Swan over the Council.
“And I’m sorry if you feel like we’re wasting your time, or doubting your power or your security,” Sophie added. “I hope Loamnore isn’t a target—and if it is, I hope the Neverseen end up writhing and sobbing in the King’s Path from their hallucinations. Feel free to leave them in there if that happens.”
That earned her a twitchy partial smile from the king.
“But I’ve watched the Neverseen win over and over and over,” she added quietly. “And they generally strike the places we feel the safest. You were there when Lumenaria fell—and you’ve helped us rebuild our other fallen cities. Would you have ever imagined that kind of destruction would happen?”
Tickety tap. Tickety tap. Tickety tap.
“Fine,” he told her after what might’ve been an eternity. “Make your unnecessary searches. Nubiti will take you around, answer any questions you have. But I want a report before you leave. And if you find nothing, this is the last I want to hear of this,” he added, shifting his focus to Bronte.
“Thank you,” Sophie told him, wishing her legs weren’t so shaky as she dipped a full curtsy.
And she could tell that Grady wanted to hug her when she stumbled back to her group—and she wanted to bury herself in his arms—but they both had to settle for a pat on the shoulder and a “good job.”
“That sounded fun,” Dex mumbled.
“Not now,” Nubiti told him. “He can still change his mind, and I want to show you where the other security adjustments occurred.”
“Wait!” Biana said as Nubiti stomped her foot and revealed a new tunnel for them to take. “Aren’t we going to search in here?”
“In the Grand Hall?” Nubiti shook her head. “That would be unnecessary.”
“But we’re here,” Biana argued. “And it was a pretty horrible journey. And we know the security has been altered—”
“It hasn’t actually,” Nubiti interrupted. “There’s nothing to alter in this room. The Grand Hall is defended by the King’s Path and the royal brigade—our strongest warriors, who remain ready to strike whenever necessary.” She pointed to the ground, and Sophie tried not to imagine an army of dwarves bursting out of the sand—it was a bit too close to her hallucinations.
“I still think we should look around before we go,” Biana insisted.
“I agree,” Dex jumped in. “Just in case there’s something we’re missing—especially since I’m pretty sure none of us want to have to come back here ever again.”
Everyone seemed to turn a shade of green.
“I don’t see how a quick look could hurt,” Grady told Nubiti. “Especially since King Enki said we could search anywhere.”
Nubiti heaved out a sigh. “Do what you must. But be quick. And quiet. And do not go near the throne. I’ll explain to King Enki what’s happening so he does not call for his guards—and if he tells us to leave, we will leave, understood?”
“I’ll go with you,” Bronte offered. “I need to have a few words with the king anyway.”
Nubiti didn’t look thrilled with that information, but she motioned for Bronte to join her as she made her way over to the throne.
“Let’s split up,” Sophie told her friends. “Dex, you and Biana start over there”—she pointed to the farthest part of the room—“and, Stina, you stay with Grady and start here, in the doorway. Wylie and I will take the middle.”
Shockingly no one argued—or made any jokes about Lady Fos-Boss—as they set to work searching the walls and floor.
If only Sophie had any idea what they should be looking for.
“Did you know Tiergan met with King Enki yesterday?” she whispered to Wylie.
“No—and you can bet I’ll be calling him on it,” Wylie assured her. He glanced over his shoulder to where Bronte and King Enki had moved to a spot of shadowy quiet for some sort of intense whispered conversation. “I thought we were about to get kicked out of here.”
“So did I,” Sophie admitted, tracing her hand along one of the swirly gold carvings, which curled around a glittering black stone. “Is this magsidian?”
“No,” Nubiti said behind her, making her jump. “That is onyx, for decoration. The only magsidian in this room is the throne.”
“You’re sure?” Sophie craned her neck to better see the abundance of black stones inlaid into the walls.
“All onyx,” Nubiti insisted. “Magsidian would hinder the pull of the throne.”
“Still seems smart to make sure,” Wylie decided. “I mean, we’re here, right?”
He snapped his fingers and a tiny sphere of pale white light hovered over his palm.
“Your light tricks have no