“I will say,” Grady added, dropping handfuls of shriveled tubers into each of the buckets, “I’m sure Lady Cadence is right about the ogres keeping tabs on what we’re doing. And I wouldn’t be surprised if the training did add tension to the treaty negotiations. But I can’t imagine it’ll lead to a violent retaliation. The ogres have never attacked the elves directly.”

“What about the plague?” Sophie asked.

The ogres had tried to force the gnomes into servitude in Ravagog, knowing the Lost Cities would fall apart without them. The elves and gnomes had a uniquely symbiotic relationship, with each species relying heavily on the other. Gnomes were too defenseless to hold their own among the fiercer species that inhabited the planet. They also craved work and loved to garden, and were much more plantlike than animal, requiring very little food or sleep because they absorbed their energy from the sun. So in exchange for protection and shelter among the elves, the gnomes shared their excess produce and helped with any tasks that interested them. Sophie hadn’t realized just how vital the gnomes were until she’d seen the withering plants and overall disorganization in the Lost Cities when the gnomes were sick.

“That was definitely the boldest move the ogres have made,” Grady told her. “But I doubt they would’ve made it without the Neverseen’s urging. They sat on the plague for millennia, and only acted when Fintan suggested it. And let’s not forget that making that threat didn’t exactly work out well for them.”

“Thanks to you,” a female gnome with plaited hair and a dress woven from straw said to Sophie as she hauled over more empty buckets. The stack was twice as tall as her child-size body. “I wish I could’ve been there to see the flood that you and your friends caused. I hope it washed all the filth out of Serenvale.”

Most gnomes still referred to Ravagog by its original name, since it had been their homeland before the ogres ran them out, tore down all the trees, and contaminated the water and ground.

“Here are the cravettels,” another gnome said—a male this time, in a shirt sewn from leaves the same earthy tone as his skin. He dragged a huge bag of what looked like bright blue peanuts, flashing a green-toothed smile as he left it at Grady’s feet. “There’s plenty more where that came from if you need it—and I bet you will. I’ve never seen a T. rex who didn’t gobble these up by the ton.”

“Well, you’ve never met Verdi,” Grady said. “Her picky eating is a big part of why we call her our permanent resident. But I can’t wait to test them out.”

The gnome waved and trotted away, and Sophie realized she didn’t know his name. Just like she didn’t know the female gnome helping Edaline fill the buckets with swizzlespice.

It wasn’t totally her fault—they’d had dozens and dozens of gnomes move to Havenfield to be close to the Panakes tree. But ever since she’d lost Calla, Sophie found it too painful to get to know any of them. Staring into their huge gray eyes felt like opening a fresh wound.

“Personally, I’m proud of the Council for making this stand,” Edaline said. “It’s nice to see them focused on protecting everyone—especially the Talentless. And it’ll be interesting to see how powerful our skills can truly become when we train ourselves properly.”

“That might be a problem,” Cadoc said from the shadows. “If either of you leave this house, Brielle and I will have to go with you, and everyone will know we’re your bodyguards.”

“But the Council said the training is mandatory,” Sophie reminded them. “So if they stay home, that could tip the Neverseen off too.”

“Easy solution,” Grady said. “You trust that we can take care of ourselves.”

“Imagine what you would say if your daughter tried that argument,” Brielle told him.

“Right, but she can’t do this.” Grady narrowed his eyes at Edaline, and her arms shot up on each side and started flailing about like an angry octopus.

“What have I told you about using your power on me?” Edaline snapped, smacking him with her thrashing appendages.

“I know—I’m sorry! I just figured you’d rather I proved the point with you instead of with Sophie.”

He calmed Edaline’s flailing and she snapped her fingers, conjuring a pile of dinosaur fluff above him and showering him in bright orange feathers. “Now we’re even.”

“I suppose we are,” he said. “And I’m glad you went with feathers and not manure.”

“Next time,” Edaline warned.

“See,” Grady told Sophie. “Strong abilities have consequences. Which reminds me—you and I still need to have that talk about your inflicting. So why don’t you come with me to test these cravettels on Verdi and we’ll chat as we work?”

“Verdi drool and a lecture?” Sophie whined. “Are you trying to punish me?”

“Far from it. I could really use your help. Maybe if you transmit to Verdi, you can convince her how much she’s going to like these new seeds.”

Easier said than done. The fluffy green T. rex took one whiff of the cravettels and made a gag-snort-snarl. Then she spun around and knocked her trough over with her tail.

“Aw, come on,” Grady said as he righted the silver basin and filled it with more of the seeds. “At least give them a try.”

I hear all the other T. rexes love them, Sophie transmitted, adding images of happy dinosaurs gobbling them up.

The snort that Verdi gave them practically dripped with disgust.

“You know how this works,” Grady warned. “If you won’t try it, I’m going to have to make you.”

Verdi threw back her enormous head and let out a defiant ROOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAR.

“All right then, you brought this on yourself.” Grady unhooked one of the silver lassoes strapped to his belt, whipping the shimmering rope in wide circles over his head before letting it fly in one swift motion.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAR!

“That’s not hurting her, right?” Sophie asked as Verdi tried to claw at the cord around her neck with her tiny T. rex arms.

“Her feathers are so thick I doubt she even feels it,” Grady promised, digging in his heels to keep his footing. “And don’t worry—animals always fight what’s good for them.”