is no easy task,” Oralie told her. “We do the best we can.”
Maybe they did. But the Council’s “best” didn’t seem to be good enough anymore—assuming it ever had been. And Sophie was tempted to remind Oralie that no one had asked the elves to put themselves in charge.
But she needed to stay focused.
“What exactly do you remember from the instructions?” she asked, pointing to the cache.
Oralie stood, holding the tiny crystal up to eye level. “I know it needs my blood, sweat, and tears. I’m just not sure if that’s the right order to give them in. It might be tears, sweat, then blood. Or sweat, tears, then blood. Or sweat, blood, and tears. Or blood, tears, then—”
“Is there someone you can ask?” Sophie cut in. “What about Bronte?”
“Councillor Bronte would not support my decision to come here. Nor would any of the other Councillors. They believe the Forgotten Secrets should remain forgotten.”
“Then why bother storing the memories in the first place?” Sophie countered.
“Because it’s important to have a record somewhere, in case of an extreme emergency.”
“Well this—”
“Isn’t,” Oralie finished for her. “At least not as far as the rest of the Council is concerned. In fact, several Councillors feel that the uncertainty behind Keefe’s condition would best be managed medicinally—or by containing him.”
Bile soured Sophie’s tongue. “They wouldn’t order Elwin to keep him sedated, would they? Or lock him away in Exile?”
Or both.
She couldn’t bring herself to voice the last option, in case it gave the Council ideas.
Exile’s somnatorium was real.
Sophie had walked through its disturbingly silent halls.
“I won’t let that happen,” Oralie promised. “But the more information we have about what the Neverseen are planning for him, the better. Why do you think I’m here? I told you, I’m done hiding from the darker truths in our world. I’m ready to face them—even if it means violating my oaths. I just can’t count on any help from the rest of the Council. Particularly because I’m working with you.”
Sophie frowned. “But, I’m a Regent now. And the leader of Team Valiant! If they don’t trust me—”
“This isn’t about trust. It’s about risk. Like you said, you’ve become quite valuable to the Council. They’ve finally realized exactly how much they need you. So to put you in danger this way—”
“I’m always in danger!” Sophie pointed to where Sandor stood sentry by Verdi’s pasture—then to where Flori watched them from the edge of the tree line.
She’d gotten so used to being shadowed by bodyguards that she could almost forget they were there—particularly since she was down to only two now that Nubiti was the new queen of the dwarves. Tarina was still ironing things out with her empress after the incident with the illegal troll hive, and Bo was protecting Tam and Linh.
“This is a different level of danger,” Oralie insisted. “You’ve never dealt with a Forgotten Secret before.”
“Uh, pretty sure I have,” Sophie argued, loud enough to make sure Sandor heard the reminder. The last thing she needed was to have him think she was stepping into a new level of uncharted dangerous territory and shift into overprotective-goblin mode. “Someone’s cache has to be filled with all of the things Vespera did to get herself locked up in Lumenaria’s dungeon. But the Council didn’t bother coming clean after she escaped, so I got to learn about her crimes the hard way.”
The very hard way.
Like, having her human parents captured and tortured after Vespera went back to work on her evil experiments.
And Biana had scars all over her back, arms, and shoulders from when Vespera tried to kill her.
“I suppose you’re right,” Oralie murmured. “But that should make you all the more cautious. Forgotten Secrets aren’t erased simply to protect the sanity of the Councillors. They’re often truths that could send our world spiraling into chaos.”
“Yeah, well, what else is new?” Sophie’s eyes locked with Sandor’s, and thankfully he didn’t argue.
But he did seem to be gripping the hilt of his giant black sword a whole lot tighter.
Oralie stepped closer. “I’m not telling you this because I’m going back on our deal—or because I’m trying to scare you. I just… need to make sure you’re truly prepared for the turbulent waters ahead. I can’t bear having any more regrets when it comes to you.”
Sophie rolled her eyes.
The words were probably meant to be touching—but she knew all Oralie was really trying to do was allay her own guilt if something bad happened.
Oralie sighed. “I realize you’re angry with me, Sophie.