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“Crescent and the others built an arch that they believed could traverse worlds.”

“Well, you’re here,” I pointed out. “So it must have worked.”

“Yes and no.” The bear raised a paw to scratch their nose. “I arrived. Lancelet was just behind me.”

I gasped. “So, what? She’s dead?”

“I do not know for certain. I do not know if she stepped through. I passed through the portal. I stepped out into a dwarven city.”

I put my legs down and leaned forward excitedly. “You entered Sangratha, but underground? You found yourself in Thrazdummar?”

Hawl nodded. “As soon as I stepped out, the portal behind me went dark and shattered. The dwarves were not able to get it working again. Their finest scholars were still fussing over the broken pieces when I came aboveground.”

My face fell: That didn’t bode well for Lancelet. “I don’t understand. The dwarves just happened to have a portal down there leading to Aercanum?”

“No. The portal did not lead there at all the last time it was used. It simply connected to another point in the dwarven kingdom. In fact, the arch had not been used in many years. The dwarves do not like to use portals. They prefer to travel by road.”

“Yet they have many of them?”

“Some. There is a temple in the Siabra court that contains a room full of archways. The dwarves have a place in their capital city that is much the same.”

“Incredible,” I murmured. “None of them lead straight to dragon eggs, do they?”

I caught the bear’s wry expression. “No. They do not. But I believe a similar portal is how we will reach the entrance to the path that will take us to the eggs.”

“So you arrived in Thrazdummar,” I said, still curious. “And the dwarves just accepted you? They didn’t try to attack you or anything?”

“Why would they attack me?” Hawl looked confused.

“Well,” I said, flustered, “a huge bear in armor steps out of a portal that hasn’t been used in who knows how long …”

“I came in peace,” Hawl said mildly. “However, I did inform them of what would happen should they attempt to attack me.”

“The stew speech, no doubt,” I muttered. “And then they just … invited you to tea?”

“There was no tea. There was ale. I was brought to the Stone Keepers. I informed them of my mission.” Hawl tilted their head. “Zaira is a quick-witted woman. She put the pieces together.”

My heart sped up. “That whatever is happening in Aercanum is mirroring what’s happening to the Veil here.”

Hawl nodded. “Whatever magic that was used to create the Veil in the first place is crumbling—not just in Sangratha but on the other side.”

“The mist.” I thought for a moment. “What exactly is coming through the mist?”

“Creatures not of Aercanum,” Hawl said simply. “Perhaps we will encounter similar things when we go below tomorrow.”

I certainly hoped not. I glanced out the window and saw that night had fallen. Over on the bed, Blake and I still had satchels and clothing laid out. It was strange to think that just a few months ago, we’d have been doing homework at this time of night. Now here we were packing for a quest to save the world.

Hawl followed my gaze. They rose to their feet, their head nearly hitting the iron chandelier that hung over the sitting area. “You should rest, little cub. We have a long journey ahead of us. We can speak more along the way.”

I nodded, still feeling dazed from the letter. A few moments ago, the room had felt so full. Now it was empty again.

The bear touched my shoulder with a large brown-furred paw. “Shall I tell Blake to return to you now?”

Blake had gone down to the Drakharrow common room to get something to eat. I nodded. “Yes, please.” The bear lumbered toward the door. “Hawl. Wait.” And then I was flying across the room and into the Ursidaur’s huge padded arms. “I’m so glad you came,” I whispered against their fur. I closed my eyes, remembering how safe I’d felt as a baby being held by them. “Thank you.”

Hawl’s voice rumbled in a deep purr against my chest. “For you? Always, little cub. No matter the distance.”

Chapter 41