“I didn’t let it win,” Tam argued. “I sent it away, so it couldn’t hurt anyone.”
“It can’t hurt anyone unless you tell it to,” Lady Zillah corrected.
“I don’t know,” Linh said, her eyes darting from Fitz to Sophie and back again, taking in his crutches and her sling before studying each of their faces. “You guys look a little pale. Is it the echoes?”
Fitz nodded.
“But we’re fine,” Sophie promised when Tam backed farther away, as if he was afraid that standing too close would make them worse. “We’re both getting pretty good at stopping the attacks.”
“The echoes shouldn’t have been affected by anything we were doing,” Lady Zillah insisted as she strode over to them, her white cape billowing behind her like a ghost.
She waved her palm over Fitz’s chest, then over Sophie’s hand and head, and her lips pulled into a deep frown. “Well . . . I suppose seeing the shadowflux could’ve triggered flashbacks of the attack, and those might’ve stirred the echoes.”
Tam turned away, tugging hard on his bangs. “If I’d known you’d be in the halls, I would’ve warned you we’d be training.”
“It’s fine,” Fitz told him. “We didn’t know we’d be in the halls either until about an hour ago. This is our first time out of bed since the attack.”
“Really?” Linh asked, studying them again, and Sophie became very aware of how horrifying she must look.
She could feel at least half her hair falling out of her ponytail and couldn’t remember how many days it had been since the last time she’d done a quick sponge bath. She probably also smelled like onions, thanks to her mineral soak. And she was still wearing one of her sparkly halter-style tunics. So she was basically a walking disaster—which felt extra awesome standing next to Fitz, who somehow managed to look even more adorable all rumpled and bed-heady.
And she wasn’t even going to think about how sleek and shiny Linh looked, with her hair swept back into two jeweled barrettes and her silky gray tunic bringing out the silver in her eyes. But Sophie’s chest still tightened when Linh leaned to help Fitz adjust positions on his crutches—especially when he gave Linh his perfect smile. And she was so busy telling herself not to care that she missed the question Linh asked and had to make her repeat it.
“I asked if this means you’re going home,” Linh told her.
“Oh! I wish,” Sophie said, tucking a greasy strand of hair behind her ear. “I have a feeling Elwin’s going to make us wait at least another day before he’ll let us light leap.”
“As well he should,” Lady Zillah agreed. “Honestly, I’m amazed it’s still our main method of transport. You’d think we’d have found a better way to move around—one that doesn’t require breaking down our bodies and putting them back together. But once again, we’ve focused all our attention on light.”
“Ugh, not another ‘light is weak and shadows are strong’ lecture,” Tam grumbled.
“Why not?” Lady Zillah countered. “You clearly need it. Look at you, cowering over there, still afraid of your power.”
“She’s not wrong,” Linh told her brother.
Tam scowled at everyone.
Linh snorted a laugh. “I swear, if I was this sulky while I adjusted to my power, I kind of don’t blame the Council for banishing me.”
“I’m not sulking,” Tam argued. “And I’m not adjusting to my power—I’m messing with creepy shadows we probably shouldn’t be messing with. But I’m still here practicing every night, aren’t I?”
“Every night?” Sophie verified.
“He has a lot to learn,” Lady Zillah agreed.
“Do Shades always train here at night?” Fitz asked.
“No—not that there are many that are actually allowed to attend Foxfire,” Lady Zillah said under her breath. “Our regular sessions are in a dark room. But shadowflux is easier to feel when there’s starlight, so Magnate Leto arranged for Tam and me to access the campus after hours for these more specialized lessons.”
“And I’ve been tagging along,” Linh added, “to make sure Tam doesn’t need any cheering up—”
“Which mostly means finding ways to annoy me,” Tam noted.
“Exactly,” Linh agreed, flicking her wrist and splashing Tam’s face with a mini wave of water. “Best part of my job as his sister.”
Tam glared.
Linh winked.
Lady Zillah sighed.
“I thought about sneaking over to the Healing Center to check on you guys,” Linh added, turning back to Sophie and Fitz, “but I figured you’d probably be sleeping. Oh—but since you’re here, I can give you your present! Hang on!”
