“What?” Jill exclaimed.
“He’s done it to others,” Cole said. “Reliable sources have told me his shapecraft experiments will only get worse.”
“Thanks for telling me,” she said, her voice hushed. “I haven’t heard of shapecraft, but I’ll be extra careful.”
“Do your bosses know we’re talking?” Cole asked.
“Not officially,” Jill said. “I didn’t let on that I knew you. They tell us to enter the lounges in disguise if somebody seems interesting. The owners are as eager for secrets as anyone who comes here. My bosses always have a few regulars out there mingling. We also listen through the walls, ceilings, and floors as best we can. We learn all sorts of things. If somebody asks about us talking, I’ll say you made me curious because I’d never seen you here before. Most of our clients visit regularly. I’ll tell anyone who bothers me about it that you’re just some traveler looking for news.”
“That’s true,” Cole said. “I really am traveling. I’m only here today because I’m tagging along with some people.”
“Yeah . . . maybe you should dump those people, though. If you don’t, you could end up in jail. Or worse.”
Cole didn’t want her to worry, and he definitely didn’t want her to know too much about his actual situation, in case someone forced the information out of her later. “The people I know aren’t super involved in the resistance,” he lied.
“Just watch out,” Jill said. “They crack down hard on those people.” She wrung her hands. “I hope your friends are really careful. Cole, this is a dangerous place. We shouldn’t talk much longer. I just—I really don’t want you to go.”
Cole wished he knew the right thing to do. He hated leaving her here, but he could tell she was too afraid to come. His top priority was to find Dalton and help Jenna. “Do you know anything else about anyone from our world?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I just know the other kids they sent to Elloweer. Melissa Scott went to a confidence lounge in Wenley, and Tom Eastman went to a lounge in Stowbarth. I’m always hoping I’ll hear more, but I never do. That’s why I was so excited to see you!”
Cole suddenly remembered the other huge question that had brought him to the confidence lounge. “I heard something is making people disappear. Do you know anything about that?”
“There was a creature called Carnag in Sambria,” she said. “Some kind of monster. People think this new problem might be related, but nobody really gets what’s happening. We still don’t understand where Carnag came from either. Some people think it was a shaper who went nova.”
“You haven’t heard about any famous prisoners, have you?” Cole asked. “Secret ones? Maybe recent ones.”
Jill clenched her hands tighter. “There are always prisoners,” she said. “It’s not the kind of thing you should get too interested in if you want to stay free.”
It was obvious that the High King’s tactics had already worked perfectly on Jill—she was scared not only for herself, but for anyone who might cross him.
“I’m most interested in visiting Dalton,” Cole said. “Not to rescue him,” he added hastily. “I don’t want to get him into trouble. But I miss him. He’s my best friend.”
Her expression softened. “If you head to Merriston, watch out for the Rogue Knight. They say he’s been stealing from travelers.”
“I don’t have much to steal,” Cole said. “But thanks for the warning. The lady I was just talking to told me about the Rogue Knight. Is she trustworthy?”
“Vixen?” Jill asked. “Hard to say for sure. Her real name is Mavis Proffin. Have you heard of her?”
Cole shook his head.
“She’s a regular—the wife of a local official. Vixen is much older than she looks. It’s arranged so that she gets gorgeous disguises. She mostly cares about social gossip, but she’s no dummy, and she’s in a position to hear a lot.”
“Got it,” Cole said.
Jill glanced around furtively, even though they were still alone. “It’s so good to see you, Cole. You have no idea. I wish we could talk more, but if anyone notices this conversation going long, they might get suspicious, especially if I don’t have any info.”
“The Grand Shaper Declan was hiding behind the Eastern Cloudwall,” Cole said. “Legionnaires chased him out. That’s the best info I have.”
“You don’t mind if I share that?” she asked.
“Not if it helps you.”
“Thanks.”
“You won’t come with me?” Cole tried.
Jill looked miserable. “I can’t. It’s too dangerous.”
Cole sighed. “Okay, I get it.”
“I wish we could meet up somewhere and hang out. I don’t have privileges to go out yet.” She paused. “If you figure out how to get us back home, you’ll come back for me, right?”
“Of course!” Cole promised. “Are you sure you’re okay here?”
“Okay enough,” Jill said. “I think it’s safer than trying to leave. At least for now.”
“All right,” Cole said. “I won’t forget you. I’ll help you if I can.”
“I won’t forget you, either,” she said, failing to hide the desperation behind her words. “You’re really brave, Cole. I know you’re trying to do the right thing. It’s lucky you got free. That doesn’t happen much. Don’t mess it up.”
He stared at the face of the old woman, trying to visualize the real Jill. He doubted whether his mind’s eye was getting it quite right.
“Bye, Jill,” Cole said, his voice a little husky.
“See you, Cole.” There was no mistaking the deep emotion beneath her casual words.
Cole didn’t want to leave her, but he knew the time had come. He walked through the illusory wall and back into the lounge with the xylophone. Vixen glanced his way, as did Stumbler. Deciding that his disappearance through the wall had drawn too much attention, Cole strode across the room and into a new one. People milled about as a guy patted tall bongos. Mind brimming with new knowledge, Cole crossed to another door. Each new room meant a new physical appearance. He hoped his hasty tour would make it hard for onlookers to keep track of him, then wondered if Jill was still watching.