Free The Doorway and the Deep by K.E. Ormsbee

sharpen your keens properly.”
    Lottie felt certain she heard a sneer in Lyre’s voice as he said the word “keens.”
    â€œThe Northerly Court is full of sprites who can help you along in your training,” said Silvia. “Rebel Gem has offered you the full protection of the court, just as I have extended my protection here.”
    â€œIs that all true, Father?” asked Oliver. “Is that what you want for us?”
    Mr. Wilfer looked tired. “I’ve long felt uneasy about your situation here,” he said. “I can think of no better opportunity for you to advance your studies. I think you should be back amongst other sprites. Though I will of course leave it up to you.”
    â€œ
You
may leave it to them, Moritasgus,” said Lyre, “but I do not allow halflings and
other folk
”—here he cast a look at Eliot—“to reside in my territory.”
    â€œHey!” cried Eliot. “But Mr. Wilfer made a deal with the Seamstress.”
    â€œHe made a deal with her,” said Lyre, “not with me. Silvia can play by her rules while I’m away, but
my
rule has been, and ever will be, that there is no room here for outsiders. We wisps have enough troubles as it is without interference.”
    â€œYeah,” said Fife. “Troubles you want
us
to help with. And when exactly do you plan on booting us out of here?”
    â€œTomorrow,” said Lyre. “I promised Rebel Gem an immediate transaction.”
    â€œ
WHAT?
” roared Fife.
    Lottie blinked in shock. This news was so sudden, so wholly unexpected, that she’d yet to sort out half its meaning. Travel to the Northerly Court? All she knew of Rebel Gem were the fractured mentions she’d heard from the Barghest and from Roote and Crag, the two Northerlies she had met on her journey to the Southerly Court. She had certainly never heard of a place called the Wilders. And what about
Eliot
?
    â€œWhat if we do go?” asked Fife. “How’re we supposed to travel north, on bare Barghest back?”
    â€œNothing so uncivil,” said Silvia, who hadn’t seen the excitement in Fife’s face when he asked the question. “Lyre has brought back with him an ambassador from the Northerly Court, sent directly from Rebel Gem as a gestureof hospitality. He’s been taking a rest after the long journey, but I’ve requested Wren to fetch him. Ah! And what magnificent timing, for here they come.”
    Silvia motioned to the bower doors, where Wren stood guard, her face impassive.
    â€œGo on, then,” said Silvia. “Show him in.”
    Wren opened the bower door and announced, “The honored ambassador from the North.”
    In walked a young man with shaggy black hair and muscled arms. His gait was confident as he strode toward the willow tree, then stooped in a bow. When he lifted his face, Lottie saw the three metal rings that pierced his nose.
    The honored ambassador from the North was none other than Dorian Ingle.

CHAPTER FIVE
Iolanthe

    â€œDORIAN,” said Lyre. “I didn’t think Northerlies acknowledged royalty.”
    Dorian Ingle smiled broadly at the Tailor of the Wisps. “I wasn’t bowing to you. I was paying my respects to the Heir of Fiske.”
    Dorian turned his smile on Lottie. Warmth creep-crawled into her face.
    â€œI’m not royalty,” she said. “Not even close.”
    â€œNo,” said Dorian, winking at her. “But you possess the courage of the Fiskes. I haven’t forgotten that so easily from our last encounter. Lottie Fiske, it would be my honor to serve and protect you on your journey north.”
    â€œYeah, and what about the rest of us?” said Fife. “Will it be your
honor
to protect us, or are you just flirting because Lottie’s so nice to look at?”
    Adelaide gasped. Oliver’s eyes went pink.
    â€œYou’re a forceful one, aren’t you?” said