Lodestar Page 12

Am I supposed to know what that is? Keefe asked.

You’ve never seen it before?

Nope. Why, where did you find it?

If you don’t know, I don’t think I should tell you. It might be something they’re trying to keep hidden from you. Just keep an eye out for it, okay?

Done. Anything else?

That’s all I can think of for now.

Awesome. Then it’s my turn to ask you a question. He paused, like he was gearing up for something incredibly important. How’d Dizznee react to your new rings?

Sophie shook her head, refusing to dignify the question with a response.

You can ignore it all you want, Foster, but sooner or later you’re going to have to solve the triangle. Or should we get real and call it a square?

I have no idea what you mean.

I’m pretty sure you do. I bet if I were there I could feel your mood shifting.

Right, because I’m trying to figure out if it’s possible to strangle you with my thoughts!

There you go, rocking the whole adorable-when-you’re-angry thing. I think that’s what I’ve missed about you the most.

She knew he was only teasing—but she still found herself transmitting, I miss you, too.

His thoughts went quiet for a second. And when he came back, his mental voice sounded heavier.

Well, he told her, I should probably get some sleep. Gotta rest up for another day of playing nice with the bad guys—and no need to tell me to be careful. I’ve got that one down.

She doubted that. “Careful” wasn’t a word that described Keefe Sencen.

Fine, she said. But before I go, I need you to promise me something.

Yes, I will call you Lady Lectures-a-Lot every time you transmit to me.

That’s definitely not what I meant.

What about Little Miss Heartbreaker?

Keefe!

Okay, fine, we’ll stick with the Mysterious Miss F. Deal?

Deal, she agreed. And can you focus for one second?

I suppose I can try. . . .

I need you to promise that if this gets too tough, you’ll walk away. No matter how close you are to what you’re trying to learn.

Edaline had once made Sophie give her a similar promise, after admitting she should’ve said the same thing to Jolie.

It’s not going to come down to that.

Then promise me anyway.

Endless seconds slipped by before he told her, Okay, fine, I promise. Now get out of my head, Miss F. I need my beauty sleep.

FIVE


YOU KIDS WOULD sleep the day away if I’d let you,” a wheezy voice grumbled, dragging Sophie out of her tangled dreams.

She rubbed the crustiness from her eyes and waited for her vision to adjust to her still-very-dark bedroom. “I thought you said dawn—and whoa. You’re back to the Forkle disguise?”

She hadn’t seen the heavyset figure standing in her doorway since the day he’d revealed his other identity. But there he was, looking wrinkled and puffy and reeking with the dirty-feet scent of ruckleberries.

Strangely, Sophie liked him better that way.

This was the face she’d known her whole life. The nosy next-door neighbor who’d kept watch over her while she’d lived among humans. The elf who’d healed her abilities after they’d been damaged by a failed light leap, and fought at her side on Mount Everest. The elf who’d driven her crazy with his riddles and secrets—but who seemed to know her better than anyone.

“As I told you before,” Mr. Forkle said, “it’s easier for me to compartmentalize my life. When I’m in the Lost Cities, I rely on my established identities. But today we’re going to the Stone House.”

The name launched sparks through Sophie’s nerves.

She’d only been to the isolated cottage twice, and neither were happy memories. One was the day they’d first brought Prentice home—when they’d discovered how severely his condition had deteriorated. And the other was when Calla had brought her there to deliver devastating news about the gnomish plague.

“You know, the last time I was there, you weren’t in Forkle mode,” she reminded him.

She probably should’ve figured out his secret identity right then. But Magnate Leto had given her some story about how the Black Swan had brought him along to help cover for Tiergan and Wylie’s visit.

Sometimes it was better if she didn’t think about how good he was at lying.

“That was for young Mr. Endal’s benefit,” Mr. Forkle told her. “He’s unaware of my other identities—and I’d prefer it stay that way for the time being.”

“Will Wylie be there today?”

“Are you hoping to avoid him?”

Seeing Wylie tended to be unpleasant—he’d spent the majority of their conversations blaming her for every horrible thing that had happened to his dad.

But their last talk hadn’t been as awkward.

“I just want to be prepared,” she said. “I’m sure he’s wondering why I haven’t healed Prentice yet.”

“Actually, Wylie came to us after his father woke, begging us not to perform the healing until we understand why Prentice slipped away. He’s terrified of undoing what little progress his father has made. So remember: You and Mr. Vacker are going there to retrieve, not heal.”

“Wait—Fitz is here?”

She scrambled to cover her frumpy pajamas and accidentally launched poor Iggy off the bed. He flapped his black batlike wings and shook his tiny blue arms as he flew to the top of her canopy and glared down at her.

“Mr. Vacker’s waiting downstairs,” Mr. Forkle said, snapping his fingers to turn on her lights, “and your imp looks like he’s plotting revenge. So I’ll leave you to get ready. But do try to hurry. I’d prefer to get out of here before sunrise.”

Sophie tried not to think about how early that meant it was—or how little she’d slept—as she stumbled out of bed and threw on a simple tunic and pants.

“You might want to consider using a hairbrush,” Sandor warned as she passed him on her way to the stairs.

Sophie rarely gave much thought to her appearance, but Sandor’s twitching smile sent her rushing to the nearest mirror.

A tiny face appeared in the corner and immediately burst into laughter.

“What’d you do—get zapped by a Charger?” Vertina asked, swishing her silky dark hair.

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