Legacy (Keeper of the Lost Cities #8) - Shannon Messenger Page 0,19

to protect them when his time as king was over. The ogre seat of power was earned instead of inherited, and Dimitar didn’t want either of his top warriors fighting against each other in the battles-to-the-death that would follow his surrender or demise—not when they would be so much more powerful ruling together. So he made them marry, hoping the alliance would spur one of them to back down whenever the time came.

Instead, they seemed even more intent on killing each other.

“The last verse I heard Keefe working on had a lot of Bo-Ro snuggling,” Sophie added when Bo didn’t let go. “Pretty sure there was some kissing, too.”

Bo muttered an impressive string of ogre curses as he released her arm. “Fine. I’ll remain behind—but tell Romhilda she needs to get better control of her charge!”

“Oh sure, I’ll get right on that.” She said it with enough sarcasm to make it clear that he didn’t exactly have a lot of control over his charge either. “Ready?” she asked Sandor.

He reluctantly took her hand. “I can’t decide how I feel about the strong-willed teenager you’re becoming.”

“Neither can I,” Sophie admitted. Sometimes she felt so much braver than the wide-eyed girl she’d been when Fitz first brought her to the Lost Cities. But deep down, she was just as terrified. Maybe more so, now that she understood what she was up against.

“I trust you’ll begin the evening patrols while we’re gone?” Sandor asked Bo—though it was more of an order than a request.

Bo nodded. “I expect a full report when you return.”

“Of course.” Sandor turned to Flori. “And will you let Lady Ruewen know where we’ve gone, so she doesn’t worry?”

Flori dipped into a quick bow and turned to head down the stairs.

“Wait!” Sophie called after her as the much more pressing worry hit her, and she wanted to smack herself for letting the echoes and Tam’s warning distract her. “I need you to give her an urgent message. Tell her that Gethen probed Tam’s memories the first day they took him.”

Sandor flinched. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

“Unfortunately, yeah. The Neverseen know everything Tam knows.”

More muttered curses filled the air—a mix of ogre, goblin, and gnomish words this time. And Sophie definitely shared their sentiments.

“Would you like me to notify the Black Swan?” Flori offered.

“Probably smart.” Sophie shouldn’t have been surprised that Flori knew how to contact the Collective—Flori’s great-great-grandaunt Calla had been part of the order, and part of Project Moonlark, before she sacrificed herself to become the cure for her species in the form of a Panakes tree.

Calla had even been the one to choose Project Moonlark’s name.

“I’m assuming the news we’re bringing Mr. Sencen is equally dire?” Sandor asked quietly.

Sophie nodded.

She was still trying to wrap her head around it—trying to understand what Lady Gisela could possibly be thinking with such a cruel, unexpected order. But Tam had seemed pretty desperate, so there was no way she was letting Keefe ignore the warning, no matter how much he whined or resisted.

“Count on being there for a while,” she told Sandor.

He heaved a squeaky sigh. “And you’re sure you’re up for teleporting?”

“Teleporting will be the easy part.” She glanced at the ground far below, then closed her eyes, searching for the slight tug of gravity coursing through her cells. If she concentrated hard enough on the sensation, she could push against it with her mind and take control. “Okay. Here we go. One… two… three!”

Their feet floated off the ground—slowly at first. Then much, much faster. So fast, they would’ve crashed into the Leapmaster if Sophie hadn’t done a whole lot of awkward flailing. That was the problem with levitating. There was no traction in the air, so she was stuck flapping her arms and kicking her legs like a fledgling flareadon until the momentum dragged them out of the window. And once they were clear of the cupola, the strong ocean winds took over, launching them up so fast, Sandor made several squealy sounds that Sophie couldn’t wait to tease him about later.

“Please tell me we’re high enough now,” he begged over the roar of rushing air.

Sophie peered down, trying to decide if it was the height or the conversation ahead that was making her dizzy.

SOPHIE! FRIEND! FLY! Silveny transmitted, nearly breaking Sophie’s concentration.

Not today! Sophie told her, wishing she had more time. Flying with Silveny was the best way to clear her head and let her biggest worries go. Right now, I have to talk