Dorothea listened with perked ears and bright eyes, just trying to imagine all the mystery of Sam's world, of living without a trace of magic, all the sound and energy and buildings and horseless carriages. By the end of Sam's descriptions, at her expressions of worry for her parents, Dorothea purred gently. "My father knows now that I've been kidnapped -- he sent Liam and his men to search for me. My father is the king, and he's brave and strong, but his heart never healed after my mother died. Losing me must be destroying him. I couldn't let your parents go through that kind of loss, and you belong with them. You will get home, Sam." She grinned, which looked peculiar on a cat. "And then I think I should like to take a proper tour of your world, if only for a day. It sounds fascinating."

August held the mirror long after it had gone dark, and he consciously controlled his breathing. He wasn't afraid of Narissa's fury -- he knew going into this that he had little chance of making it out alive -- but if he was killed too soon the kingdoms would be left to ruin. Now he had to even be careful of what he said to anyone, for the queen could simply be listening in with the help of her mirror. It was a miracle she hadn't heard his explanations to Sam the previous night, which could have meant the collapse of all his efforts. He took a slow breath, retained his impervious expression, and set off again.

"Hurry up, this way," he called, glancing back at Sam. The mirror was back in his pocket -- and he led them straight toward the King's Road. The raven was overhead, and there was no possible way they would ever make it to the horse farm now.