cascade | kotlc

7. Fintan's Finale

tw: fire

June came home to Havenfield to find Sophie staring at a compact in Edaline's office.

"What? Hey, that's a human mirror. Oh, Jolie's Foxfire things! You found them!"

"Yes," Sophie said slowly, rotating the mirror. "This one was Jolie's. Why would Jolie have a human mirror?"

June walked over and sat down next to Sophie. "Can you take the glass out?"

Sandor took it from Sophie and examined it, trying to pry the mirror off to no avail. "There's no way to remove it without breaking it."

"So there's nothing behind them," June mused. "The pearls look suspicious. Is it- what did you call it? Chingus? No, Cygnus!"

Sophie gasped as she turned the mirror a different way, revealing the constellation of the swan. So it had come from the Black Swan.

"What did she do with it?" June wondered. "Why would you need a human mirror? What could a human mirror accomplish, other than flipping everything?"

"I don't know."

"Hey, kiddos," Grady said from the doorway, making Sophie almost drop the compact. She shoved it quickly into her pocket.

"Dad, you're home."

"Just got in. I wanted to see you before you left. June -- this may come as a shock to you, but the Council has decided that, due to your extremely competent powers, you will be serving as Sophie and Fitz's bodyguard during the entire healing, if you are willing."

"I will."

Grady nodded. "Good. Here, the Council wants you to wear these for the healing." He handed them a golden satchel, which was surprisingly heavy. "Fireproof clothes," he explained. "The cloth is woven from flareadon fur and bennu feathers. Both creatures are naturally resistant to fire."

"It won't work against Everblaze," June muttered. "Gildie was burned."

"I know, but it's just a precaution. We have to prepare for the possibility that Fintan might spark a fire."

They made their way upstairs to change. They really weren't that different from their normal clothes, just far less comfortable.

The tunic and pants were so fitted she looked like a superhero. And the enormous cape and knee-high boots didn't help. The whole outfit probably weighed more than she did, and the fabric definitely didn't breathe. She was sweaty and gross within five minutes, and she thanked the gods she could control wind and dispel the smell.

"Tiergan should be here any minute to pick you two up."

"You mean 'you three', don't you?" Sandor asked. "Pick us three up?"

"Unfortunately no," Grady said quietly. "Even the Councillors won't have their bodyguards. They're trying to keep the amount of body heat to a minimum."

June winced. She remembered Alden's memory break -- something that, she hoped, wouldn't happen this time.

"So their plan," Sandor said bitterly, "is to gather all of their important people in one place and then not give them any goblin protection? Why not coat the whole place with aromark, while they're at it?"

"If Fintan's really going to attack with fire, goblin's can't do anything," June said. "It would only lead to- more potential... casualties."

Everybody winced.

"The healing will be in Oblivimyre," Grady said.

"What?" Sophie asked when Sandor and June sucked in a breath.