“With a manticore so close at hand,” added Miss Carey-Thomas. “Commendable.”
“They aren’t green girls,” said Madame Gillyflower. “Restraint is to be expected at this age.”
Nell drew herself up, possibly to dispute this point, possibly to explain Thalia’s curious circumstances, but when Thalia nudged her, Nell subsided.
Miss Carey-Thomas said, “The presence of one dead manticore doesn’t preclude another live one. For the sake of other young Traders, Miss Cutler needs to be assigned her ordeal. If she succeeds, she won’t attract manticores any longer.”
“If she fails, she won’t attract manticores either,” Mrs. Kipling pointed out. “Problem solved.”
“Then we are unanimous.” Madame Gillyflower turned her full attention to Thalia and Nell. “Are you prepared for your ordeal?”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Nell.
“I am,” said Thalia.
Madame Gillyflower gazed at Nell for a long moment, then at Thalia. Whatever softness had been in her expression when she looked at Nell, Madame Gillyflower lost as she regarded Thalia. “Very well. Here is your ordeal. From this spot, find your way home.”
“Whose home?” Nell asked. “I am lucky enough to have one. Not everyone has.”
Thalia was grateful to Nell for pointing this out. If Thalia had to choose her true home, where would it be? Onstage, she supposed, working. If the Palace of Mystery counted as onstage, that would be a brief journey indeed.
The three older women exchanged a long wordless look. Then Madame Gillyflower stated, “Your home, Miss Ryker, will be the finish line for both of you. Once you are safely inside, we will ask you to Trade back to the form you now display.” She put extra emphasis on the words “Trade back” and gave Thalia a searching look. “Only do that, when we ask, and you will have succeeded.”
Miss Carey-Thomas added, “You will be adult Traders, one or both of you, and as such, accepted in Trader society.”
“Or you won’t have to worry about Trading anymore,” said Mrs. Kipling dryly.
“Go forth,” said Madame Gillyflower, “and Trade.”
Thalia scanned the space around her. The Sylvestri had gone. The police had taken Nora Uberti away, and the journalists had followed them. There were only five other people left in the little theater. Ryker stood closest. Tycho Aristides was still dealing with the manticore he’d killed. Madame Ostrova, Anton, and Freddie were watching from the door. “Right now? Right here?”
“Come on, it will be fun.” Nell added, “I’ll race you.” She Traded to her otter self and streaked for the door. Her brother walked briskly after her and opened the door to let her through.
Thalia watched them go, overwhelmingly aware of her own bulk, her intractable human shape.
“Go on,” said Madame Gillyflower kindly. “You can do it.” How many timid young Traders had she urged on with those very words?
I can’t. Thalia refused to say the words aloud, but the truth of it held her motionless.
Each manticore had called to her and brought forth that powerful urge to Trade. Thalia had told that swan voice within to shut up. She had banished it. Now Thalia searched herself for her swan, but could detect no trace.
For the moment, there were no overt threats to Thalia’s life. Tycho Aristides was cleaning up after dealing with the most recent manticore. The Ostrova Magic Company and its Palace of Mystery were her sanctuary. Here, she was completely safe.
Thalia knew herself. So far her only Trades had come when she had been convinced she was in grave danger. How galling, to be in a situation where none of her difficulties were dangerous, when only imminent danger was any use to her.
Madame Gillyflower and her companions were still watching Thalia with interest. Thalia kept attempting to Trade, but her concentration was flawed. Only her disadvantages came to mind.
With Nutall gone, Thalia’s stage career was on hiatus until she could invent a solo act. This bad luck had been balanced by good luck. The Rykers had given her hospitality in full measure, even lent her their home as she had none of her own. All she had to do was Trade and return to their mansion on Riverside Drive.
Thalia failed to Trade. The Board of Trade remained, but she could no longer meet Madame Gillyflower’s eyes.
What was Thalia, if not a permanent houseguest of the Rykers? She had accepted favors, many more than she felt comfortable with. She had promised herself that one day, when she was rich and famous, she would repay those favors and redeem her pride. But how could she become rich and famous under what amounted to house