“That can’t be true, can it?” Sophie asked.

“It’s hard to say for certain,” Kesler said. “I know some pretty incredible second and third children—though my existence tends to verify it. I’m the youngest, and the only one in my family who didn’t manifest.”

Juline reached for his hand. “I still married the best Dizznee.”

“Ha—that’s not what your match lists said!”

Sophie wondered if that meant that Juline had been matched with one of Kesler’s brothers. She was tempted to ask, but didn’t know if that would be rude.

Before she could decide, Fitz and Biana leaped into the valley.

“Wow,” Biana breathed as she took in the scenery. “I can’t believe Dex lives here.”

“And why is that?” Kesler’s voice had sharpened along the edges.

Biana didn’t seem to notice as she made her way over and flashed her brilliant smile. “I can’t believe you live in the Gloaming Valley! My mom told me this is where the Alenon River connects to the ocean. That’s where the wild kelpies live, right? I’ve always wanted to see them.”

Kesler’s shoulders relaxed slightly. “Well . . . we’re actually on the other side of the mountains. But I’m impressed that your mother knows so much about this place. It’s not an area many pay attention to.”

“They should,” Biana told him. “I hear there’s nothing quite like watching the kelpies come ashore.”

“There isn’t,” Juline agreed. “If you visit again, we’ll have to make a trip over to the beach. I’d take you today, but Dex’s bodyguard is insisting we all stay close to the house so he can keep a better eye on you.”

“How you holding up?” Fitz asked Sophie as she checked her blank Imparter again.

“Oh . . . you know. People I care about are in danger, and none of the adults want my help. Same old, same old.”

“Right there with you,” he mumbled.

“So your parents did go to Havenfield?” she asked. “Is that why Grizel and Woltzer aren’t with you?”

Fitz nodded. “Woltzer didn’t want to leave us, but Grizel talked him into it when she found out Sandor was at Havenfield. I tried to convince them to let me go too, but my mom gave me a long speech about how she didn’t want us getting hurt.”

“The nerve of parents these days,” Juline said, “trying to keep their kids safe.”

“I’m not saying I don’t get it,” Fitz said. “But, come on. We took on an army of ogres—I think I can handle my brother.”

“We don’t know that Alvar will be there,” Biana said, swallowing hard, like there was a lump in her throat. “And if he is . . . Dad deserves to be the one to face him. Besides—we were planning to come here today anyway, right? Is it really so bad?”

Fitz sighed and turned to Kesler and Juline. “No, it’s not bad at all—sorry if that sounded rude. Thank you for letting us stay here. My dad wanted me to tell you that Everglen is always available if you ever need him to return the favor.”

“Does that offer include babysitting the triplets?” Kesler asked. “Because I’d be happy to drop them off anytime. But somehow I don’t think he’d enjoy having them tearing through his historic halls.”

Biana shrugged. “We could put them in Alvar’s room and let them break all his stuff. And wait—is that Iggy?” she asked as Sophie shifted the cage she was holding.

Iggy greeted Biana with a cage-shaking fart.

Biana coughed. “Whoa, smells like someone ate too many sludgers last night. Clearly we need to work on your diet.”

“Yeah, good luck with that,” Sophie told her. “The last vegetables I gave him ended up plastered all over my ceiling.”

“Aw, he’ll eat some for me—won’t you, boy?” Biana asked. “I’ll give you an extra-long tummy rub—and save you the softest spot on my pillow.”

“You’re going to sleep with the imp?” Kesler asked.

“Of course! We shared a pillow every night at Alluveterre. I still miss his rumbly snore.”

Biana nuzzled Iggy’s nose through the bars and Sophie noticed Kesler studying her like he was seeing her for the first time. She might look like a pampered princess, but that definitely didn’t make her a delicate flower—despite the fact that she’d packed two overnight satchels.

“Can I help you with your bags?” Kesler offered. “They look heavy.”

“They are,” Fitz said, holding up his own half-full bag as a comparison. “I think Biana packed enough for twenty people.”

“He teases me now,” Biana said. “But when it’s time to do his hair in the morning he’ll totally be sneaking a bit of my LovelyLocks.”

An earsplitting howl cut off Fitz’s retort, followed by what sounded like a pack of galloping brontosaurs as the door to Rimeshire burst open and the triplets sprinted down the path.

Bex was in the lead, her red hair flapping against her cheeks as she waved a stuffed bunny with antlers.

“GIVE IT BACK!” one of the boys shouted as he lunged to grab her arm.

Bex pivoted out of his grasp. “NOT UNTIL HARRY GETS A MUD BATH.”

“DO IT! DO IT! DO IT!” the other boy chanted.

“IF YOU RUIN HARRY I’LL—”

All three of them screeched to a halt when they noticed Sophie, Fitz, and Biana.

“HEY, DEX,” Bex shouted toward the house. “YOUR GIRLFRIENDS ARE HERE—AND THAT GUY WHO’S WAY COOLER THAN YOU ARE!”

“You’ll have to excuse our daughter,” Kesler said, glaring at Bex. “She’s developed a gift for figuring out the most embarrassing thing she can possibly say and then saying it. We’re working on it.”

“If she bothers you,” one of the boys told Biana, “let me know and I’ll take care of it.”

“Dude, she just saw you crying over your stuffed Jackalope!” the other boy snorted.

“I WASN’T CRYING!”

“That’s because Harry hasn’t gone mud-diving yet!” Bex waved the Jackalope under his nose and took off toward the trees.

“So,” the other boy said as his brother chased after Bex. “Now we can all see who the cool one is.”