“On that note,” Lady Zillah said as Linh took off down the hall, “we should get back to our lesson.”
“I’m not calling down any more shadowflux while Fitz and Sophie are here,” Tam told her.
“I never said you should,” Lady Zillah huffed. “And I doubt it would respond to you anyway, after the way you just dismissed it. But we can work with the echo in your hand.”
“You have an echo?” Sophie asked, tasting bile when Tam nodded.
“How?” Fitz demanded.
“It’s nothing like what you’re experiencing,” Lady Zillah assured them. “There was no pain or anger to Tam’s encounter—nothing negative at all. He simply let the shadowflux sink under his skin and leave a gentle echo, so that we can begin to understand some of their most basic effects.”
“It’s not a big deal,” Tam added. “I wouldn’t have done it if it was.”
Sophie sighed. “Still, I—”
“There you are!” Elwin interrupted, stomping down the hall behind them. “I told you thirty minutes, and it’s been—”
He stopped short when he spotted Tam and Lady Zillah. “Well . . . I guess this explains the delay.”
“You didn’t know they’re training here at night?” Fitz asked.
Elwin shook his head. “I haven’t left the Healing Center much myself.”
“That’s true,” Sophie said quietly. “You’re probably even more eager for us to go home than we are.”
“Nah—it’s been fun having the company,” Elwin assured her. “But our Foxfire slumber party really is coming to an end. I’m betting Fitz will be ready to head home tomorrow, and you’ll be ready the day after.”
“Why not at the same time?” Tam wondered.
“Sophie had a lot more breaks than Fitz did,” Elwin explained, “so she needs a little more time to let all the new bone harden.”
“Well, I’m not leaving until Sophie does,” Fitz decided.
“You don’t have to do that,” Sophie told him.
“I know I don’t have to,” he said, with a smile that made her breath catch a little. “I want to.”
She was saved from having to come up with a nonmushy response by Linh racing back into the alcove and handing Sophie a soft, hot pink tunic.
Elwin cracked up when he saw the embroidery.
So did Sophie.
Dozens of smiley faces surrounded silver glittery letters that said, Happy Shadow Thoughts. And on the back, more glittery letters said, Angry echoes—beware!
“I know it’s silly,” Linh mumbled. “But I made one for Tam, and I thought it might help with the echoes somehow. Don’t worry, you don’t have to wear it.”
“Are you kidding?” Sophie asked, pulling Linh into a one-armed hug. “It’s amazing! I’m changing into this as soon as I’m back in the Healing Center!”
And she did.
Sophie couldn’t look at it without smiling—and neither could Fitz once she’d explained the joke.
Just like Sophie couldn’t stop wiggling her bandage-free fingers or reminding herself that she could get out of her cot anytime she wanted. And very, very soon, she’d be home again.
Her mood was on such a high that she wasn’t sure she’d need Silveny’s dreams to chase away any nightmares.
And it was a good thing she didn’t.
Because that night, Silveny didn’t check in.
• • •
SORRY! SORRY! SORRY! Silveny kept repeating when Sophie and Fitz finally managed to make contact the next morning.
Apparently, Silveny had been so exhausted that she’d slept through all of Sophie’s and Fitz’s attempts to make contact.
And Sophie knew it wasn’t necessarily strange for someone to be tired during pregnancy, but it still made her more determined than ever to convince Silveny to come in for a checkup.
BABY OKAY! BABY OKAY! Silveny insisted.
I hope you’re right, Sophie told her. But what about you? You have to take care of yourself, too.
TAKING CARE! Silveny insisted, sending images of the lush meadow she’d been grazing in that morning.
It’s not just about eating, Sophie argued. You might need some extra vitamins or fluids or . . .
Okay, she knew nothing about what a pregnant flying horse needed—or what anyone who was pregnant needed. Which proved even more why Silveny should be examined by someone with actual medical knowledge.
But every time Sophie suggested it, Silveny flooded her head with NO VISIT! NO VISIT! NO VISIT!
