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This was a surprise.
“Indeed? She told you that herself? Or did you hear it in a dream?”
Jacob would’ve parried his sarcasm with some of his own, but his younger brother was so serious! It really took all the fun out of it.
“I can feel her, just like one feels the sun even if you can’t see it.” The Pup actually put his hand over his heart. “Maybe she’s closer than we think.”
That would be too good to be true. Nerron didn’t want to know what Seventeen was like when he really got impatient. He thought he’d spotted the Mirrorling among the trees. The light there was producing some suspicious glints.
“Water the horses. I’ll shoot us some dinner.”
Will nodded. He kept looking down the empty road as though he could see the Fairy. “Have you ever heard of the Long Sleep?”
“Have I ever seen a Thumbling?” Nerron retorted. “Sure. The Fairies like to use it.”
“And only true love can wake you. Did you ever hear of it not working?”
What the devil..?
“There’s no true love. How old are you? It’s what we call our lust when we explain it to children.” Nerron put the reins in Will’s hands. “I’ll be back soon.”
Will looked after him as though he hadn’t said all he wanted to say. He stood there looking so lost that Nerron wanted to go back and ply him with the Goyl wine he always carried for such occasions. Did Milk-face really feel the location of the Fairy?
Nerron went to the trees and stopped when he was sure he couldn’t be seen from the road.
“Seventeen!”
It got warm, pleasantly warm for his Goyl skin, but the ferns around him began to wilt as leaves and shadows turned into clothes and faces. How the devil did that work? Mirrors that chose which image to show. Did they collect the pictures? Like memories?
Seventeen’s face was younger than any he’d shown before, but he changed it as he stepped out from the ferns. Seventeen what? Faces? He had more. The Knife, as Nerron had secretly named Sixteen, eyed him as though her stare alone could turn him into precious metal. Maybe she’d gotten over the fact that he’d seen how much she liked the Pup. She had a bark-like spot on her cheek, which she quickly hid with her gloved hand. Bark. Seventeen had a similar spot on his forehead. The curse… They were not immune! No wonder they were in a hurry.
“Not a trace of the Fairy. Rumor has it she’s headed to Moskva, but the Pup says he knows better.”
“You should believe him.” Seventeen picked a caterpillar from the tree next to him. “The Fairy did put a spell on him. There’s a connection.” He changed his face again. This new one looked eerily familiar.
“Where did you get that face?”
Seventeen looked at the silver caterpillar in his palm. “From his brother. Why?”
“When did you meet him?”
“He was following us. Very careless.”
Jacob Reckless had followed them? “And? Where is he now?”
Seventeen held up the silver caterpillar.
What a stew of emotions! Nerron felt surprise, and glee, and—sharp and painful—disappointment. What about his revenge plans?
“You killed him?”
Seventeen dropped the caterpillar with a sigh. “That was the plan, but he survived. Some Witch magic. This world is irritating. Too much magic. Too much dirt. Pathetic roads. And trees everywhere.” He eyed the oak next to him with obvious loathing. “Don’t worry. He’s lost your trail.”
Oh, but you always had to worry when Jacob Reckless was on your trail. Still, Nerron was glad his foe had survived Seventeen’s silver fingers. He was fond of his revenge fantasies. Maybe Jacob just wanted the crossbow back. But the possibility that he might be fooling them because he knew exactly who his brother’s guide was? Well, that was very satisfying.
Oh, life was beautiful.
Unfortunately, high spirits always made Nerron reckless.
