Dex had always been shorter than her, but now they were the same height. He must’ve gone through a growth spurt over the last few weeks.
“Don’t go changing too much while you’re gone, okay?” Kesler made Dex promise. “And I know time is of the essence, so I already gathered the elixirs I thought would work best.”
He handed them each a small silver pouch filled with glass vials.
“In case you’re worried,” he told Sophie, “yours are all limbium-free.”
Technically, Kesler was Sophie’s uncle—though she never thought of him that way. Just like she never thought of Dex as her cousin. It was only by marriage—and adoption—so it wasn’t like they were actually related. Still, Kesler always treated her like family.
“I didn’t gather any for you,” he told Della, “but I can if you’d like.”
“No, I prefer invisibility,” Della said, vanishing.
“Wish I could hold my vanish for long enough,” Biana mumbled. “These elixirs taste like feet.”
“You’re lucky,” Keefe said, choking down one of his vials. “Mine tastes like armpit.”
“The bad taste is intentional,” Kesler told them. “To deter anyone from growing addicted to altering their appearance.”
Sophie plugged her nose and downed her elixirs. He’d given her Sea See, Absolutely Auburn, Freckle Juice, and Tanny Fanny. She wasn’t sure she liked the sound of the last one—and she definitely didn’t like the taste. It was like drinking trash that had rotted in the sun for a couple of weeks.
“Should we be seeing a change yet?” Biana asked, pulling a mirror from her pocket.
“Usually takes about three minutes,” Dex said, darting into the maze of shelves.
“What are you looking for?” Kesler called after him.
“You gave me boring ones!” Dex returned with seven vials and chugged them all.
Kesler shook his head. “You’re going to regret that.”
“Why?” Sophie asked.
“Let’s just say too many appearance elixirs at once can be unpleasant when it’s time to pass them. Another way we make sure no one takes them too often.”
“Ew,” Biana said, tilting her mirror another angle. “I still don’t see anyth—EEP!”
She stumbled back as her dark hair turned red and coiled into tight curls. Her teal eyes paled to ice blue, and her skin turned even paler, giving her a translucent glow.
“Wow,” Sophie whispered, barely able to recognize her friend.
Fitz looked even weirder. His eyes had turned sky blue and his hair had turned dirty blond. He tossed the strands off his forehead and asked, “How do I look?”
“Like a wannabe me,” Keefe said.
The edge to his voice made it hard to smile at the joke.
Keefe started to say something else, but a sneezing fit cut him off. When he finished, he had thick black hair covering his upper lip.
“You gave me a stache?” he asked, cracking an actual smile. He twisted the ends into points as his hair and eyebrows turned the same dark shade, and his skin took on a deep tan.
“You have to see yourself,” Biana told Sophie. “You look a little like me.”
“Ew, she’s right,” Fitz said with a shudder.
Sophie tried not to take the “Ew” personally as she checked her reflection. Her hair hung in dark, soft waves, and her eyes had turned aquamarine. Freckles dotted her nose and cheeks, and she had a deep tan to match Keefe’s.
“How long will this last?” Sophie asked.
“Two hours at most. And the final twenty minutes can be hit and miss, depending on your metabolism. So I’d be away from any crowds before that happens,” Kesler warned.
“They’re not going there alone, right?” Grady asked.
The door belched. “No, they’re going with me.”
All eyes turned to find Sir Astin standing in the doorway.
“Whoa, so it really is him,” Dex said. “I mean, I know you told us, but still.”
“Him who?” Grady asked.
“This is Mr. Forkle,” Sophie said. “One of his other identities.”
Everyone squinted at the figure in front of them, trying to find any trace of Mr. Forkle in the pale blond elf.
“We need to split into two groups,” Mr. Forkle-as-Sir-Astin said. Even his voice had shifted to the high whisper Sophie remembered. “There will be less chance of anyone seeing through our disguises if the size of our group does not match expectations.”
“I’ll take Fitz and Biana with me,” Della said.
“That should work. Have your son transmit to either myself or Miss Foster if you have any problems.”
If you see Alvar, ask him about Ruy, she transmitted to Fitz, hoping the Vackers would try for a covert family reunion.
Fitz nodded as Sir Astin asked, “Are we ready?”
“Almost,” Dex said, then burped a huge belly-shaking burp that would’ve put Iggy to shame. He was still saying, “Excuse me,” when his skin and hair turned five shades darker. His periwinkle eyes turned so deep blue they almost looked black, and muscles bulged in his arms and shoulders, stretching the fabric of his shirt.