Ace led us out of the woods and forced us to take a shortcut through a thick and bushy path. And, with a flick of his hand, our path cleared. When we arrived in Thalia, it was nearly dusk. The guards bolted and announced our return to the others the moment they saw us. As we approached the castle doors opened, we saw the king and queen emerge and pause at the doorway. From the looks on their faces, they were clearly surprised and relieved to see us.

Dan helped me off of Cloud while I ...