Then the office should have no problem passing my inspection, Sandor called over his shoulder as he drew his massive curved sword and marched through the doorway, followed by Bo and Flori. Well, seven now, given Miss Foster’s knack for teleporting." And only six people in the world know how to find it. "Watchward Heath is protected by five different kinds of security. Plus, treaty renegotiations still needed to be arranged between the elvin Council and the trolls’ supreme leader, but everyone was wary of another Peace Summit after what happened at the last one. Foxfire, the elves’ most prestigious academy, had even been put on an extended hiatus because parents were worried the school might be targeted. And numerous additional investigations seemed to be endlessly ongoing. A Tribunal had already been held for Luzia Vacker, but her sentence had yet to be finalized. And no one could agree on how to punish those who’d been involved. And it definitely didn’t evoke the horror of the genetically altered, bloodthirsty trolls who went on a murderous rampage once the door to the hive was opened.īoth the elvin and trollish worlds were still reeling from the disaster, since the Neverseen had managed to broadcast the nightmarish battle to everyone gathered for the Celestial Festival. It didn’t capture the shock that came with discovering an illegal troll hive hidden at the estate of one of their world’s most prominent families. And Tarina still hadn’t been allowed to return to duty after what everyone was calling the Scandal at Everglen-though scandal really wasn’t a strong enough word. But Nubiti kept watch from a position deep underground, since dwarves’ eyes were highly sensitive to light. Sandor, Bo, and Flori were three of her five multispeciesial bodyguards, and they took their jobs very seriously. She’d learned that it was much easier to let the seven-foot-tall, heavily armed gray goblin lead the way-along with a hulking ogre warrior and a tiny green-toothed gnome. Stop! a familiar squeaky voice shouted behind her. Cold air blasted her face from the dark room beyond, blowing strands of her blond hair into her eyes as she took an eager step forward and. It is, but… Sophie’s words trailed off as the last cog clicked into place, making the ground rumble and the golden door sink into a slit that appeared in the damp earth. Isn’t that why you requested this meeting? Forkle twisted the cogs one by one, entering some sort of complicated combination. But that wasn’t the question she should’ve been focusing on, so she quickly added, And why are we here? He leaned in and licked a spot on the left side of the door, which must’ve been a camouflaged DNA sensor because a rectangular panel slid open in the center, revealing five spinning, fist-size cogs lined up in a neat row: one silver, one copper, one iron, one bronze, and one steel.ĭid Tinker design this place? Sophie asked, remembering the abundance of gleaming gears she’d seen decorating the walls of Widgetmoor, as well as the Technopath’s clear fondness for the number five. Forkle confirmed, winking as he shuffled his ruckleberry-bloated body closer to the door. "So, this is your secret office," she clarified, feeling goose bumps prickle her skin at the thought. Forkle and Magnate Leto were actually the same person-and Mr. Which was an easy mistake to make, considering the fact that Mr. Not Magnate Leto’s office at Foxfire, like she’d been expecting. Sophie opened her mouth to argue-then realized what he meant. I thought you were taking me to your office, she told him, shifting her gaze toward the windblown meadow and searching the swaying wildflowers for clues as to where they were. Tolkien there and provided him with the inspiration. Or perhaps some impossible-to-believe story about how Mr. But Sophie had been living in the Lost Cities long enough to know better than to voice that observation. FORKLE said, and the lilt of his tone made Sophie wonder if his lips were twitching with a smile-but she couldn’t pull her eyes away from the round, gilded door he’d brought her to, tucked into the side of a rolling, grassy hill. This time the words had a voice, and it took Sophie a second to realize they’d come from her.Īnd maybe if they worked together-and were really, really lucky… Ready with some brutal, unexpected twist. No matter how clever or careful their plans were. Gaining volume-gaining momentum-as the arguments raged around her.Īll the strategizing and analyzing and agonizing.
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