Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) - Shannon Messenger Page 0,126

or not. So the best thing we can do is teach them the skills they need to survive, even when that means letting them take big risks.”

“Right, but… Silveny and Greyfell weren’t teaching them anything today,” Sophie argued. “They weren’t even there watching!”

“That doesn’t mean they haven’t been doing things to prepare Wynn and Luna at other moments,” Edaline reminded her. “Or, for all you know, they could’ve had a telepathic connection open the entire time that Wynn and Luna were in with the gorgodon, guiding them through what to do.”

Sophie sighed. “I guess. Wynn and Luna just seem so young and tiny to be taking that kind of chance.”

“Well, things are different with animals,” Edaline noted. “But, it’s also funny you should say that, since I have that same thought every time I have to step back and let you and your friends dive headfirst into one of your plans. No matter how brave and grown-up you get, you’ll always be too young and tiny for the frightening things the Black Swan asks you to do.”

Sophie became very interested in scraping at the dried mud on her gloves.

Edaline placed her hand over Sophie’s, waiting for their eyes to meet before she said, “I know Mr. Forkle asked you to do something dangerous, Sophie. He wouldn’t tell us what, but given the Black Swan’s track record, I’m assuming the stakes will be very high. So… I’m trying to take some pointers from Silveny and tell myself, SOPHIE STRONG! SOPHIE STRONG!”

Sophie looked away. “It… might not happen.”

“Really?” Edaline’s voice sounded awfully hopeful, and she cleared her throat before she asked, “Any particular reason why?”

“I’m still trying to decide if I want to do it,” Sophie admitted.

Edaline tightened her grip on Sophie’s hand. “Well then, I’m very proud of you. It takes a lot of courage to remember that you really do have a choice in all of this.”

Sophie wondered if Edaline would be so proud if she knew why Sophie was rebelling.

“If you need to talk…,” Edaline added.

“I know,” Sophie told her.

Silence followed, until Edaline cleared her throat again. “See what I mean about being a parent? Here I am, not pressuring you—or Sandor—for more information, even though we all know I want to. And I’m not saying that as a hint, or to guilt you into sharing. I just bet you anything that Silveny wasn’t nearly as calm as she seemed when you talked to her. I’m sure her head was full of things she stopped herself from saying because she’s letting Wynn and Luna have their freedom, knowing that’s the best thing for them in the long run.”

“I guess,” Sophie said, “but… why go through all that stress for this? It’s not like they’re going to run into a lot of gorgodons in the wild.”

“No,” Edaline agreed. “But I’m sure there’s a reason.”

“So… you’re okay with Wynn and Luna hanging out in the gorgodon’s enclosure, then?” Sophie had to ask.

“Absolutely not!” Grady said behind them, and Sophie wondered how long he’d been back inside. “The gnomes are wrapping the cage with a second layer of wire as we speak, following a new pattern to cover different spaces and gaps. And when they’re done with that, I asked them to add a third layer in a third pattern, all of which should close off whatever weak spot the twins used to slip through today. But just to be safe, I’ve also asked Bo and Flori to keep an eye on the area as much as they can, to make sure we’re not missing something. Silveny and Greyfell can be as permissive as they want to be—but I’m not letting anything happen to those babies on my watch.”

Sophie definitely agreed.

Which was why she dragged herself back outside and spent the rest of the first part of the afternoon trying to get Wynn and Luna to make a new “friend” with one of the other, safer creatures living in Havenfield’s pastures.

They weren’t interested in the verminions, which Sophie couldn’t blame them for. The giant purple rodents were particularly curmudgeonly—and had very large fangs.

And the mammoths and mastodons could far too easily trample the tiny alicorns, so Sophie steered them away from those.

She also didn’t introduce them to any of the creepy giant bug things, since they gave her the heebie-jeebies.

Which really only left her top choice: Verdi—Havenfield’s permanent resident. Sure, the neon green, fluffy T. rex struggled occasionally with her vegetarian diet. But Verdi and Sophie had been through enough together that