“Welcome, Cole and Jace,” Trillian said.

“Are you all right?” Jace asked Mira.

“I’ve been better,” she said.

“Miracle Pemberton could one day be High Queen of the Outskirts,” Trillian said. “Of course, there are obstacles, three of them being her elder sisters Elegance, Honor, and Constance. Another is her father, who pretended to kill her and her siblings and probably wishes to kill her in truth now that he retains no portion of her shaping power.”

“I never wanted to be High Queen,” Mira said. “Elegance can have it.”

“This is true,” Trillian said. “You view your royal heritage as an unwelcome burden, the source of most of the trouble in your life.”

“I’ve lived my life on the run,” Mira said. “I’ve watched people around me die. Even back in Junction City, life was never easy.”

“No life is easy,” Trillian said. “I’ll grant that yours has been uncommonly challenging. Some of that has been self-inflicted. I understand you’re here to help rescue one of your rivals to the throne.”

“Honor is not my rival,” Mira said.

“If not for her father, Elegance would be High Queen,” Trillian said. “Without Stafford and Elegance, the title would go to Honor. And what a queen she would make! She has a great deal of spirit.”

“I’m sure you’ve spent time in her mind,” Mira said.

“I offered to train her, but she refused,” Trillian said. “If Honor regains her power, she could become a formidable enchantress.”

“I want to see her,” Mira said.

“I’m about to provide that opportunity,” Trillian said. “If you can find her, you need only touch her, say her name, and not only will you be reunited, but you will be free to go.”

“That sounds easy,” Mira said.

“She may not look quite like herself,” Trillian said.

“What have you done to her?” Mira demanded.

The torivor smiled. “I’ve . . . adjusted her.”

“How?” Mira asked, heat in her tone.

Trillian pointed at her. “That is up to you to figure out. I reserve the right to alter her more as the contest progresses. Each of you gets one chance to touch something and say, ‘Honor.’ I’ve prepared three locations for you to search. Cole will guess in the first location, then Jace, and finally Mira. Feel free to work together deciding.”

“She could be anything?” Cole said.

“Anything alive,” Trillian said. “No plants. Just animals, including humans. I have customized a seeming to prevent her from recognizing Mira or perceiving your true forms. To her ears, your voices will be scrambled if you ask about her identity, try to reveal your identities, or mention anything about this contest. Honor has no idea what you’re doing.”

“What happens if we guess wrong?” Jace asked.

“Each incorrect guess moves you to the next location,” Trillian said. “If you miss all three guesses, you belong to me. To motivate you to keep the guesses coming, each location has a threat. While you hunt for Honor, something will also hunt you. Each threat will endeavor to kill all of you. Should any of you die before your guess is used, that guess is lost. Naturally, if all of you die, the contest ends.”

Cole felt betrayed. The torivor had failed to mention that the contest might kill them. He had acted like at worst they would be his prisoners. Cole glanced at Mira, feeling horrible for dragging her into this. “You never told us we might die,” Cole objected.

“I’m telling you now,” Trillian said. “Our lives are always at risk. If a threat gets too close, use a guess and move to the next location. You’ll have ample opportunity to survive.”

“What if we refuse to play?” Mira asked.

“My gate is now closed,” Trillian said. “This contest is the only way any of you leave.”

“Will it happen here?” Cole asked. “In this dream?”

Trillian chuckled. “No, you’ll awaken for the contest. It will occur outside of my palace. When you exit to the grounds, the game will begin.”

“Will it all be an illusion?” Cole wondered.

Trillian shook his head. “I’ll accomplish most of it with changings, large and small. Every element of the contest will be perfectly tangible. My shaping abilities are unlike any in the five kingdoms. Let me worry about how it will be accomplished. Concentrate on winning.”

“Do you want us to lose?” Mira asked.

“Not particularly,” Trillian said. “Most likely you will fail. The contest will be difficult, but it is not rigged. You can win. And if you do, I will set you free, as promised. I’m eager to see how you perform.”

“When do we start?” Mira asked.

Trillian clapped his hands.

Cole opened his eyes and stared up at the ceiling. The door to his room opened to reveal Hina out in the hall. “Time to go,” she said.

He followed her to a neighboring door, where she summoned Jace. Once he was with them, they went and got Mira. She fell into step with Jace and Cole behind Hina.

“What are you, Hina?” Cole asked. “Are you a seeming? Like a figment? Or a semblance?”

“I’m a woman of Elloweer,” Hina said. “I’ve served Trillian for many years.”

“You don’t look very old,” Mira said.

“It’s an advantage of dwelling here,” Hina said. “If you three survive the trial, you might join us.”

“I’ve been this age for long enough,” Mira said.

Hina led them to the front door of the castle. “Here we are,” she said, reaching for the handle to open it. “Let the games begin.”

Chapter 30

THE PEMBERTONS

Fingers on the handle, Hina looked to Mira.

“Ready?” Mira asked the boys.

“Die bravely,” Jace said.

“Here we go again,” Cole muttered.

Mira gave a nod, and Hina opened the door.

They stepped out into the courtyard of a castle. It looked nothing like either version of the Lost Palace that Cole had seen previously—neither decrepit and burned nor gleaming like pearls.

This castle was huge. Only one side of it was presently visible, but a massive wall topped with walkways and towers enclosed the expansive courtyard. The side of the castle Cole could see was broad and solid, rising through multiple levels of battlements, balconies, and turrets to the highest towers. Guards in immaculate uniforms stood on the walls and around the perimeter of the courtyard.