“I think mine warns me when there’s danger. Or when…”
When it wants to play,Barclay was going to add, realizing immediately that that was what the Lufthund wanted, why it was wagging its tail. But his Beast wasn’t a companion, like Mitzi. He couldn’t just let it wander in such a large crowd—it might attack someone.
“What about yours?” he asked Abel and Ethel.
“I guess they do, but we almost never keep our Beasts in their Marks,” Ethel said, furiously scribbling notes about the Beasts around them.
“They’re out now,” Abel said, shrugging.
Barclay furrowed his eyebrows. He didn’t remember them ever having Beasts with them. “Which ones are they?”
“They’re right there.” Ethel pointed toward the grass beneath the trees.
Barclay and Viola exchanged a dark look. There was nothing there.
Maybe they were only joking, since they’d said they wanted to keep their Beasts secret. But then Viola asked, “Um… Are you sure they didn’t run off?”
“They’re invisible to other people,” Ethel explained, which did nothing to make Barclay feel better. “Unless you have a—”
“You couldn’t be referring to Doppelgheists?” a slick voice asked from behind them, and the four of them turned around to face Soren and Erhart.
Barclay’s hand instantly reached for his shoulder, as though to protect his Mark. The others tensed. Mitzi rose from Viola’s lap to let out a low growl.
“Yes. I mean—” Abel started nervously, then stopped when Soren reached down and picked up Ethel’s notebook. Soren flipped to the first page and stared at something Barclay couldn’t see.
“Amazing Beasts. Wouldn’t you agree, High Keeper?” Soren asked, showing Erhart what Barclay guessed was a sketch of Ethel’s and Abel’s Beasts.
Erhart didn’t seem to be paying attention, distracted from staring at the expensive fur trim of Soren’s coat. “I… Oh yes. Quite amazing.”
“Prime class. Quite common, really, but I’ve never heard of a Keeper bonding with them, on account of how difficult they are to find—”
“Don’t get any ideas,” Barclay bit out.
Erhart’s gaze shot to Barclay. “To speak like that to a Master!” Then his eyes narrowed. “You’re the registrant from the Elsewheres, aren’t you? Well, you wouldn’t understand the contribution that Mr. Reiker has made to our Guild chapter. No more will Sycomore pale in comparison to the cities of the Desert, the Mountains, the Jungle! No more will the Woods be the punch line of the rest of the Wilderlands! Why, look how many students we have this year. A record amount! Even with the Exhibition being moved early!”
Viola snorted. “You only have this many students because Runa Rasgar is one of the Masters.”
Erhart’s face reddened, and he swayed like he might topple over. “Really, I would never expect such insolence from you, Miss Dumont.”
Viola stiffened, as though she too couldn’t believe what she’d just said. She straightened her lopsided gold pins.
Erhart continued, “And if you knew the uglier sides of Miss Rasgar’s reputation… Mr. Reiker has filled me in onquitea story. I’m second-guessing even allowing her to come to this Exhibition.”
Fear seized Barclay—Runa was the only person in Sycomore who knew how to help him.
“You can’t send Runa away!” he shouted, loudly enough to make other students’ heads turn. Many of their eyes widened.
Erhart cleared his throat. He must have thought Viola’s earlier comment was true, because he said, quite loudly, “You misheard! I’d do no such thing.” Then, once the crowd looked appeased, he lowered his voice. “I don’t want to hear any more of this about Soren. Not from you, or from Miss Rasgar.”
“Yes,” Soren purred. “I think that’s quite enough. It was nice to meet you.” He handed Ethel back her notebook. Then, with one last vicious smile, he led Erhart to the other end of the field.
Once they were both out of earshot, Barclay moaned to the twins, “Now Soren will be after your Beasts too!”
Ethel glanced at the first page of her notebook and swallowed. “I’d like to see him try.”
“What do you think Erhart meant by the ‘uglier sides of Miss Rasgar’s reputation’?” Abel asked. “That didn’t sound like he meant Dooling.…”
“Well, Soren and Runa must know each other,” Viola said.
