Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(20)

“Is something wrong?” Oralie asked. “Did you make it safely to the Black Swan?”

“We did,” Sophie said. “But I need to know what’s happening with the Wildwood gnomes. Did ogres attack them? Is that why you said the Neutral Territories aren’t safe?”

“Clearly I shouldn’t have said anything,” Oralie murmured. “I meant to keep you away from danger, not draw you into our investigation.”

“So you are investigating?” Della asked, coming up behind Sophie.

“Ms. Vacker,” Oralie said. “I suppose I should’ve figured you’d be there. Alden’s explanation for your absence felt rather thin.”

“Is the infection at Wildwood connected to me trying to read King Dimitar’s mind?” Sophie asked, getting back to the question that was making it hard to breathe.

Oralie let out a sigh. “The situation with the gnomes is far more complicated than you, or anyone, realizes. No single act is the cause for anything—and I cannot tell you anything more than that. But there’s a chance the ogres aren’t even involved. So far the only tracks we found at Wildwood—besides gnomish footprints—were made by elves.”

“Does that mean the Neverseen are behind it?” Biana asked.

“We do not know,” Oralie said. “But it’s possible.”

The idea was too horrible for words.

“This could crush Keefe,” Sophie whispered.

“A good reason to keep this information quiet,” Oralie told her. “Nothing has been confirmed. The only lesson you must take from this is to stay out of the Neutral Territories. And please don’t let yourself carry the blame. Our problems go much further than anything you’ve done.”

Sophie tried to believe her. “Will you keep me updated about the investigation?”

“I’ll do my best. For now, I must go.”

“Well,” Della said, as Oralie clicked away. “I know your minds are flooding with theories, but we need to decide what to do about Keefe. If this is true, Sophie’s right, it will devastate him. Do we want to put him through that without proof?”

Sophie glanced at Biana, relieved when she shook her head.

“I think we should wait until we know more,” Della agreed, hooking her arms around Sophie and Biana. “For now, let’s go meet the Black Swan’s Collective.”





NINE


OKAY, I FIGURED you guys were going to be weird,” Keefe said, “but I wasn’t expecting this weird.”

Sophie knew she should probably elbow him, but all she could do was stare.

The whole time she’d followed Mr. Forkle to the meeting point—a black pavilion hidden deep in the heart of the subterranean forest—she’d been imagining a group of pudgy, wrinkly elves who ate too many ruckleberries. Instead they found . . . she wasn’t sure what.

“Everyone, I’d like you to meet Squall, Blur, Wraith, and Granite,” Mr. Forkle told them.

“I know the titles might seem strange,” Squall said, “but we’ve found it’s easier to remember code names when they match the disguise.”

A heavy shiver obscured Squall’s voice, and she was clearly a Froster. She’d covered herself head to toe in a thick layer of foggy ice.

Next to her stood Wraith—or rather, Wraith’s hovering silver cloak. He was a Vanisher and had turned everything invisible except his clothes. His voice sounded distant and hollow as he told them, “Welcome to Alluveterre.”

Blur introduced himself next, explaining that he was a Phaser, and could break his body down to pass through walls. But with the right concentration, he could re-form only partially. The effect reduced him to splotches of color and smudged lines and shadows.

It would’ve been the craziest thing Sophie had ever seen—if Granite hadn’t been standing next to him. Granite explained that he consumed a chalky powder called indurite, since his ability as a Telepath couldn’t disguise him. The rare mineral caused his body to crystallize and harden, turning him into a talking, roughly carved statue.

He sounded scratchy and gravelly as he said, “We’re grateful to have all of you here—including you, Ms. Vacker.”

“Della,” she corrected. “Surely if I have to call you those crazy code words, you can call me by my familiar name.”

Squall’s face crackled as she smiled. “Della it is.”

“We’ve been informed of your request to officially join our cause,” Granite said. “And . . . it’s a tricky situation. We realize your husband has clearly shown remorse for what happened with Prentice—and that errors occurred on both sides of that situation. Still, there are some among our organization who might find you hard to trust, and we cannot damage our unity.”

“But you’re accepting us,” Biana said, pointing to herself and Fitz.

“You have proven yourselves,” Wraith reminded her.

“I’m prepared to prove myself as well,” Della promised. “I’ll swear any oath, submit to any test. All I want is a chance to set the past right.”

The Collective turned to each other and Sophie was sure they were debating the matter telepathically. The Council used the same trick, so no one could hear them argue.