This sighting, along with his father's mysterious past and a bad omen from a scary old woman, make Theodore feel something is awry. His suspicions are confirmed when the Queen announces her intent to sacrifice a maiden to this black dragon, and the maiden chosen, to Theodore's horror, is his sister.
He and his mother are imprisoned, and Nelly now has only three days left to live. Can Theodore escape the Queen's dungeon and find a way to save her? Or will everything-and everyone-he loves, perish?