Calla ignored his question. “They leave their hatchlings alone because they know their young need to be strong. Moonlarks face more predators than most other creatures. So even though the parents follow their eggs across the ocean and are never far away from the babies, they do not make contact, and they do not bring them to the nest. Their instincts know that if they did, they would shelter the younglings and weaken their ability to survive.”
“So if I’m understanding you correctly,” Granite said, “you’re implying we’re overprotecting our moonlark?”
“Have you put her—or her friends—to use since bringing her here?”
“It’s only been a few days,” Squall argued.
“And we’re giving them in-depth training,” Granite added.
“Plus, we’ll be putting them in major danger when we rescue Prentice,” Blur finished.
Sophie wasn’t sure she loved that emphasis on “major danger.” But she also knew Calla was right.
“The mission we went on today,” she said, “was no different than any of the other places you’ve sent me with your notes and clues. How many times have I almost died?”
“All the more reason why we’re taking only calculated risks,” Mr. Forkle said.
“Which is what this was,” Calla insisted. “You’ve known me for centuries. You know that endangering Sophie—or any of these children—is the last thing I would ever do. But you also must accept the reality that sometimes we’re going to need their help.”
Mr. Forkle walked to the fire and stared at the flames so long Sophie felt twitchy.
“Perhaps you’re right,” he finally said. “We have not been utilizing their talents to the full. And in light of today’s developments, it’s crucial we attempt to discern what the Neverseen are planning. So I think it’s time we attempt Mr. Sencen’s plan.”
“My plan?” Keefe asked, looking as confused as Sophie.
Surely the Black Swan weren’t implying they were going to go barreling into Ravagog.
But then she remembered that Keefe had suggested another plan—one Mr. Forkle had even said had its merits.
Mr. Forkle confirmed her suspicions when he said, “Tomorrow the three of us will pay a visit to Gethen.”
TWENTY-ONE
WHAT DO YOU mean by ‘three’?” Fitz asked the Collective. “There are five of us—six if you include my mom.”
“I’m aware,” Mr. Forkle said. “But I only need Miss Foster and Mr. Sencen for this.”
“But I’m Sophie’s Cognate!” Fitz argued.
“Cognate-in-training,” Mr. Forkle corrected. “Besides, Miss Foster will only use her abilities if I decide it’s safe. And Mr. Sencen is only going to be the ruse.” He turned to Keefe. “You’re confident you can mimic your mother’s voice?”
“You have no idea how many detentions I’ve talked my way out of.”
Mr. Forkle didn’t find that as reassuring as Keefe intended. But all he said was, “Be ready at sunrise.”
He met them in the bridge’s gazebo the next morning, wearing a long black cloak with the Neverseen’s symbol on the sleeve. To say the costume triggered panic was an understatement.
When everyone was done screaming and bracing for attack, Mr. Forkle tossed back his hood and gave Sophie and Keefe matching cloaks. Sophie’s hands shook as she slipped on her costume, and she couldn’t take her eyes off the sleeve, remembering all the times the same white eye had taunted her dreams.
Keefe looked just as pale, but his jaw was set with determination.
“Be safe,” Della whispered, pulling them both close for a hug.
“You’re sure you don’t want me to come?” Fitz tried one more time.
“Yes, Mr. Vacker. But don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to risk your life in the future.”
The sad part was, Mr. Forkle wasn’t really joking.
“Remember your panic switch if you need me,” Dex told Sophie.
“That is very generous, Mr. Dizznee. But we’re going somewhere you’ll be unable to follow unless you have one of these.”
Mr. Forkle pulled a grayish vial out of his cloak pocket, and Sophie groaned when she recognized the weak glow of Candesia—one of the five unmapped stars. Sophie had endured a leap with its light once before, during an exhausting test the Black Swan put her and Keefe through to try and figure out how the Neverseen kept following them.
“It is not my first choice either, Miss Foster. But there was only one place we could think to move Gethen that the Neverseen could not easily burn.”
Sophie sighed. “Underwater.”
The leap felt every bit as endless as Sophie remembered, as if time had screeched to a halt, trapping them forever in the empty gray nothing. And yet, somehow it still seemed too soon when they collapsed in the soggy circle of sand. An invisible force field created a dome of air around them.
“Was this made by a Psionipath?” Sophie asked, holding up her balefire pendant to inspect the edges of the force field.
“One of the best,” Mr. Forkle agreed.
“Where’s our kraken buddy this time?” Keefe asked, squinting at the empty ocean.
“The water is too warm here. Last time I sent you to our northern retreat. This is our eastern hold.”