For Debra Driza
Because I never wouldve finished this book without your steady support, brilliant brainstorming sessions, and tiny chocolate chip cookies
(And FYI, readers: The cliff-hanger was Debs idea!)
PREFACE
WE CANT KEEP DOING THIS.
The words pulsed through Sophies mind.
Gaining volumegaining momentumas the arguments raged around her.
All the strategizing and analyzing and agonizing.
It never worked.
No matter how clever or careful their plans were.
Their enemies were always smarter.
Stronger.
Ready with some brutal, unexpected twist.
Leaving them stumbling and scrambling.
We cant keep doing this.
This time the words had a voice, and it took Sophie a second to realize theyd come from her.
And she didnt regret them.
It was time to try something new.
Time to take a stand.
Even if it risked everything.
And maybe if they worked togetherand were really, really lucky
This would be their new legacy.
Saving Keefe from his.
ONE
YOU LOOK CONFUSED, MR. FORKLE said, and the lilt of his tone made Sophie wonder if his lips were twitching with a smilebut she couldnt pull her eyes away from the round, gilded door hed brought her to, tucked into the side of a rolling, grassy hill.
The place reminded her of a hobbit hole. But Sophie had been living in the Lost Cities long enough to know better than to voice that observation. All it would earn her was laughter. Or perhaps some impossible-to-believe story about how Mr. Forkle had once brought J. R. R. Tolkien there and provided him with the inspiration.
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.
I did.
Sophie opened her mouth to arguethen realized what he meant.
Hed brought her to his office. Not Magnate Letos office at Foxfire, like shed been expecting. Which was an easy mistake to make, considering the fact that Mr. Forkle and Magnate Leto were actually the same personand Mr. Forkle was his much more enigmatic side.
So, this is your secret office, she clarified, feeling goose bumps prickle her skin at the thought.
One of them, Mr. Forkle confirmed, winking as he shuffled his ruckleberry-bloated body closer to the door. He leaned in and licked a spot on the left side of the door, which mustve 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.
Did Tinker design this place? Sophie asked, remembering the abundance of gleaming gears shed seen decorating the walls of Widgetmoor, as well as the Technopaths clear fondness for the number five. But that wasnt the question she shouldve been focusing on, so she quickly added, And why are we here?
Mr. Forkle twisted the cogs one by one, entering some sort of complicated combination. You said we needed to talk. Isnt that why you requested this meeting?
It is, but Sophies 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. 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
Stop! a familiar squeaky voice shouted behind her.
Sophie froze.
Shed learned that it was much easier to let the seven-foot-tall, heavily armed gray goblin lead the wayalong with a hulking ogre warrior and a tiny green-toothed gnome. Sandor, Bo, and Flori were three of her five multispeciesial bodyguards, and they took their jobs very seriously.
So did her other bodyguards, of course. But Nubiti kept watch from a position deep underground, since dwarves eyes were highly sensitive to light. And Tarina still hadnt been allowed to return to duty after what everyone was calling the Scandal at Everglenthough scandal really wasnt a strong enough word. It didnt capture the shock that came with discovering an illegal troll hive hidden at the estate of one of their worlds most prominent families. And it definitely didnt evoke the horror of the genetically altered, bloodthirsty trolls who went on a murderous rampage once the door to the hive was opened.
Both 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. And no one could agree on how to punish those whod been involved. A Tribunal had already been held for Luzia Vacker, but her sentence had yet to be finalized. And numerous additional investigations seemed to be endlessly ongoing. Foxfire, the elves most prestigious academy, had even been put on an extended hiatus because parents were worried the school might be targeted. 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.
This office is perfectly safe, Mr. Forkle assured Sophies bodyguards. Watchward Heath is protected by five different kinds of security. And only six people in the world know how to find it. Well, seven now, given Miss Fosters knack for teleporting.
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. Hed always been overprotective, but his paranoia had reached new levels of exhausting after the Neverseens recent brutal attackand Sophie couldnt blame him, since she and Fitz had ended up bedridden in the Healing Center for weeks. Her right hand still ached whenever she pushed herself too hard, and Fitz occasionally walked with a slight limp. But Elwin kept assuring them that theyd make a full recovery. Certain wounds were just trickier than othersand theirs had been some of the worst, thanks to the creepy echoes caused by their exposure to shadowflux.
The rare sixth element was darkness in its purest form. Only the strongest Shades could control it. And shadowflux changed everything it touched.
Shadowflux was also somehow so vital to whatever the Neverseen were planning that when their Shade was killed at Everglen, Lady Gisela threatened Tam until he agreed to serve as Umbers replacement. Sophie and Keefe had begged Tam not to go, but he swore he could handle himself. And Lady Gisela had warned them that any attempt at rescue would only put Tam and his twin sister, Linh, in greater danger. So Tam was on his own with the Neverseenand it killed Sophie every time she thought about it.
Each passing week made her heart heavier. Her nightmares more vivid. Her brain more convinced that shed never see her friend again.
