sharpen your keens properly.â
Lottie felt certain she heard a sneer in Lyreâs voice as he said the word âkeens.â
âThe Northerly Court is full of sprites who can help you along in your training,â said Silvia. âRebel Gem has offered you the full protection of the court, just as I have extended my protection here.â
âIs that all true, Father?â asked Oliver. âIs that what you want for us?â
Mr. Wilfer looked tired. âIâve long felt uneasy about your situation here,â he said. âI 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
â
You
may leave it to them, Moritasgus,â said Lyre, âbut I do not allow halflings and
other folk
ââhere he cast a look at Eliotââto reside in my territory.â
âHey!â cried Eliot. âBut Mr. Wilfer made a deal with the Seamstress.â
âHe made a deal with her,â said Lyre, ânot with me. Silvia can play by her rules while Iâm 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
âYeah,â said Fife. âTroubles you want
us
to help with. And when exactly do you plan on booting us out of here?â
âTomorrow,â said Lyre. âI promised Rebel Gem an immediate transaction.â
â
WHAT?
â roared Fife.
Lottie blinked in shock. This news was so sudden, so wholly unexpected, that sheâd yet to sort out half its meaning. Travel to the Northerly Court? All she knew of Rebel Gem were the fractured mentions sheâd 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
?
âWhat if we do go?â asked Fife. âHowâre we supposed to travel north, on bare Barghest back?â
âNothing so uncivil,â said Silvia, who hadnât seen the excitement in Fifeâs face when he asked the question. âLyre has brought back with him an ambassador from the Northerly Court, sent directly from Rebel Gem as a gestureof hospitality. Heâs been taking a rest after the long journey, but Iâve requested Wren to fetch him. Ah! And what magnificent timing, for here they come.â
Silvia motioned to the bower doors, where Wren stood guard, her face impassive.
âGo on, then,â said Silvia. âShow him in.â
Wren opened the bower door and announced, âThe honored ambassador from the North.â
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
âDORIAN,â said Lyre. âI didnât think Northerlies acknowledged royalty.â
Dorian Ingle smiled broadly at the Tailor of the Wisps. âI wasnât bowing to you. I was paying my respects to the Heir of Fiske.â
Dorian turned his smile on Lottie. Warmth creep-crawled into her face.
âIâm not royalty,â she said. âNot even close.â
âNo,â said Dorian, winking at her. âBut you possess the courage of the Fiskes. I havenât 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
âYeah, and what about the rest of us?â said Fife. âWill it be your
honor
to protect us, or are you just flirting because Lottieâs so nice to look at?â
Adelaide gasped. Oliverâs eyes went pink.
âYouâre a forceful one, arenât you?â said