaken, you’re the only animal-headed person here.”

“You noticed that, did you?” said Captain Tahoe. “Well, I’m used to moneyed folk looking down their noses at me, even though I’m taller than most. But you wouldn’t know anything about that, would you ladies?” His expression was arch, amused.

“What do you mean?” said Anna.

“A pair of lovely young ladies dancing together in the most conservative court in the region. I’m in awe of your audacity. Again.”

Anna blushed.

“If you like, should any of them make a crude remark, I’ll snap their noses off.” He clacked his teeth playfully.

Anna giggled, despite herself. “How very noble of you, Captain.”

“What do you say to some punch?” Michaela asked.

Anna nodded quickly.

“Captain Tahoe, care to join us?”

“Yes, thank you, young lady.”

Together, the three of them made their way across the room. Anna ignored anyone who might have looked their way. She didn’t want to know what anyone thought of their trio. A crystal clear punchbowl sat in the center of the table. Anna procured them each a stemless goblet and ladled a portion of fizzy, fragrant, bright red juice into each.

Michaela accepted hers with a smile.

“How gallant,” said Captain Tahoe.

Anna wasn’t sure if he was making fun of her.

“There you are,” said Ivan. He approached, smile firmly in place, multi-colored jacket held casually over one shoulder. “My father…” Anna watched Ivan’s expression melt as he noticed Captain Tahoe.

“And who is this handsome devil?” said Captain Tahoe, his brow softened, his height diminished, his tone just a bit breathless.

Anna grinned at their unexpected reactions. “Captain Tahoe of the Pirate Ace Coalition, please meet Ivan Agayaba, the Witch of Many Colors.”

“The Prince,” said Captain Tahoe, his voice softening further. “I didn’t know you still visited the royal palace, Your Highness.” Captain Tahoe gave a flourishing bow.

“Indeed I don’t, Captain. But if I knew my father consorted with pirates such as you, I’d have made more excuses to return.”

Captain Tahoe stood from his bow and extended his hand. It was orange-furred like his muzzle with a white patch on the back and black fingertips. Ivan took the pirate’s hand and kissed it gently.

Anna looked at Michael who grinned broadly. On the one hand, Anna was pleased for them and further amused as she’d thought both men unflappable, on the other, they had a task to accomplish.

“I hate to interrupt, boys, but…”

Ivan shook his head and blinked several times. “Right. I’m terribly sorry, Captain, but I’ve got a meeting with my father.”

“How fortuitous. I was hoping to speak with His Majesty myself. Mind if I join you?”

Ivan hesitated then smiled. “I can only imagine to put my father off his game would be a benefit to us all.”

“So I’m a pawn in your political chess game?”

“Not at all. I think you’ll be the most powerful piece on the board.”

“The queen then?”

“If you like.”

Ivan swung his jacket onto his shoulders and extended the crook of his arm to Captain Tahoe who took it demurely. Standing side by side, they were of a height, but Tahoe had now a distinctly feminine cast.

“And now, my dear apprentices, we shall meet with the King of the City.”

The girls followed the two across the ballroom in the wake of dirty looks and muttered comments, and Anna realized she didn’t care about them. As Michaela had said, she didn’t know these people and would never see them again. But more than that, if Ivan and Tahoe could be so confident amid such derision, surely she could as well.

They entered a small, private room a hallway and a half down from the ballroom where a short, stout, square man in a bright green cloak with red fur trim sat at a small table, the remains of a meal on a plate before him. He had a full, well-trimmed beard with a streak of white on his left cheek. Two men in red and green livery stood against the wall to one side. A third closed the door behind them as they entered. The room was well lit but dim compared to the ballroom.

“Father, I will never understand why you throw these grand parties but refuse to attend.”

The king grunted. “That’s why you’d make an awful politician, son.”

Ivan cleared his throat. It was the first time Anna saw him uncomfortable.

“So, this is your apprentice? One of Sabina’s cursed thieves?”

“Oh. Ah, no, father. Surely you recognize her?”

The king raised an eyebrow and frowned.

“Forgive my poor manners. Father, this is Captain Tahoe. She has a castle out in the bay. I’m sure you’ve noticed. She’s a dear friend and was hoping to meet with you this evening.

The king grumbled, put both his hands firmly on the table, and pushed to his feet. “Her? Captain Tahoe is a man.”

“Pardon me,” said Ivan, turning to Tahoe. “Did I overstep myself?”

Tahoe looked positively delighted. “Not this evening, you haven’t,” she said. And though her voice took a distinctly feminine cast, she sounded no less firm for it, no less the confident pirate captain.

Curious, and with the attention of the king on Ivan and Tahoe, Anna pulled the Truename Spyglass from the little black handbag hanging off her shoulder, extended it, and looked at the captain. She had bright blue eyes and sharp cheek bones, straight, glossy black hair Anna remembered, and was distinctly a woman.

The king cleared his throat gruffly. “I thought you said you had news about your stepbrother.”

“Ah. Yes.” Said Ivan. He turned to Anna and Michaela and waved them forward.

Anna collapsed the spyglass against her thigh and put it behind her back.

“These are my apprentices,” said Ivan. “Anna Lawrence and Michaela Madigan. Please, tell him what you saw.”

Between the two of them, they described the Witch of Puppets, her clandestine political rally, and how she’d turned a man into a doll.

The king grunted and nodded. “I’ve seen this before. I studied under both those witches and am familiar with the process.”

“Excellent,” said Anna. “Because we know where Oscar’s body is. And if you could just reattach his Mind and Soul, then hopefully all of this will clear up. Shouldn’t it?”

