-Nova-

The Scoop was holding its breath.

That’s how Nova imagined it, at least; the whole mountain sucking in air through the vertical crater of the Scoop, holding it there in its cavernous belly. Everything, everyone, was tense and suffocating.

“Do they know when he’s going to wake up?” Septimus was sitting on the ground next to her. He, Felix and Nova had gathered outside when they’d heard about Celio.

Nova scraped her foot against the bark of a nearby tree. “Dunno.”

The grove they were in was wrinkly and stunted, the result of being deep in the shadows of the Scoop. Nova had always felt it was relatable, but especially now.

“I can’t believe the dungeon did that.” Felix said, but not in an outraged way. He was the only one standing and was tilting back and forth on his heels like human rocking chair. “It doesn’t make sense.”

Nova didn’t respond. She agreed, of course, but that didn’t change the facts.

“I think…” Septimus trailed off.

She scraped her foot again, peeling off some lush green moss. The grove was so poetic—all shadowy and chilled. It even got mist, sometimes.

“What?” Felix prompted.

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“Oh.” Septimus flushed, embarrassed. “I just don’t think we have the full picture. Not that dungeons are nice, but this one had plenty of chances to hurt us, ya know? And it never did.”

Felix nodded.

“It’s forbidden now.” Nova said, seeing where this was going.

The boys looked at her, nonplussed.

“It was forbidden before, though?” Septimus said.

“Well yeah, but…” she scraped more moss. It fell onto the leaf-strewn ground, a picture of green life and inevitable decay. “Now it’s seriously forbidden. Celio is hurt bad. Ira looked so scared, and Clementine says the High Priestess had never seen injuries like that…”

Felix quit rocking. Started shifting side to side instead.

Septimus sat back, leaning against the tree behind him.

“So now it’s actually forbidden. We’d get in real trouble.”

Behind them, a crow squawked loudly. Squirrels chittered in reply. Septimus was nodding, so Nova figured she’d made her point. They wouldn’t be going to the Grotto anymore.

The thought made her stomach twist.

“But,” she made herself change topics, “Celio is going to be okay, right?” Celio could be a little grouchy, but she didn’t want him hurt.

Septimus stood. “I think so.”

Nova squinted at him suspiciously. “How do you know?”

“I don’t.” He brushed the mulch from his pants. “Come on, Felix.”

Septimus started walking towards the back of the Scoop, with Felix following unquestioningly.

Nova blinked. The boys were moving fast—and towards the Old Palace.

“Wait!” She hurried after them. “Where are you going?”

They didn’t stop, but she managed to catch up. “Septimus?”

He looked at her. There was a set to his shoulders, a confidence, that wasn’t usually there. “Where else?”

“The Grotto.” Felix finished the thought.

Nova stopped, shocked. Hadn’t they decided against it?

The boys continued, and she had to run to catch up with them before they entered the Old Palace. Cool air washed over the three children as they entered its stone halls.

“But why?” She asked.

“Because,” Septimus didn’t look back, “We need to talk with the Captive Maiden.”