Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(133)

“Oh good,” Tam said. “And here I thought it was going to be impossible.”

“Nothing is impossible with the right team,” Mr. Forkle told him. “That’s why we need your help. Your shadows can keep everyone hidden.”

“I wouldn’t be so sure,” Tam said. “I’ve never covered more than two people.”

“But I can add mist to thicken the shadows,” Linh reminded him. “It may not work under close scrutiny, but it will hide us from a distance.”

“There’s always going to be some danger,” Sophie added quietly. “But some risks have to be taken.”

Tam brushed his bangs out of his eyes and paced the ten steps the floor allowed. “Here’s what I don’t get. You said the gnomes can already tell the cure is working, right? So why did the ogres give a whole week for them to decide?”

“I’ve been pondering that question myself,” Mr. Forkle said. “And I suspect the deadline is strategic. It’s possible King Dimitar is hoping the Council will send in goblin forces, and he’ll finally have his war. More likely though, the Neverseen is hoping we’ll attempt something like this.”

“You think this is a trap?” Sophie asked, her voice too loud in the small space.

“Quite simply . . . yes,” Mr. Forkle said.

“Then, uh, why would you walk right into it?” Tam asked as Sophie’s mind exploded with new worries.

“We’re not,” Mr. Forkle said. “We’re taking advantage of their distraction. They’ll be so focused on what they assume we’re going to do that they won’t be prepared for us to go a different way. That’s why it’s so important that we have you and your sister on the team. Your unique, unexpected abilities will give our strategy the advantage we need.”

“Right, but—” Tam started to argue, but Linh stepped forward.

“I cannot speak for my brother,” she said, “but I will go. The gnomes at Wildwood took care of us for years. I’m honored to have a chance to help.”

“I guess that means I’m in too,” Tam said. His eyes latched onto Sophie as he added, “Don’t make me regret this.”


“Oh good, Bangs Boy decided to join us,” Keefe grumbled as Sophie and the others returned to the girls’ tree house.

Tam didn’t seem to notice the insult, too distracted by the leaves flying everywhere as Dex tested one of his Sucker Punches against the shrubbery chairs.

Sophie, meanwhile, was focused on a familiar face. “Alvar!” she said, rushing over to give him a hug. She realized halfway there that her friendship with the eldest Vacker sibling hadn’t really reached the hugging stage—but she was too committed to abort.

Fortunately, Alvar laughed and set down the scroll he’d been reading to hug her back.

“Always good to see the famous Sophie Foster!” he said.

Alvar had the Vacker accent and the Vacker insane good looks, though he was more meticulous about his appearance. His dark hair was perfectly gelled, and his clothes never had a speck of lint or a wrinkle. He also had his mom’s cobalt blue eyes instead of teal.

“Thanks for coming to help us,” Sophie told him.

“How could I not? Apparently I’m the only member of my family not helping the Black Swan.”

“Remember when you didn’t think the Black Swan existed?” Biana asked her brother. “You and Dad used to fight about it all the time.”

Now that Biana mentioned it, Sophie remembered that too. “But wait, Fitz said you used to go out looking for me. Why would you do that if you didn’t think the Black Swan existed?”

Alvar laughed. “I was wondering when you guys were going to call me out on that. Honestly? I did the Sophie Search just to keep my dad happy—and because it was fun to sneak to the Forbidden Cities. It was probably good that Fitz took over. I’m sure my biases affected my search. I visited each girl expecting not to find an elf. All I needed was one detail to prove I was right, and I was out of there. I never could’ve looked past your eye color.”

“I almost didn’t, either,” Fitz admitted. “As soon as I saw the brown, I thought I should leave. But . . . there was something about her. The way she kept herself separate. The way she was so much smarter than her teacher. And other than her eyes, she definitely looked like an elf.”

Sophie was fairly sure he’d just implied she was pretty—and had to look away to hide her grin.

“So you really lived with humans?” Tam asked.

Sophie nodded. “It’s a long story.”

“One we do not have time for,” Mr. Forkle added.

“I don’t think we’ve met,” Alvar said, turning to Tam and Linh. “New recruits?”

“More like temporary assistants,” Mr. Forkle corrected. “Much like yourself. We would never expect any of you to swear fealty with so little information.”

“But now we’ve seen your secret hideout,” Alvar teased. “How can you keep us away?”

Mr. Forkle didn’t return the smile. “I dare you to find it again.”

“What if we want to join?” Linh asked, ignoring her brother as he elbowed her.

“That’s something we could discuss,” Mr. Forkle said. “After this mission. For the moment, we must stay focused. How is our progress?”