The king laughed derisively. “How extraordinarily naïve. You think Sabina will drop her feud just because her brat is back in her arms? That Yulanna will pass up a chance to take Glenwood back from her sister? The only one with any sense up there is Bridgeford, and my reports suggest he’ll easily win the coming election. Which, incidentally, will put your mother’s fortune in your hands, son.”

The king looked at Ivan with what Anna thought was a satisfied gleam in his eye. She squeezed the Truename Spyglass and wondered.

“Will it?” said Ivan. “I hadn’t realized.”

“Oh yes. It’s all clearly spelled out in your mother’s will. With the brat incapacitated, it all goes to you.”

“She’s not dead, father. She’s imprisoned.

The king shrugged. “When Bridgeford takes over, do you really think it’ll stay that way?”

Captain Tahoe gave a theatrical gasp. “Your Majesty. I hadn’t realized you’re more ruthless than a pirate.”

“You overstep yourself,” the king said, pounding a fist on the table.

“Even if you’re right, even if the political turmoil persists, aren’t you at all interested in rescuing Oscar?” Ivan asked. “He’s my brother.”

The king snorted and sat with a thump.

Anna had wondered that herself. But the king’s reaction told her that not only did he not care about rescuing Oscar, but that he was pleased Ivan would be taking the inheritance. She extended the Truename Spyglass and pointed it at the king.

“Of course, I only want what’s best for Oscar and the people of both cities,” he said, his tone convincing, but as Anna looked at him through the spyglass, she could see the lie upon him like a dirty smudge across his face. “But I fear involving myself in the politics of another city-state would have a negative impact on inter-city relations. Once all this settles down…” He trailed off as he noticed Anna and the spyglass.

“What’s that?” he growled, pointing a blunt finger at her.

“It’s how we found Oscar,” Anna said. “Surely you’ve heard of the Truename Spyglass? Looking through this handy device reveals the truth. And the truth is, Your Majesty, you don’t care about rescuing Oscar. In fact, I suspect you’re responsible for this whole mess.”

And though he scoffed and blustered and made noises of denial, she saw the truth of it through the spyglass. He had separated Oscar’s Mind, Body, and Soul. He had fomented the conflict between the sisters. He wanted Ivan to inherit Lady Sabina’s riches so he could take them for himself. He had hired Bridgeford as his accomplice. It was all his doing.

“Give it to me,” the king demanded.

Anna wanted to flinch black. Instead, she lowered the spyglass, collapsed it, and put it into the handbag at her hip. She didn’t feel confident. Her hands shook. Her teeth clenched. Her body vibrated so hard she might break apart at any moment. So she took a deep breath, a step forward, and said, “No.”

The king extended his hand and the handbag jerked toward him, pulling taught as the strap snapped against her back and dragged her a step and a half forward. Anna grabbed the bag in both hands and pulled it to her chest.

Ivan stepped between them and it was like he’d cut the line attached to the handbag. Anna stumbled back where Michaela caught her.

“Think carefully, son,” the king rumbled.

“You’ve attacked my apprentice,” Ivan returned.

The shining note of a drawn sword filled the room, followed immediately by a clang and a thunk. Anna looked to find Tahoe with coat flung open and a short, curved, single-edged blade in either hand. The servants had drawn thick, broad daggers, but one of them was disarmed, shaking his hand and backing away.

“Thanks, you lovely vixen,” Ivan said.

“Vixen?” Tahoe said.

“I’m sorry, is it too early for pet names?”

“It’s never too early for pet names, sweetums,” Tahoe replied.

“We’ll have to work on that.” Ivan had his hands behind his back, his right reaching up his left sleeve. The king narrowed his eyes at Ivan and Anna wondered if he’d noticed the surreptitious movement.

She stepped forward to draw his attention. “Why?” Anna demanded. “You attacked your stepson and stoked a war. What could possibly be worth such strife?”

The king looked at her like a pompously disappointed schoolteacher. “Stupid child. I did it for the money. Obviously.”

“That’s it?”

“What else is there?”

“There’s kindness,” said Ivan. “Not every conflict need come down to a duel.”

The king snorted. “Do you truly propose to pit your magic against mine, son? I remain one of the foremost mages in this region or any other. Whilst you are nothing but a witch.”

Ivan turned his back on the king and touched Tahoe’s shoulder. He gave Anna and Michaela a meaningful look, put a finger over his lips, and nodded at the door behind them. The king continued describing his magical strength, his connection to the Realm of Soul, and his general importance.

Anna reached the door first. She pushed the latch carefully so it made only the barest of clicks then pulled it open on whisper quiet hinges. Tahoe was first through, swords still drawn, looking up and down the hallway then motioning for them to follow. Michaela went next, Anna right behind her. Ivan was last out the door, the king still speaking as though the four of them stood there listening attentively.

“I’m sure you’ll understand, son, that I’m only doing what’s best for us. I will not deny your cleverness, especially in obtaining the Truename Spyglass from that cantankerous old bitch, Flandel. But we both know I am the superior intellect…”

The door clicked closed and Ivan chivvied them down the hall back to the ballroom.

“He thinks we’re still in there,” Anna said.

“An illusion,” said Ivan with a wink. “But it won’t last long. We need to get to the cottage.”

They drew attention as they sprinted through the ballroom, shouts and stares and pointing fingers, though the band played on. They burst through the doors to the courtyard. The guardsmen shouted with surprise. But the shouts to halt, to surrender, didn’t catch up to them until they were at the cottage doorway.

Anna was in the siting room, trying to catch her breath when the door thunked and the whole room lurched and spun as though the cottage had sprung into a leap. For several minutes, it was like being on a well-furnished rollercoaster. Anna sprawled on one of the couches, griping the cushions tight and staring at the ceiling.

“All right, easy now. I think we’ve got enough of a head start, Lux,” said Ivan.

The enthusiastic jerking to and fro settled to a gentle sway.