The prison door opened to darkness. They shoved me forward into the cell, the lock clicking behind me. Their boots clanked as they walked away, and whisps of moonlight drifted slowly in, illuminating my cell just enough. A small cot lay in the front corner, a steel toilet across from it. The floor was concrete sloped down to a drain near the toilet. It was the nicest and cleanest prison I’d stayed in at this point so far, but the thought didn’t inspire me with much hope.

I dropped down on the cot, leaving the odd vision I’d had for later and running through various mental simulations on how to escape this time. Perhaps I could boost my strength with physical magic and bust through the cell window, then use transform to sneak back to the city.

Or perhaps I could just use the skills of the ninja to hide myself in the cell, making them think I escaped.

Or…my rational brain suggested, I could simply contact Cove and Sinbad and let them break me out, as they had Sinbad’s crew. I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling a little warm. I’d insisted on the plan only to deviate from it and ruin the entire thing myself. Cove and Sinbad were either going to be furious or get a kick out of it.

A cool breeze rushed in through the outdoors, bringing the scent of nearby stables with it.

There was no point in waiting around, twiddling my thumbs. I closed my eyes, reclining back against the cot as I reached out mentally. Cove’s oceanic magic was easy to spot so close by, and I gave it a little poke, opening up a light connection between us.

Hayden?

Hello.

What happened? We turned down the corridor for the cells as planned, only to find you galavanting around on your own! In the King’s tower. He sounded frustrated and worried all at once.

I cringed. Somehow, that was worse.

I was pulled into a fragment’s memory, then Shahrazad’s tale of Aladdin. I came out of the vision as I was being chained. I’m in prison.

Cove surged with curiosity. The fragments in what we’re looking for?

I pushed the memory at him like Ani had me in Agartha, letting him run through what I’d seen for the full context.

That’s pawfect! We’re almost to the Queen’s apartments, so we should have our paws on it soon!

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

What happened to Sinbad’s men?

We sent them out on the King’s escape pod, like in the novel. They’ll be untraceable.

As Cove had said earlier, perfect. A mad, paranoid king had his uses.

We’re almost to the Queen’s chambers–should we head back?

He really needed to start having more confidence in my ability to survive.

No. I’ll be fine. Grab the fragment first. I suggested. Once they had that, they could use it to help with our escape.

Give us an hour, and contact me again.

Of course.

I started the game of waiting. Luckily, I still had my inventory. I glanced at the clock on the screen, withdrew a book from my inventory, and began reading, checking the clock every so often. With less than a minute to spare, I snapped the book shut, counting down the seconds. The moment the hour passed, I was reaching back out to Cove. He was worried about something.

As soon as the connection was established, he was shoving a memory of an empty room at me. She hasn’t returned from the King’s chambers yet. We’ve been waiting here for nearly the entire hour! He complained.

I responded with my memory of walking into the cell, then said she was done with the story when I saw her earlier. Perhaps she’s working on the rebellion? I suggested. The novel had been focused on Sinbad’s tale more than Shahrazad’s, but surrounding events and conversations had implied that she had spent nearly every waking moment prying the loyalty of King’s men from the King and welding it to herself.

Maybe. Cove sounded doubtful.

Or–

The lights in my cell flashed on, and the lock on my door clicked. My eyes flew open, the connection with Cove broken. My prison door creaked open to reveal Shahrazad standing before me. Her dress was gone, and she wore an armored suit that was patterned like coral. Attached at the hip was a suspicious book-shaped pouch. She slid a careful hand over it, her eyes meeting mine with a warm smile that opposed her cautious body language.

She stepped gracefully over the threshold to my cell, two mamluks at her shoulders. The door shut firmly behind them, cutting us off from the rest of the world.

Her eyes wrinkled as her grin widened, and her hand slipped from the book.

“Do you know what it is?” Shahrazad asked me.

“Pardon?”

She patted her weighted hip lightly. Did she know? Or did she have something else in mind?

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“And I find that very hard to believe.” She took two long slides over to the bed, nearly gliding across the floor. In a similarly graceful movement, she lowered herself onto the other end of the cot as I swung my legs over the edge to make room. Shahrazad crossed her legs, and leaned onto one hand. “Something very interesting has been happening with it recently, you see.”