Toshie opened her eyes.

  Young Sally was looking at her with wide eyes.

  “What’s wrong? You look terrified.”

  “Keep quiet. Something’s going on. The ship hasn’t moved for a while.”

  “There was also some screaming,” Brot added. “I think I heard that woman who called me a Thief.”

  Toshie noticed a barrier surrounding them. It was pale green and looked like prism light. It had an odd sparkle to it and felt like warm glass.

  “Please don’t touch it. That weakens the Magic.” Sally turned to Yrlith. “I don’t know how long I can keep this up.” Her breathing was getting heavy.

  “My guess is pirates,” said Yrlith. “This barrier should keep us safe, but we’re not exactly hidden.”

  “Can they see us?” Toshie asked.

  “I doubt it, but we don’t know if they have any magic users. Sally’s shield is pretty simple.”

  “I don’t see you doing anything,” Sally snapped.

  “Come on, Sal, I don’t want to fight. We have to be realistic. You can keep us safe, but strong magic could destroy your barrier. We have to be ready to fight.”

  Sally sighed. “Sorry, Yr. Keeping this up is stressing me out.”

  Yrlith put her arms around Sally’s waist. “I know. I know.”

  “Toshie,” Yrlith said. “Get out your sword.” Toshie nodded and complied.

  “Brot?” Yrlith continued. “Try not to cause any trouble.”

  Brot frowned.

  After about a half-hour of screaming, everything was silent.

  “Should we check to see what is happening?” asked Brot.

  “Now’s the worst time,” Yrlith said. “Despite Sally’s barrier, they could be waiting for us.”

  “Any good possibilities?” Toshie asked.

  “No. Unless they took what they wanted and left… But this is a big ship. They’re either going to use it for their own or…”

  Yrlith blinked.

  “Uh, Sally. Does your barrier keep out scents?”

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  “I don’t know. Why?” Sally went pale. “We have to go. Now.”

  “What is going on? I thought we were safe here,” Brot tilted his head, and Toshie nodded in agreement.

  Yrlith turned to them. “They’re going to burn the ship.”

  “What?” Toshie and Brot said in unison.

  “No time to explain. Get your things, and let’s go.” Yrlith grabbed her sack.

  “Ready,” Toshie said as she picked up her sword and bag. She looked over at the trembling Brot.

  “It’ll be okay. These two know how to take care of themselves.”

  “Save your flattery for when we’re safe,” said Yrlith. “Ready to take your barrier down, Sal?”

  Sally nodded.

  “Okay, on my mark, go!”

  The barrier vanished. Brot gasped at the bloodied body of the woman who had harassed him. He reached into his pocket.

  “No time. Look!” Yrlith pointed toward the blazing ceiling.

  “But…” Brot protested.

  Toshie put a hand on his shoulder. “There’s nothing you can do.”

  Brot hung his head in shame. “Even someone who treated me that way deserves a better fate.”

  Sally pointed above her head. A falling chunk of wood bounced off of her barrier.

  “Run for it!” she yelled as she headed for the staircase.

  Toshie grabbed Brot’s hand and pulled him along the path of burning crates and bodies.

  “Anyone there?” she called out.

  Sally shushed her.

  Yrlith dashed up the staircase and slammed into the door.

  “They barricaded it!” she screamed. “Stand back!” With one swift move, a dragon tail burst from her back and shattered the wooden door.

  Toshie, Sally, and Brot ran up to the ship’s deck. Smoke filled the sky.

  “Yr, can you fly us out of here?” Sally shouted. Yrlith nodded.

  Toshie gasped at the giant Dragon in front of her. She had put two and two together, but seeing Yrlith transform into a Dragon still left her mind reeling.

  “Get on!” Sally yelled at Toshie and Brot. Brot was fumbling with his trinket again. “Goblin! You wanna live? Get on!” Sally had already climbed on Yrlith’s back.

  Toshie pulled herself onto Yrlith’s back and wrapped her arms around Sally’s waist. When she felt Brot’s hands on her shoulders, she told Sally they were ready.

  “Go!” yelled Sally, and Yrlith flew off.

  Toshie caught something out of the corner of her eye. “Watch out!” she screamed as arrows flew at them. Yrlith swooped to avoid them, but one pierced her left wing. Yrlith yelled out in pain.

  “It’ll be okay, darling. Get us out of here. I know you can do it.” Sally whispered into Yrlith’s ear.

  Toshie looked toward where the arrows came from. A small boat with a wide array of creatures all readying their next arrow was beneath them. Toshie stretched out one of her arms, closed her eyes, and said, “Fireball.”

  She felt an intense warmth radiate from deep within herself. As the heat left her fingertips, screams and the crackling of burning wood pierced her ears. She opened one eye to see that the boat was ablaze, and everyone on it was either running around or jumping off into the sea.

  “Good job, Hero!” Sally yelled over the screams. “Okay, Yr, get us outta here.”

  “Did she say ‘Hero’?” asked Brot. “Why, that was most impressive! Dare I say that display of magic is…”

  Brot’s words soon became a soft buzz in Toshie’s ears.

  Everything went black.

  Toshie found herself surrounded by darkness. She opened her mouth to scream, but nothing came out. She tried to run, but it never felt like she was moving.

  “We meet again, Fake Hero.”

  It was Daedalus’s voice.

  “Where are you? Where am I?” Toshie tried to say, but no words came out.

  Daedalus’s voice echoed through her head again.

  “I will have my revenge.”

  “You’re dead,” Toshie thought. “I’m sorry.”

  “That’s not good enough,” Daedalus said. “Which is why you will always be the Fake Hero. But I will return. I will take what belongs to me.”

  Daedalus’s floating head appeared before Toshie. She turned to run, but wherever she looked, there he was. After an eternity of running, his mouth opened, and a bright, piercing light consumed Toshie.