They needed something subtler, like maybe . . .

She ran toward Calla’s Panakes, hoping to find Lur or Mitya tending to the majestic tree. But the only gnome she found was the plaited-haired female she’d seen helping Edaline when they tested the cravettels on Verdi.

“Did you need something?” the gnome asked, setting down the garland she’d been weaving from the fallen pink, purple, and blue flowers.

Sophie bit her lip. “Never mind.”

“Are you sure?” the gnome pressed. “I’m here to help. Especially you, Miss Foster.”

Sophie’s cheeks burned. “But . . . I don’t even know your name.”

“Well, there’s an easy way to fix that, isn’t there?” She flashed a green-toothed smile. “I’m Flori. What can I do for you?”

“Don’t look at me,” Fitz told Flori when Sophie hesitated. “I’m just as confused as you are.”

Flori tilted her head to study Sophie. “Perhaps that means you’ve come to me as the moonlark?”

Sophie sucked in a breath.

“And if that’s the case,” Flori continued, “I’m happy to help. No questions asked. No need to be shy. Please let me assist you, Miss Foster. It would be my honor.”

Sophie closed her eyes, inhaling the sweet scent of Calla’s blossoms to fuel her courage as she whispered, “If I needed to go somewhere right now, would you take me?”

“Anywhere,” Flori promised.

Sophie nodded, mentally running through her plan one more time before she turned to Fitz. “You’re going to think I’m crazy.”

He grinned. “I usually do. But I also think you’re brilliant—and have solved way more problems than anyone else has. So I’m in.”

He offered his hand and she took it, turning back to Flori. “I need you to take us to Eternalia.”

THIRTY-SIX

FLORI USED THE roots from the Panakes to carry them to the elvin capital city, and somehow that made it feel like they had Calla urging them along their journey.

Sophie closed her eyes, listening to the fragile sound of Flori’s voice as she sang to the roots, pushing them faster and faster through the narrow, musty tunnel in the earth.

“I’ll be waiting right here,” Flori promised when they’d come to a stop and she’d opened a hole for them to climb to the surface.

“Actually, I have my home crystal,” Sophie told her, squinting as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight streaming in. “That way you won’t have to worry about being gone too long.”

“I’m not worried,” Flori said. “And either way, I’ll still stay here, keeping an ear to the ground until I know you’ve leaped safely away.”

Sophie’s voice sounded thick as she thanked her and turned to climb out of the tunnel. Before she reached the top, she spun back and met Flori’s soft gray eyes. “I’m sorry it took me so long to talk to you.”

Flori smiled. “Time is a relative thing, especially when grief is involved.” She patted the roots at her feet. “Someday we can share stories about my aunt. But only when you’re ready.”

“Wait—you’re Calla’s niece?”

“I think the proper term is great-great-grandniece. But she always told me the greats meant I was the best.”

“She was right,” Sophie told her. “And . . . I’d like that.”

“Me too,” Flori whispered. “Now go, be the brave moonlark you were born to be.”

“SO ARE YOU GOING TO clue me in to what you’re planning?” Fitz asked as they emerged from the root-lined tunnel and faced the twelve crystal castles glittering in the afternoon light.

Sophie led him behind one of the towering, palmlike trees that purified the air with enormous fan-shaped leaves.

“It’s called I’m sick of being patient,” she whispered. “So I’m going to talk to Oralie.”

She’d expected him to freak out. But all he said was, “Do you know which castle’s hers?”

“I wish. The only castle I’ve been in was Councillor Terik’s.” She pointed to a castle toward the center of the row. That left them with eleven other choices.

Fitz shielded his eyes, squinting into the distance. “Well, that one near the end over there has pink flowers lining the path to the door. Think that might mean it’s hers?”

Oralie did love the color pink—and Sophie couldn’t come up with a better guess.

“What are we going to say if I’m wrong?” Fitz asked as they bolted down the golden path. “Especially if Councillor Alina opens the door?”

“I’m really hoping that won’t happen,” Sophie admitted. “And that I’ll come up with a brilliant excuse if it does. I guess we’ll know soon enough.”

She knocked the moment she reached the door, not giving herself a chance to wimp out. Each second felt like fifty lifetimes before the door swung open and Oralie’s bright eyes widened.

“Sophie?” she whispered, her blond ringlets brushing her cheeks as she pulled Sophie and Fitz into the twinkling foyer and shut the door behind them, latching it with five heavy silver bolts. “Let’s hope Alina didn’t see you. She’s in the castle next door.”

“Ugh. Worst. Neighbor. Ever,” Fitz grumbled.

“Yes. She is.”

The sadness laced through the words made Sophie realize . . .

Councillor Alina had probably moved into Kenric’s old castle. And Sophie had long suspected that Kenric and Oralie had secretly been in love, but couldn’t act on it because they would’ve had to step down as Councillors.

So imagining them living side by side—and knowing Oralie was now alone—choked off Sophie’s voice as she said, “Well, I’m guessing Alina would be banging on the door by now if she’d noticed us.”

“I’m sure she would,” Oralie said, checking the bolts again. “And I’m assuming the fact that you’re here unannounced, without bodyguards, and with soil in your hair means that no one knows you’re here.”

Sophie bit her lip. “The gnome who brought us here does.”

“Hmm” was all Oralie said to that as she reached for Sophie’s cheek.