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seemed Tito’s opinion of the shirt differed. “Please tell me you didn’t pick that yourself.”
    Of course Caden had picked it. “It matches my coat.”
    â€œIt’s got a huge-butted horse on the front.”
    The magnificent steed reminded Caden of Sir Horace riding on the wind. After spending the presunrise hour galloping up the mountains, Sir Horace deserved such a tribute. “Indeed, it honors Sir Horace.”
    â€œDude, don’t blame your horse for that shirt.”
    As Tito only wore dull colorless clothes, Caden had long ago deemed his opinion on fashion meritless. Also, since Tito looked as if he wasn’t going to move from his bed, Caden threw a second shoe at him. “Daily training is essential for a future Elite Paladin.”
    â€œYou know, you’re lucky I put up with you,” Tito said, but he set his booklet aside.
    While Tito disappeared into the bathroom, Caden pulled his secret box of Ashevillian treasures from under his bed. It was filled with items he thought would be beneficial to bring back to Razzon and the Greater Realm, things his father would be able to use: a light bulb, Lysol, cleaning wipes, toothpaste, and mouthwash. He grabbed the dagger from his inside coat pocket and stuffed it inside the box. With shaky fingers, he pushed the box back under the bed.
    That dagger had killed Chadwin. Now it was in Asheville. The Greater Realm Council often banished people with tokens of their crimes. Did that mean Chadwin’s killer was here? Caden felt his heart race. His chest hurt. He needed to know, and he knew exactly who to ask.
    The villains sent to happy Asheville weren’t completely free. They were kept under control—and sometimes eaten—by Ms. Primrose, the local middle school vice principal. Fussy and proper, she was not the prim old lady the locals believed her to be. She was a fickle and powerful Elderdragon, one of four, and one of the eight legendary Elderkind that had founded the Greater Realm.
    The nondragon Elderkind were said to have formed the lands of the Greater Realm. The first was the majestic Winterbird, protector of the Winterlands. The second was the Walking Oak, the great tree that had rooted to form the Springlands and defended the elves, gnomes, andspellcasters. Third was the great Sunsnake. Its movements were said to turn the sands of the Summerlands deserts. Last was the Bloodwolf. Its red and brown fur could still be seen in the Autumnlands’ great prairies and red-leaved forests.
    The powerful Elderdragons, on the other hand, were fickle. Two of them—the Gold Elderdragon and the Silver Elderdragon—were charmed by man’s intellect and curiosity. They taught strategy, medicine, and helpful magic to people. The Blue Elderdragon and the Red Elderdragon, however, were angered by man’s greed and disrespect. They punished the lands with disease, war, and dark magic. Magic of hate, jealousy, and anger glowed in sickly reds and cool blues like their scales. And it was these dark magics that spawned the normal dragons that Caden quested to slay.
    Caden knew Ms. Primrose was either the vicious Blue Elderdragon or the less vicious Silver, but he didn’t know which. Still, he was certain of one thing: if the villain who buried the dagger was here, she would know who it was. Caden just needed to go to school, ask her, and not get gobbled up in the process.
    As he dragged the sparring mop from the kitchen closet, he considered what he should say. Maybe he’d start with something flattering about her button collection? It was important to be truthful and respectful when talking to beings of greatpower and old people. Ms. Primrose was both.
    Brynne wasn’t waiting on the porch for practice when he walked outside, but Jane was. She wore pink shorts and a cream-colored top. Her dark, shoulder-length hair was braided. Part elf, part enchantress, she was a girl belonging to both Asheville and the