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

Dorian, sauntering closer to Fife. “The Tailor warned me about you.”
    â€œI can’t imagine what he said, considering he doesn’t know me at all.”
    Dorian snorted. “Well, listen up, Little Dulcet. It will be my privilege to escort
all
of you safely to the Northerly Court, without regard to parentage or prettiness.”
    Lottie blushed. She turned to avoid Dorian’s gaze, but also because she had something to say to Mr. Wilfer.
    â€œI can’t go,” she said. “I won’t.”
    â€œIt’s been a month,” Eliot piped up timidly. “My dad’s been really understanding about everything, but he’d be so upset if I didn’t come back for the holidays.”
    â€œThen let the human child return to his home, where he belongs,” said Silvia. “There’s no need for Lottie to follow.”
    â€œThere’s every need for me to follow!” Lottie cried. “I have to stay near Eliot. I keep him well. Tell them, Mr. Wilfer.”
    â€œIt’s true,” Mr. Wilfer said. “If she and the boy were to part, I fear it would be detrimental to his health.”
    â€œThat is not our concern,” said Lyre.
    â€œWell, it’s
mine
,” Lottie said. “I can’t go on this great errand of yours if it means traveling north tomorrow. I promised Eliot I would go home with him for the holidays. We’ll be there for weeks. I
promised
.”
    â€œThat’s terribly inconvenient,” observed Dorian, who had pulled a pipe from his breast pocket and was now lighting its contents.
    â€œIt’s impossible,” said Lyre. “I told Rebel Gem I would send you to the Northerly Court straightaway.”
    â€œWell, maybe you should’ve asked my permission first!” Lottie shouted.
    â€œEasy now,” said Dorian, puffing out a cloud of orange smoke. “No need to get riled up. Maybe Lottie just needs some time to consider.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to consider,” Lottie snapped. “I go home with Eliot tomorrow.”
    â€œHave you told her, Lyre?” Dorian asked. “How Rebel Gem has offered to train her in person?”
    Lottie grew still. “
Rebel Gem
wants to help me sharpen my keen?”
    â€œA very qualified teacher, too,” said Dorian. “Has anyone ever told you how similar Rebel Gem’s keen is to your own?”
    Lottie shook her head. She suddenly felt as though her neck wasn’t properly attached to her body.
    â€œThat shouldn’t change anything,” she said quietly.
    â€œMaybe it shouldn’t,” said Dorian. “But it’s something to consider, isn’t it?”
    â€œTailor,” Mr. Wilfer spoke up. “Seamstress. You’ve given the children a heavy piece of news. I think it best to grant them time to think it over.”
    The brother and sister exchanged a glance. Silvia gave a slow, solitary nod.
    â€œThey can think it over, if that gives them comfort,” said Lyre. “But regardless, the Heir of Fiske must be ready to depart in one day’s time. No later.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” muttered Fife. “We’ll be out of this rotten dump soon enough.”

    They were assigned four guards for the journey back to the Clearing. Though Lottie knew Lyre had only sent Wren and the three other guards to ensure that she and the others didn’t try to escape, she was secretly grateful for their presence. She still couldn’t shake her fear of whitecaps or the memory of that wisp guard slumped in a pool of blood.
    Fife talked the whole way back.
    â€œWe don’t even get a say in the matter. If we don’t go of our own free will, that Dorian fellow will probably kidnap us and haul us to the Northerly Court anyhow. Wouldn’t be surprised if the Tailor’s sold us all into slavery.”
    No one replied, but no one really needed to. Fife was content carrying on the conversation with