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healing me.”
    Dela gasped. “Ido caused all that destruction? Was he after your power again?”
    I hesitated. How easy it would be to blame all those deaths on Ido and slip out from under the heavy yoke of guilt. But I could not lie to my friends again, or to myself. If there was one thing I had learned from the last few weeks, it was that such lies could be deadly.
    â€œNo,” I said. “Ido saved us all. When I tried to heal Ryko, I was nearly torn apart by the ten bereft dragons.”
    They both looked at me blankly.
    â€œIt is what I call the beasts of the slain Dragoneyes. I think they are trying to unite with their queen, although I do not know why. Lord Ido and his dragon forced them back.”
    Ryko’s eyes narrowed. “That does not sound like Ido. His every breath is governed by self-interest. If what you say is true, he must have some dark reason for helping you.”
    I let the jibe at my truthfulness pass—Ryko had every right to mistrust me. He had been the most devastated by my lies. Although in my defense, the biggest lie—my male masquerade—had been forced upon me by my master. Perhaps one day Ryko would forgive me. For now, I would shoulder his disillusion.
    â€œAll I know is that he drove away the ten dragons, and without him we would not have survived.”
    â€œWhere is Ido?” Dela asked. “I don’t understand. How could he drive away—”
    â€œBegging your pardon.” It was Solly’s gruff voice.
    The cart bounced—another weight climbing aboard—then the resistance fighter peered in beside Lady Dela.
    â€œRyko, there’s a troop of soldiers coming up behind,” he said with urgency. “Looks like a mountain patrol. They’ve seen us, too. You haven’t got time to get out.” He gave a quick bow to me, then retreated from view.
    Ryko frowned. “A troop so high up in the mountains? I hope His Majesty is secure.” He glanced across at me. “We go to retrieve the Pearl Emperor.”
    For a moment, relief stole my breath. “He is alive, then?”
    â€œAs far as we know,” Dela said. “Ryko says there is a safe place just past the next village. If all has gone well, he should be there.”
    She ducked away from the hatch. A worried nod on her return corroborated Solly’s report. “They are coming up very fast, Ryko,” she added. “You need to get into the box.” She grasped my shoulder. “You and I are husband and wife. I am taking you to the Moon Lady Waters for healing. Understand?”
    â€œDoes the army know we are in this area?” I asked.
    â€œNo, it’s probably just a regular scout party. We’ve got through all the checkpoints so far. Just remember you are my sick wife.” She shut the hatch.
    Ryko had already lifted the edge of my straw pallet and was pulling up the planks of the floor.
    â€œWhat are you doing?”
    â€œHiding.” He lifted another plank and exposed a hidden compartment. “Sethon is looking for a boy lord, a Contraire, and an islander. You two can switch your identities, but I can’t get any smaller or change my skin.”
    â€œAre you really going to fit in there?” It was a very small space with a carpet of straw dust and a long cloth bundle wedged to one side.
    â€œHere, hold this,” he said, handing me the bundle.
    As soon as I touched the rough cotton, I knew it held Kinra’s swords; their familiar jolt of anger seared through me, intensifying the pain in my head. The black pearls around my arm clicked, as if greeting the blades that had also once belonged to my Dragoneye ancestress. I burrowed my hand into the folds of the bundle, exposing the moonstone and jade studded hilts, and the top of a familiar leather pouch; my Dragoneye compass. Beside me, Ryko slid into the cart recess, contorting his big body to fit the shallow space. He held out his hands for the swords. I