Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(122)
“Come along,” Sir Astin said. “The protest is this way.”
A river divided Eternalia, with the main city on one side, and the Councillors’ twelve crystal castles glittering on the other. The Pures lined both shores, filtering the air and casting slender shadows. The shadows spread wider that day, from the hundreds of gnomes clinging to the towering trunks and balancing on the fan-shaped leaves.
More gnomes gathered along the river, lined up in neat rows like crops. They sang as one, demanding justice, their earthy voices echoing off the jeweled walls.
A row of goblins had stationed themselves in front of the gnomes, creating a blockade of rock-hard muscle. Sophie couldn’t tell if they were trying to protect the gnomes, or stop them from entering the diamond courtyard where a stage had been set up for the Council. Either way, one goblin toward the center was the biggest, grayest, gobliniest sight for sore eyes ever.
“Sandor,” she whispered, wishing she could tear through the crowd and tackle him. But that would be the kind of crazy security risk he’d give her a never-ending lecture for.
Sandor didn’t show any scars, and when he moved, she saw no sign of a limp. It seemed too much to hope that he could survive a fall like that with no permanent damage. But maybe Elwin was that good.
The crowd of elvin onlookers kept a safe distance from the goblins, stretching into the city and scattering among the jeweled buildings. Sir Astin led them to a ruby tower off to the side, with graceful arches lining the bottom floor that gave them enough shadows to hide in and still have a perfect view of the stage.
Sophie searched the crowd, hoping to spot Fitz. But she saw no trace of any of the Vackers. The only face she recognized was Jensi. He stood with his parents and an older brother Sophie had never seen before. Several guys with long greasy ponytails stood at Jensi’s side, and Sophie wondered if that meant Jensi had gone back to hanging out with the group Marella had nicknamed the Drooly Boys. She wished she could catch his eye and give a small wave, but she knew he wouldn’t recognize her.
“There’s my mom,” Dex said, pointing to a woman with amber-colored hair. She looked so much like Edaline, it took Sophie a second to notice Edaline standing next to her.
“I can’t believe she brought the triplets,” Dex said, laughing as the three wild-haired kids ran circles around Juline and Edaline.
“I guess everyone’s here,” Keefe mumbled. “Even him.”
Sophie followed Keefe’s gaze to where his father stood with the goblin guards, ordering a small group of them to divide off and cover the stage.
“So he’s back in charge of security,” Keefe said, his voice as dark as his mustache.
“He regained his title recently,” Sir Astin explained, “after those maps—and the guards he recommended—saved the alicorns from the Neverseen’s latest attempt at capture.”
“Wait—what?” Keefe asked, and Sophie was forced to tell him what little she knew.
“Great,” Keefe grumbled. “Guess I can add that to the list of awesome things my mom is doing ‘for me.’ Or was doing for me. Or . . . whatever.”
Sophie reached for his hand, hoping he wouldn’t pull away. He twined their fingers so tightly it cut off her circulation.
“Don’t look now,” Dex whispered, “but I spy Stina.”
Sophie followed the tilt of Dex’s head. “Ugh—you have to be kidding me!”
Of all the people they could’ve ended up standing near, they had to wind up right by the Heks family? Stina had tamed her frizzy hair into a sweeping braid and wore a loose gown that made her look much more statuesque than gangly. But her scowl definitely hadn’t changed.
“Is that Marella?” Dex whispered, pointing to a petite girl next to Stina, leaning against an arch, unraveling one of the tiny braids in her long blond hair.
Marella had befriended Stina not long after her falling out with Sophie, and Sophie was sure she’d done it to spite her.
“We should be careful,” Sophie said, pulling Dex and Keefe deeper into the shadows of their archway. “If any of them recognizes us, I’m sure they’ll turn us in.”
“I wouldn’t be so quick to judge the Hekses—or Miss Redek,” Sir Astin said under his breath. “The Heks family has proven there is more to them than we once thought. And as for Miss Redek, has she never told you about her parents?”
“No,” Sophie admitted. Dex shook his head as well.
Marella gossiped about everyone except herself.
Sophie stole another glance at the couple standing with Marella. Her dad had wide ice blue eyes like his daughter, and her mom had the same unruly hair. They looked normal enough.
Sir Astin leaned closer. “Her mother suffered a traumatic brain injury when Miss Redek was barely a toddler. It’s unclear exactly what happened—though many suspect an abundance of fizzleberry wine came into play. All we know is that Lady Redek fell off the balcony of their house and cracked her skull. Elwin did all he could, but some wounds cannot fully heal. At times her emotions get overloaded. I remember one conversation I had with her, she laughed, cried, and screamed at me in a matter of minutes. She drinks elixirs to manage it, but it still takes its toll on her family. In fact, young Miss Redek keeps trying to manifest as an Empath in hopes that she can help her mother gain further control. A couple of months ago we thought her mind had finally cooperated, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding.”