“Stop. Traitors!”
Sakarias whirled around and away from them, and Anders could see the others already in wolf form and starting to run. His communicator went blank as he transformed as well.
Now there was nothing to do but hope.
Rayna nudged her brother as a shape appeared on the horizon. It was Hayn—big, even as a wolf—and as he reached them, he slowed to a trot and then slid into human form.
“How’s the plan going?” he asked.
“The wolves and dragons are on their way,” Anders replied. “Now we just have to hope Sak and the others can stay ahead of the wolves, and that Jerro and Sam can pull off their part.”
This was, in some ways, the riskiest piece of the plan. The wolves and dragons could at least guarantee that they’d be able to speak to their leaders, even though that didn’t mean they’d be able to convince them. Before Jerro and Sam could do anything, they had to find a way to even get near the mayor, and that was far from guaranteed.
But since the first day they’d rescued Sam and Pellarin,Anders had known that they couldn’t just ignore the humans. The wolves and dragons had done that for far too long. Now, they had to include them. Everyone had to have a voice.
He spoke Sam’s name into his communicator, and after a moment, he came into view. Or, rather, Jerro did, as seen from the front of Sam’s shirt.
Jerro was holding a knife, which was unexpected, and cutting a hole in what looked like thick, expensive fabric. After a moment, Anders realized it was the back of the mayor’s tent.
“Are we sure this is a good idea?” Sam whispered.
Jerro looked back over his shoulder. “Have you got a better one? They’re counting on us.”
“I can’t believe we’re trying one of Rayna’s ideas,” Sam muttered. “I mean, we’re talking about the girl famous for running barrel races through the fish market. Maybe we should try the assistants out by the front again.”
“They told us to go to the back of the queue,” his big brother pointed out. “Unless the others can somehow entertain the wolves and the dragons for two or three days, that won’t work. And you have to admit, the barrel races worked. We ate better than the mayor that night.”
He pulled aside the fabric and startled as he discovereda woman waiting on the other side to greet them. “Can I help you?” she said coldly.
“We’re here to see the mayor,” Sam said, sounding almost confident.
“This isn’t the door,” she informed them.
“It’sadoor,” Jerro replied. “Well, it’s a door now, anyway.”
“Go to the front of the tent,” she said firmly. “You can join the line there.”
“It’s urgent,” Sam insisted, stepping up beside his brother. “We can’t wait, or we never would have done this, we promise.”
“Everyone’s problem is urgent,” she replied with a sigh.
Then a voice came from behind her. “Just a moment, Lovisa.” The mayor came into sight, looking the same as he had the day Anders had met him, but perhaps a little more tired. “It might actually be urgent,” he continued. “They did just cut a hole in our tent, after all.”
“You want to hear this,” Jerro promised. “Do you want to know where the wolves and dragons who destroyed Holbard are? Because we know where they are right now. Together. But they won’t be for long.”
The mayor straightened. “This is our chance,” he said.
“Are you joking?” Lovisa demanded. “They’ll kill us.”
The mayor shook his head. “That’s a risk I’m willing to take. Theyhaveto hear our voices,” he said. “I won’t let us be caught in the middle of their fighting one more day. I’ve recently learned to listen to my people, and now the wolves and the dragons are going to learn to listen too.”
“Then, Herro Mayor,” said Sam, “we really have to hurry.”
Chapter Fifteen
ANDERS PACED AND CHECKED THE WRAPPINGSon the Mirror of Hekla again. And when he looked up, he realized he could see the dragons on the horizon.
Lisabet came up to stand beside him. “You can do this,” she murmured.
