Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(18)

He pointed to the gazebo in the center, filled with pots of vibrant flowers and a round table with cozy chairs. “Since you’ll be dwelling in separate residences, we arranged this common eating area. Dinner will be served here—and you’re in for a treat. Calla’s starkflower stew is life changing. Otherwise, boys are that way”—he pointed to the tree house across the bridge—“and the girls are just above us. I must return to the Lost Cities and be seen for a few minutes.”

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a vial of green-and-orange-speckled berries.

“So that’s how you de-Forkle!” Dex said. “I should’ve guessed it was callowberries. My dad uses them in his anti-inflammatory ointments. They smell like flareadon poop.”

“Taste like it too,” Mr. Forkle agreed.

“So all we need to do is crush a few of those into your breakfast, and bam! Instant Forkle-reveal?” Keefe asked.

“I’ve been consuming callowberries for thirteen years, Mr. Sencen. Do you honestly think I wouldn’t notice the smell?”

“I dunno—I’m really good at hiding things in people’s food.”

Mr. Forkle ignored him, holding up a black crystal with a purple gleam.

“Does that mean we can light leap from here?” Della asked.

“Only with special crystals, which we will provide if needed.”

“What’s this ‘if’ stuff?” Dex asked.

“Yeah, it’s not like we’re prisoners,” Sophie said.

“Of course you’re not. But you are fugitives. And you came here for our protection. This is how we provide it.”

“It sounds like we’re going to have to steal that crystal from you,” Keefe said.

“You would be very disappointed if you did. This crystal leads to my safe house, where I go to change identities. Anyone who does not know the secret for leaving is instantly trapped.”

“So . . . that’s it?” Sophie asked. “Here’s your tree houses, have some stew and good night?”

“Hardly, Miss Foster. First you must get cleaned up and meet me at ground level in an hour. You all have an appointment with the rest of our ruling Collective.”





EIGHT


THANK GOODNESS THEY have decent taste in clothes!” Biana said, twirling in her pale pink gown, which was frilly and ruffled and looked like cupcake frosting with pearl sprinkles.

Sophie was far less excited about hers. The smoky blue dress was dotted with diamonds, like the first glinting stars in the evening sky. But it was so fancy and fitted and screamed Look at me!

“Seriously, what’s with the gowns?” she grumbled. “Aren’t we supposed to be fighting rebels and solving conspiracies?”

“Actually, right now we have an important meeting,” Della reminded her. “So why not look our best?”

“But why do we have to look like pretty pretty princesses when the boys get to wear pants and tunics?”

Della laughed. “Sometimes I forget how much your human upbringing has altered your worldview. Our society has not been plagued by the inequalities you’ve grown up with. No one views gowns as a sign of our gender’s lesser status. We don’t have a lesser status. So if you truly hate wearing a dress, you can choose to wear anything you’d like.”

“Even if I visit a noble city?” Sophie asked.

“Of course. The only mark of noble status is a cape, and even then, some instances do not require them. All of our clothes—male and female—are designed to enhance natural beauty.”

“But . . .”

Sophie had been about to ask, What if someone isn’t beautiful?—until she’d remembered she was talking about elves.

“Okay, but isn’t parading around like this”—she ran her hands over her jewel-encrusted bodice—“sort of shallow?”

“Surely you know we value knowledge and talent above everything else,” Della said. “Beauty is simply a bonus, to make life more pleasing to the eye. And that applies to everything in our world—not just our physical appearance.”

She waved her arm around the bright room, which was different from what Sophie had been imagining. There were no jewels or crystals like the elves usually built with. Instead, everything was earthy and natural. Fall-colored leaves had been woven into brightly patterned rugs, which felt softer than dandelion fluff but still made that great crunching sound when they walked. Flowering branches lined the walls, filling the air with the scent of spring. The furniture looked like carefully sculpted shrubs, and garlands of bright summer berries draped from the ceiling. But the most breathtaking element had to be the shimmering waterfall in the center. It trickled from the skylight along twisted icicles, dripping into a pool of frost-covered stones.

Somehow the gnomes had taken the best parts of each season and transformed them into a place that was both elegant and inviting.

“Everything in our world celebrates beauty,” Della said proudly. “Why surround ourselves with ugliness when there is wonder to showcase?”

“I guess,” Sophie mumbled, fussing with her sash. No matter how many times she tied it, she couldn’t get the bow even.

“Here,” Della said, knotting it as perfectly as a Disney princess. “This color really sets off your eyes.”