She looked away, trailing her green thumb along the straightened edge, where the tree had morphed into a survivor.
“I wish we could’ve done more,” Sophie said, swallowing back the knot of all her frustrations. “How bad was it at Exillium after we left?” she asked her friends.
“Well, let’s see,” Keefe said. “The purple Coach fainted when you guys teleported, and I’m pretty sure the other two peed their pants. Then everyone started screaming and freaking out about the plague, and it took a couple of hours for the Coaches to calm them down. That’s when a group of Waywards started demanding to know if you guys were going to be ejected or expelled or whatever they call it—”
“Are we?” Fitz interrupted.
Dex, Keefe, and Biana shared a look.
“They wouldn’t give me any extra beads when I asked for them,” Dex said, “which turned into another whole-school shouting match. But the Coaches said their decision was final.”
“So I guess that’s that,” Sophie mumbled.
“Not necessarily,” Biana said. “Before we left, the Shade came up to me and did this freaky whisper-in-my-head thing.” She shuddered. “And he said to tell you ‘If you really want to prove the Coaches wrong, you should return with your friends and make a stand.’ So I’m guessing he wants you to leap with us in the morning—but I don’t know if it’s a good idea.”
“Me either,” Dex said. “Who knows what the Coaches will do?”
“I don’t think the Shade would’ve suggested it if he thought we’d be punished,” Sophie said. “He told me when they punish someone, they punish everyone.”
“Maybe he thinks we’re all going to be punished anyway, so he wants you to suffer with us,” Dex said.
Sophie shook her head. “That doesn’t sound like him.”
“But you barely know him,” Fitz reminded her.
“Yeah, and isn’t this the guy I heard the boobrie dude warn you about?” Keefe asked.
“It is,” Sophie agreed. “But I think the real reason the Coaches don’t like him is because he disagrees with their rules and finds ways around them—sound familiar?”
“Right,” Keefe said. “But I’m not a Shade.”
“You’re seriously going to judge him because of his ability?” Sophie asked.
“We do it with Pyrokinetics,” Dex jumped in.
“And I don’t know if that’s right either,” Sophie admitted. “Think of how much the ban on pyrokinesis has made them what they are. That’s why Fintan rebelled. And why Brant joined the Neverseen. If being Talentless hadn’t made him a bad match for Jolie, their story might have had a very different ending.”
“Maybe,” Keefe agreed. “But Shades will always be shady. It’s in the name! And they control shadowvaper, and call it ‘the darkness within us all.’?”
“Does that mean they can control us, like Mesmers?” Sophie asked.
“It’s more about being able to read people,” Fitz said. “It’s kind of like what Councillor Terik does when he descrys someone—only Shades are looking at your potential for darkness.”
“Tell me that’s not creepy!” Keefe said.
“Uh, I can inflict pain on people,” Sophie reminded him. “Besides, how is judging him for his ability any better than judging people for being Talentless?”
“So you’re saying you want to trust him?” Fitz asked.
“I don’t know. Maybe we should see what the Collective thinks. They may not want any of us going to Exillium anymore, so we can focus on what’s happening with the plague.”
She was honestly hoping for the latter, so they could go back to Bosk Gorge and figure out why the plague seemed to be spreading faster there, and make sure no other gnomes were stranded in the area.
But when they returned to Alluveterre, Mr. Forkle was waiting for them in the bridge’s gazebo—and he’d brought Sophie and Fitz new Exillium uniforms.
“I take it this means we’ll be going to school tomorrow,” Fitz said.
“You did the right thing, helping that gnome,” Mr. Forkle told them. “The Coaches should see that.”
“And if they don’t?” Dex asked.
“Then it’s your job to convince them. We need to get them on our side—they know more about what’s happening in the Neutral Territories than anyone.”
“But they don’t seem to care,” Sophie mumbled.
“Then make them care. That’s one of your greatest gifts, Miss Foster—one we had nothing to do with. You’re a natural force for change. And here’s a chance to make a true difference.”
Her friends looked as nervous as Sophie felt, but they didn’t argue as they headed for their rooms.
Actually, Mr. Forkle transmitted to Sophie. If you could stay behind, there’s something I need to discuss with you . . . privately.
Sophie figured it had to do with the sick gnome or her visit to Foxfire. So she definitely wasn’t prepared when he told her, “I have news for Mr. Sencen.”