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

himself.
    When they arrived at the Clearing, Lottie said, “We should talk it over.”
    So they all crawled into Lottie and Adelaide’s yew, and only after the guards had left and the yew branch splintered back into place did everyone start to speak.
    â€œFather seems to think it’s a good idea,” said Oliver.
    â€œYes, well, he was forced into it by the Tailor,” said Fife. “Uncle probably threatened him with disembodiment.”
    Oliver shivered. “Whatever the case, it isn’t fair Lottie and Eliot are being backed into it.”
    Adelaide was crying. “This isn’t what I meant when I said I wanted proper tutelage! What kind of qualified teachers can there possibly be in the North? They’re all barbarians!”
    â€œI dunno what’s left to discuss,” said Fife. “They’ve made our decision for us.”
    Eliot looked over nervously at Lottie.
    â€œDon’t worry,” she whispered for only him to hear. “I’m going home with you. Nothing’s changed.”
    Though something
had
changed. Lottie had promised Eliot she would return home. He missed his father, and Lottie knew Mr. Walsch must miss Eliot terribly, too. And she couldn’t possibly let Eliot go home on his own. He coughed even when he was with her. What would happen if she left his side?
    And yet.
    Rebel Gem had offered to train her.
The
Rebel Gem, leader of the Northerlies, had a keen like her own. The memory surfaced in Lottie’s mind: the bloodied wisp guard who had struggled for life while she looked on, powerless, unable to help or heal. She wasn’t getting anywhere under Mr. Wilfer’s instruction, but what if she could make better progress with Rebel Gem?
    Then her memory threw up the awful, unwanted image of the Southerly King’s cold eyes as he crushed a helpless boy’s genga in his hand, a crowd cheering,
“Fifthed! Fifthed!”
    â€œDo you think the Tailor’s plan would work?” Lottie asked. “Do you think if the wisps get hold of the addersfork, they can really kill him?”
    â€œWho knows?” said Oliver. “But it sounds like the only plan they’ve got.”
    â€œ
Lottie
is the only plan they’ve got,” corrected Adelaide. “But it’s unjust for the Tailor to banish the rest of us up North when we’ve nothing to do with this silly scheme.”
    â€œCome on, Adelaide.” Oliver’s eyes turned a green as coaxing as his voice. “It won’t be that bad. I bet the Northerlies aren’t nearly as uncivil as you think. Some of the most powerful sprites in history have been Northerlies—Fiskes included.”
    Lottie perked up at this. In all the ruckus and confusion, she’d forgotten the fact that her mother was a Northerly.Her mother had probably visited the Northerly Court, too. The thought made her heart lurch.
    â€œI’ll go,” said Adelaide, sniffling, “but I won’t go happily.”
    â€œWhat about you, Lottie?” Fife asked. “Are you really going back to Kemble Isle? The Tailor isn’t going to take kindly to that decision.”
    He didn’t sound accusatory, but he did sound upset.
    â€œI’m really sorry,” Lottie said, “but I have to. I care about all of you, and about Albion Isle, but Eliot is—I mean, Eliot could—he could—”
    â€œNo one’s angry with you, Lottie,” said Oliver. “You don’t have to explain.”
    Lottie wanted to say,
But
I’m
angry with
myself.
    â€œHow long will you be gone?” Adelaide asked.
    â€œNothing was definite,” said Lottie, “but we’d planned on staying several weeks at least.”
    â€œHow will you even get back here is what I want to know,” said Fife. “The Tailor’s hardly going to let you come waltzing back through his silver-boughed tree after you refuse to cooperate with his plan.”
    â€œI