My eyes scanned the hallway. My blood ran cold. Had someone shifted into dragon form in the palace itself? “Theon!” a harsh female voice called to me. I glared at the approaching figure of the harpy. The meeting must have gone very poorly. “Come with me,” she commanded, “and let us talk of further arrangements regarding these dragons. Place your satchel around my neck.” “I can’t just leave,” I hissed. “I’m finally here. My wife is here. And the astrolabe is here. It’s the last hope of my people.” “You can come back soon enough. Trust that the astrolabe is not the only hope of your people. You also have an alliance with a nest of harpies located at the pinnacle of Thundercliff.” I shook my head, uncertain. “How can the harpies—” “Come with me, I said,” Parnassia repeated. “We will discuss this at length in a safer location.” I was hesitant, particularly about leaving Nell… but she was safe here for now.