Sophie’s probably going home tomorrow, Fitz jumped in, triggering a loud swell of SOPHIE HOME! SOPHIE HOME! SOPHIE HOME!
Right, he agreed. She’s just as excited as you are. So why don’t you meet her there? You guys could celebrate together.
Sophie could feel that Silveny was tempted. But she still went back to repeating, NO VISIT!
WHY? Sophie shouted over Silveny’s next few chants.
BABY OKAY! BABY OKAY!
And round and round they went.
“This feels like banging our heads into a wall, doesn’t it?” Sophie asked Fitz, out loud so Silveny couldn’t hear them.
“She’s definitely the most stubborn creature I’ve ever met,” Fitz agreed. “And I live with Biana.”
“Excuse me?” Biana asked, blinking into sight in the middle of the Healing Center—and startling Sophie and Fitz so badly that Silveny blasted their heads with a bunch of SOPHIE OKAY? FITZ OKAY?
We’re fine! Sophie promised. Biana just surprised us.
“You had to manifest as a Vanisher,” Fitz grumbled to his sister.
“Jealous?” Biana asked, disappearing again and reappearing next to Fitz’s cot. She flicked the tip of his nose before vanishing again and reappearing with a smirk on the other side of the room.
“I’m allowed to get out of this bed now,” Fitz warned, reaching for his crutches, “and these don’t slow me down as much as you’d think.”
“I know. Linh told me she saw you guys last night—thanks for hailing me to let me know,” she deadpanned.
“Thanks for all the visits,” Fitz countered, his tone trying for sarcastic teasing but his eyes not really selling it.
“Hey—Elwin kept shooing me away!” Biana argued.
“Yeah, and you never sneak around orders like that.”
Biana sighed. “You’re right. I just . . . didn’t want to upset you. I figured if I came here, you’d want to know what’s going on with Alvar and—”
“What is going on with Alvar?” Fitz interrupted.
She shot him a look and pointed to where he’d pressed his hand over his chest. “See? That’s what I mean! I knew you’d ask all kinds of questions you don’t really want to know the answers to, and it’d mess with that echo thing and set back your recovery. So I figured it’d be better if I just checked in with Sophie and left you alone until you were better.”
Fitz blew out a breath. “Well . . . I guess that’s a better excuse than Mom and Dad’s.”
“It’s killing them, you know,” Biana said quietly. “Knowing you’re here, still recovering, and don’t want to see them. I catch Mom crying all the time.”
“Good,” Fitz said.
“Don’t be like that,” she told him.
“And don’t tell me you’re on their side now!” Fitz snapped back, taking a long breath and rubbing his chest. “I’m fine,” he told Sophie when he caught her staring at him.
“Want me to leave you guys alone to talk?” Sophie offered.
“No,” Biana told her. “He’ll be on better behavior if you’re here.”
Fitz rolled his eyes and Biana slumped against one of the cots.
“I’m still mad at them,” she told him. “And I hate a lot of what they’re doing. But they still love us, Fitz. And they’ve been worried sick about you. They’re trying. It’s all just . . . a mess.”
“It is,” Fitz agreed.
Silence followed, and Sophie couldn’t decide if she should be the one to break it.
“Do you want me to go?” Biana eventually asked.
Fitz shook his head. “Not until you tell me what’s going on with Alvar. I know there has to be something—and it’s fine, I can handle it. I’ll tell you to stop if I need you to.”
Biana’s eyes dropped to her hands and she fussed with the beaded sash on her tunic—which made Sophie realize it must not be a school day, since Biana wasn’t in her Foxfire uniform. But more important . . .
“You didn’t cover your scars.” She regretted the words when Biana’s cheeks turned as pink as the fabric. “Sorry. I shouldn’t—”
“No, it’s fine,” Biana interrupted, holding out her arm and letting the light play off the jagged white lines. “It feels a little weird. But . . . these scars are part of me now, and I decided I’m done pretending they’re not. Maybe it’s good if people see them. Especially today.”
“What’s today?” Sophie and Fitz asked in unison.
