Neverseen (Keeper of the Lost Cities, #4)(43)

Calla placed the leaf note on a table and led them down the winding stairs. Biana used the walk to play “how many invisible fingers am I holding up?” and Calla passed every test with flying colors.

“Wow, I can’t believe you can see me,” Biana said, blinking in and out of sight. “Can you teach me how you do it, so I can try to find a way around it?”

“I suppose we can give it a try.” They’d reached the ground by then, and Calla dropped to her knees, pressing her palms against an exposed tree root.

She closed her eyes, singing a deep, slow song. The language sounded earthier than gnomish, and Calla seemed to sink straight into the soil. The roots started twisting and twirling and sweeping aside the soil, creating a narrow tunnel that stretched underground.

Biana looked at Sophie, her eyes pleading you first as Calla motioned for them to follow her into the earth.

Sophie had to duck her head as she plodded into the dark tunnel, her eyes barely registering Calla’s silhouette up ahead. Biana stayed close, keeping one hand on Sophie’s shoulder. After several minutes of stumbling in the dark, Calla told them to hold still.

“You need to be secured,” Calla said, coiling roots around their feet and waists. “The trees will carry us to Brackendale. All you must do is trust—and try not to scream.”

The not screaming part definitely wasn’t reassuring. Neither was the way Calla hummed to make the roots squeeze even tighter.

Sweat trickled down Sophie’s spine and she reached for Biana’s hand, glad Biana’s palm felt as clammy as hers.

“Where is Brackendale?” Biana whispered.

“The one place I should not take you. But I must. It’s in the Neutral Territories.”


Sophie couldn’t decide which was scarier: knowing she was heading somewhere Councillor Oralie had specifically warned her to stay away from, or riding Nature’s Most Terrifying Tree Root Roller Coaster.

Calla sang as they traveled, and the lyrics seemed to spur the roots faster until they were tearing through the earth so fast Sophie could feel her cheeks ballooning out like a cartoon character. She did not want to know what things were getting stuck in her teeth. She also had no idea where they were going. The tunnel was pitch black, and every few minutes they would stop and Calla would tangle new roots around them to change direction.

“Can you travel anywhere like this?” Sophie asked.

“Within limits. Deeper parts of the earth can only be reached by ancient root systems. And the ogres uprooted all the pathways into Ravagog—unless you believe the legends.”

Sophie wanted to ask what legends Calla meant, but she could feel the roots pulling them toward the surface.

“What are we supposed to do when we get to Brackendale?” she asked.

“You will be serving as my eyes and ears. A friend of mine used to live here, but I received word that she had fled. She said the forest felt too anxious, and I need you to find out what that means.”

“How can a forest be anxious?” Sophie asked—but Biana had a much better question.

“Does that mean you’re not coming with us?”

“I do not think it would be wise. The whispers in the roots feel like a warning. They sing of weakness, and darkness, and some sort of unnatural tampering.”

The lump in Sophie’s throat made it hard to whisper, “The plague.”

“It’s possible,” Calla agreed. “That’s why I need you. The plague only harms plant life, and plant-related things. You and Biana will be able to search the forest safely.”

Assuming there were no ogres running around infecting the trees. . . .

Biana must’ve shared Sophie’s worry because she leaned closer and whispered, “I’m guessing you aren’t carrying a melder?”

“I wish. But I have my Sucker Punch. And Dex’s panic switch. And I can inflict. And you can turn invisible.”

“I also brought you these.” Calla pressed a cool, smooth crystal into each of their palms. “They’ll leap you to a forest in the Forbidden Cities, should you need to make a quick getaway. I will find you there and return you to Alluveterre.”

Sophie squeezed the crystal, trying to convince herself it would be enough. All they’d need is a few seconds and a beam of light and they’d be far away from any danger—they could do this!

The pep talk didn’t ease her nerves nearly as much as she wanted. Especially when the roots screeched to a stop.

Calla hummed a new song and the soil parted above them, letting light stream into the tunnel, burning their eyes like laser beams.

“The roots say to follow the sun,” Calla whispered.

“And you don’t have any idea what we’re looking for?” Biana asked.

Calla shook her head. “But I suspect you’ll know it when you see it. I’ll leave the tunnel open so it’s easier to find when you return.”

Sophie nodded, tucking her crystal into her easiest to reach pocket. Biana did the same and latched onto Sophie’s hand with a death grip as they climbed the slippery soil wall and emerged into the forest.

The scene looked normal enough—mossy trees, overgrown paths, an abundance of green and brown. But something felt wrong.

Sophie tried to tell herself it was only her paranoia, but she still scooted closer to Biana as they shoved through the ferns and bushes.