KEEFER Of The Lost Cities

Neverseen- If You Need Me, Throw Something At My Window

Barely a second of hesitation passed between all seven people in the room before they began barreling down the stairs, Sophie and Calla leading.

The messengers were two gnomes. One was wearing pants and a vest woven with leaves, while the other in a flowing dress made of pressed flowers. They stood by the river, watching as the current rushed by.

Keefe didn't have to touch them to realize how tense they were. They stood with rigid stances and stiff arms, gray eyes filled with worry as they turned o face the mess of people rushing down the steps.

Calla stopped abruptly, pausing a moment before gesturing toward the one in the vest, "This is Lur," she said, pausing again to catch her breath. "And his wife, Mitya."

Lur's gaze traveled over them for barely an instant, though his eyes widened in surprise when they saw Keefe. Mitya let out a soft breath of surprise too.

He'd never seen them before, but they obviously recognized him.

This was about his mother. That single eye-widening was the only confirmation he needed and his heart quickened at the thought of what she might have done this time.

Lur didn't answer in the enlightened language, rather switching to one he heard his mother use with their gnomes, a flowery, swishy language. There was disdain in his voice, which was at least something Keefe could recognize.

Calla answered back in her own language, and whatever she said must have clued them in to who Sophie was because they straightened, both of their eyes flew back to her and they looked her over again, reevaluating.

Calla began introducing them, which Keefe knew because he heard their names as Calla pointed to them. Lur and Mitya barely looked- their eyes fixed on Sophie.

Mitya leaned in closer to Lur, whispering something with anxious eyes. Calla responded in turn. Keefe got that they wanted to see Sophie. HE always wanted to see Sophie.

But come on. He would die if he had to wait longer.

Keefe had gotten used to blocking out most of Sophie's feelings, in order to at least preserve some of her privacy. It was harder in the beginning, when he wasn't used to the constant onslaught of feelings and the emotional rollercoaster that came with Sophie, and it was harder when Sophie had sudden, strong feelings. Like fear, surprise, pain, or the annoying fluttery feeling that came with her staring at Fitz for too long.

This time, it was pure confidence that broke through the mental barricade he's built.

He turned to see her just in time to reply, sounding perfectly gnome-ish. It made Lur and Mitya lower their heads and finally switch to the Enlightened Language.

"We meant no disrespect, Miss Foster," Lur said. "We did not realize how far your gifts stretched. And it is an honor to meet you in person."

The Black Swan had a really good connection with gnomes. "Lur and Mitya have served the Black Swan nearly as long as I have," Calla explained. "Usually from afar, keeping an ear to the ground, so to speak. They were actually the ones who found the hideout where the Neverseen held you captive."

It took a second for Keefe to realize that they weren't talking about finding Sophie and Dex at the Four Seasons Tree. They were talking about the Neverseen hideout they were saved from right before Mr. Forkle ditched them alone in a random human city with barely any way to get home. "You did?" Dex asked. "I've always wondered how they found us."

"So have I," Sophie agreed.

"It really was not much," Mitya said. "The roots told us of the voices hiding deep in the earth. All we did was listen."