Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(151)
SEVENTY-SIX
AT FIRST THE Councillors laughed, assuming Sophie was joking. But when the punch line never came, they switched to shouting and arguing.
Sophie stood in silence, waiting for one of them to get to the right question. Oralie was the one to finally ask it.
“Why?”
“We had to tell King Dimitar that Silveny’s pregnant,” Sophie said, causing a whole lot more yelling and arguing. “It was the only way to sell the lie we used to distract him. So he knows. And I’m sure he’s going to go after the alicorns even harder, now that he doesn’t have the drakostomes. It’s only a matter of time before he finds a way to break into the Sanctuary. They’re getting closer each time.”
“So we move the alicorns,” Councillor Terik suggested.
“To where?” Sophie asked. “Some tiny underground cavern where Silveny and Greyfell will be miserable? How will that be good for the baby?”
“We also don’t know if the Neverseen have any other spies helping them,” Grady added. “They’ve been pretty good at hiding right under our noses.”
“And how is it safer to release the alicorns and leave them completely unprotected?” Councillor Emery asked.
“Because they can teleport,” Sophie reminded the Council. “Why do you think it took you so long to find Silveny? The only reason she let me catch her was because she chose to come to me—and it took tons of convincing to prove to her I was safe. I’m sure she’ll be even more careful now that she has a family to protect. And the ogres can’t steal her if they don’t know where she is.”
“Her reasoning does have its merits,” Councillor Clarette said quietly.
“How?” Councillor Alina demanded. “This world is too dangerous.”
“The alicorns survived for thousands of years on their own,” Bronte argued.
“Yes, and Greyfell very nearly didn’t,” Councillor Emery reminded him. “We’ve all seen his scars—and those happened decades ago, before humans built their weapons of mass destruction.”
“They’ll also have ogres hunting them this time,” Councillor Alina added. “And the Neverseen.”
“Not if we make them think the alicorns are still in the Sanctuary,” Edaline suggested. “They’d never expect us to set them free. So let them keep their focus on the wrong place.”
“And Sophie can transmit to Silveny and check to make sure she’s okay,” Oralie added.
“Silveny can also transmit to me if she needs anything,” Sophie agreed.
Councillor Emery frowned at the other Councillors. “It appears we have much to discuss.”
“We can’t wait too long,” Sophie told them. “King Dimitar might already be planning something. We have to let them go before it’s too late. There’s no way to completely guarantee the alicorns’ safety. Just like we couldn’t truly protect the gnomes. So maybe we have to trust that other creatures can take care of themselves. Calla was the one who saved her people, wasn’t she? Not us.”
She could see several Councillors nodding. But not enough, so she added one more thing. “Believe me, I don’t want to let Silveny go—or Greyfell, or the coming baby. I just lost Calla. I can’t lose them.” Her voice cut out and she cleared her throat. “But I want them safe more than I want them close. I want to know they can run away if they need to, not be trapped under a mountain like sitting ducks.”
Councillor Emery sighed. “Give us a moment.”
He closed his eyes to moderate the telepathic debate.
Minutes ticked by and Sophie tugged on her eyelashes. After all she’d been through, she deserved a nervous habit.
“I can’t believe we’re going to do this,” Emery eventually announced. “And we do so only if you agree to our conditions.”
“You must check on Silveny daily,” Bronte jumped in, “and give us a report so we know what’s happening. And if any of us see any signs that this new arrangement is too dangerous, you must do everything in your power to help us bring the alicorns back to the Sanctuary.”
Sophie glanced at Keefe, glad to see him nodding. Grady and Edaline seemed to approve of the plan as well.
“Deal,” she told the Council.
She tried to celebrate the victory—cling to it as proof that she and the Councillors could work together. But a wave of sadness tried to drown her when Councillor Emery hailed Jurek and told him to bring the alicorns.
All too soon the massive gates swung open, and the blast of bright sunlight made Sophie’s eyes burn. Or maybe that was her tears when she spotted the two glittery winged horses galloping toward her.
Her head filled with an endless stream of SOPHIE! SOPHIE! SOPHIE! KEEFE! KEEFE! KEEFE! VISIT! VISIT! VISIT!
Yes—I’m here! she transmitted as a familiar tall figure with long dreadlocked hair approached.
Jurek held the alicorns with thick golden ropes tied loosely around their necks. He didn’t smile as he bowed to the Council. “I’m hoping I misunderstood your instructions.”
“So am I,” Councillor Emery said.
Silveny trotted closer, nuzzling Sophie’s shoulder. The female alicorn had always been stunningly beautiful, between her gleaming silver wings, wavy silver mane, and the swirled silver-and-white horn in the center of her forehead. But she seemed to be benefitting from that famous “pregnant glow.” Her fur looked almost opalescent, and her brown eyes shined.