An invisible net wrapped itself around her, bundling her up like a caterpillar in a cocoon. Her strength flooded from her veins. Where was her power going? What was stealing her magic? She tried to scream for the others, but her link to them was gone.

They were running at last, the scum who wanted to enslave his friends. Briar, flying through a bramble tangle, wrapped a thorny vine around one of the slower invaders. Her mates cut the woman free, dragged her aboard their longboat, and shoved off. Briar let them go. The four- and five-foot branches of seaweed growing in the cove would grab their oars. Let them sit out under the sun, without water, until they burned like his poor vines had.

He drifted among the sharp-edged plants, wondering what to do next. Something glittered, catching his eye. In the rush to escape his living needles, a pirate had dropped what looked like a gold medallion. It shimmered with a touch of magical fire. He guessed it was a protective amulet; at least, it looked like other such amulets he'd stolen. If he hid it, he could lay claim to it once the pirates were gone. He had a feeling that would be soon; their fleet didn't look so good any more.

Reaching down, he prodded the medallion.

A sound unpleasantly like the slam of a jail door pierced his skull. Suddenly he was frozen in place, unable to move or call for help. Worse - much, much worse - his power was racing away, flooding down a handful of once-invisible threads that ran from the medallion into the fleet. His magic was fading. Without it, his plants withered. They collapsed. The way to Winding Circle was left open to anyone who chose to row back - as the eight longboats were doing now.

Tris's flight toward the ship in the rear came to a smashing halt against a barrier of some kind. Backing up, she inspected it; somehow its maker had hidden its magic. She twirled like a cyclone, narrowing her power to a fine point. Leaping at the barrier point-first, she drilled her way through, and continued on. She met a second such barrier, and a third: they took even less time to penetrate than the first.

Once she was over the ship, she reached back to her body, and called the sparks in her hair. She spun them as they left the land, shaping them into a single length. The bolt had almost reached her when a strange magical voice spoke in her mind.

Most impressive, lightning-girl. Still, I might look around, if I were you. Throw that bolt at me, and you will not like the consequences.

She had heard that cold, metallic voice before. Where?

Bit Island. Niko had been magicking her lenses, and some conversation had reached her ears. This speaker had told another, Do your part, and your debt will be paid.

The other's voice had been familiar then, and no wonder: it had been Aymery's. She ought to have known all along that her cousin was in trouble.

Don't blame him, child, advised the mage Enahar. I fished very patiently for Aymery. I admit, I never expected him to bring me so important a catch as you.

You murdered him! she cried.

As I will murder your friends if you do not keep your lightning away from me. Look again at my pattern.

She obeyed, and saw to her horror that black threads had lashed Daja, Sandry and Briar to the pattern of silver ones. Worse, Tris could see their magic bleeding off, coming her way - coming to the pirate mage.

Don't worry, he said cheerfully. Once they have rest, they'll be restored, and I can use them again. What a prize the four of you are! How strong, at such a young age! You shall have to explain how you managed to combine yourselves.

I'll explain it to your bones, retorted Tris, trying to sound braver than she felt. She'd got her friends into this, rushing in -

But I didn't want them along! she thought desperately. I went by myself!

You knew - you guessed - they'd chase after you, another part of her said. You knew the four of you could inflict real damage.

Your manners leave something to be desired, accused the pirate mage. Those Living Circle milksops don't appear to realize that the young require discipline. Well, we have time to work on that. You owe me a considerable debt, my girl. The voice went even colder, if that was possible. You killed my sister Pauha, when you turned lightning on her ship.

Good, snapped Tris. I'm glad I did. Her friends looked like they were sleeping. She couldn't let any harm come to them!

Let my friends go and I'll serve you, she told him, thinking, I'll kill myself first.

Release such prizes? Don't be ridiculous!

Back on the wall, bony fingers pried open one of her hands - the one with Aymery's earring in it. They pressed something light into her palm, and closed her hand again.

Niko had just given her the string. Her own lump - the one that reminded her of wet spring winds and thunder - lay directly in the earring's gold hoop. Tris placed her thumb squarely on top of it.

The presence of their teachers brushed her awareness. Lark wrapped Sandry's hand around a lump that felt like balls of yarn and shimmering silk. Frostpine did the same for Daja, steering her open-eyed body closer to Tris. Rosethorn helped Briar's body to connect with his own part of the thread circle.

Now, whispered Briar. The three captives thrashed against their bonds.

Again! cried Tris. Silver letters and veils of air rose from the ship. She didn't want them to touch her.

One, two three! cried Daja. They threw themselves against their bonds. The magic that held them turned brittle, and collapsed. They were free.

Enahar roared in fury. All around him the web of magic turned pale. He was drawing in power as he'd drawn it from Sandry, Briar and Daja, bleeding his other mages to attack the four.

I don't think I have enough to fight with, Daja said nervously. Frostpine? Help me?