Biana chewed her lip, still fidgeting with her sash. “I guess I should’ve said tonight, since it’s happening after sunset. But . . . tonight, Alvar’s moving back to Everglen.”
TWENTY-SIX
WHY ARE THEY WAITING UNTIL after sunset?” Sophie asked as Fitz curled his shaky hands into fists and pressed them against his heart.
“It’s a security thing,” Biana explained, glancing warily at her brother. “Um. Should we be worried about him?”
“I’m fine,” Fitz gritted out. “I just need a second.”
But Elwin still emerged from his office and flashed a layered bubble of light around Fitz’s torso.
“What kind of security thing?” Sophie asked Biana.
“Luzia made some changes to the gate so that it will react if Alvar gets too close, and I guess that means they have to disable everything to bring him through. Apparently that’s easier to do at night when there isn’t as much light fueling the mechanisms? I don’t know—none of it really makes sense to me, but . . .” She shrugged.
“They’re disabling the gate?” Fitz’s fists curled tighter when Biana nodded. “Great, so once Alvar’s in, he’s never leaving—but I guess we already knew that.”
But Sophie was much more interested in the fact that Luzia had gotten involved. “Did she admit there’s something weird about the property?”
“No, she claims the only reason she made an adjustment is to prevent Alvar from escaping. And she was there for, like, two minutes, so I don’t think the change is that big a deal. She seriously showed up, stood outside the gate, did some weird flashy things, and left. She wouldn’t even come inside.”
“I still don’t like it,” Sophie decided.
“Neither do I,” Biana admitted. “But I’ve searched and searched and searched, and I can’t find anything weird about our house or the grounds. And Grizel and Woltzer swear they have it covered.”
“How’s Grizel doing?” Fitz asked.
“Pretty good, actually. She still moves a little stiffly sometimes, but it doesn’t slow her down. She totally overhauled Woltzer’s training regimen when she got back, and it’s kicking all of our butts. But I think she’s eager to have someone to guard again.” Her eyes dropped to her hands. “When are you coming home?”
“Tomorrow, I think,” Fitz said, taking another long breath.
“Oh.” Biana traced
a finger over one of her scars. “Linh said you might be ready to go today.”
“He is,” Elwin said, snapping his fingers and flashing a green orb around Fitz’s body. “His bones are strong enough to handle a leap now. But he’ll still need the crutches for a few more days.”
Fitz shook his head. “I’m not leaving until Sophie does.”
“You don’t have to—” Sophie tried, but he cut her off.
“We’re leaving here together.”
Biana nodded slowly. “That’s fine.”
But Sophie knew it wasn’t.
Can you give us a minute? she transmitted to Elwin and Biana.
They both made loud, forced excuses to look at poultices that might help Biana’s scars and ducked into Elwin’s office, closing the door.
Subtle, they were not.
But Sophie was pretty sure Fitz was already onto her.
“I’m not leaving early,” he said, reaching for Mr. Snuggles and squeezing the sparkly dragon so hard, the stuffing bulged.
“Okay . . .”
She could tell this conversation was going to be like crossing a frozen lake, and she tried her best to tread carefully. “Is that because you don’t think you can handle being there when Alvar arrives, without triggering your echo?”
Fitz snorted. “No. It’s because I’m not going to start living my life around my jerk of a brother. If my parents want me there, they can wait one lousy day until I’m home. But they won’t. So I’m not rushing back to make it easy for them.”
“They might be thinking they’re protecting you by doing it before you’re there,” she reminded him.
“Uh, if they were worried about me, they wouldn’t be doing this—period. This is about Alvar. He’s probably been whining to everyone about how miserable his little cell is, and my parents are rushing to get him out.”
“Or it’s the Council’s decision,” Sophie countered.
“Nah, it’s my parents’ private property—the Council doesn’t get to drop a prisoner off without their permission.”
“Okay, but . . .”
She hesitated a second, hoping she wasn’t about to cross a line—then decided it might be best to switch to transmitting, in case they had anyone eavesdropping.
Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities Book 7) Page 30