The Stars Said Hello [1]

C H A P T E R - 2 5

Alden led her along the banks of the river that cut a winding path through the heart of Eternalia. "Do you know what these trees are called?" he asked, pointing to the mammoth trunks all around them. Burnt sienna bark braided up to the hunter green leaves, which fanned out like paintbrushes.

"No," Sophie admitted. She'd seen them around—there were even a few at Havenfield—but she never thought to ask what they were.

"Their full name is Purfoliage palmae, but everyone calls them the Pures, because their leaves filter the air, keeping out any pollution or impurities. Every house and city has at least one to keep the air clean, and with so many growing here, Eternalia has the freshest, crispest air in the world." 

He frowned at the sky, where a tinge of gray fuzzed through the blue. "Well, it does when there isn't a fire nearby—but that's not important. Do you wonder why I ask?"

She nodded.

"I was thinking how strange it is that you don't know the name of one of our most common trees—and yet you knew the name and location of a star only a handful of us have ever heard of, and only the Councillors know how to find."

She stared at her feet. "I don't know why. Honestly."

"I know, Sophie. No one thinks what happened is your fault. But we are concerned about what else might be stored away in that mind of yours."

Her head snapped up. "You think there's other stuff?"

"It's possible. You knew how to read the cipher runes on those scrolls, didn't you?"

Her blood ran cold. Was that what Quinlin meant about her being a Keeper, all those months ago? "But . . . how would it get there?"

"We don't know." The hesitation in his voice said otherwise, and it made her desperate to shove into his thoughts. But she was in enough trouble already. And maybe she didn't want to know. . . 

"Is that what Emery said to you at the end?" She remembered Alden's quick nod. "He told you something telepathically, didn't he?"

"You are observant, aren't you?" He sighed. "He was giving me another instruction for you."

Sophie asked, "Is Meredith in trouble due to me?"

Alden looked surprised but then he said, "She's one of the very few who know about the star and the only one who is not a Councillor to know its a location. It's put her in a bit of a tight spot but there's no reason to worry. Kenric might just be reprimanding her for not keeping you out of trouble. It was all those sessions were all about at her place."

Her stomach lurched. "Is it bad?"

"Of course not. Come with me."

He took her hand and leaped them to the edge of Eternalia, where a row of identical crystal castles glowed pink and orange in the sunset.

"Where are we?" Sophie asked as he led her toward the farthest one.

"These are the Councillors' offices. You have an appointment with Councillor Terik."

Her legs went weak from nerves, and she missed a step on the way to the door. Alden steadied her before she fell.

The door opened before Alden knocked, and an elf with wavy brown hair and an emerald-encrusted circlet examined Sophie with curious, cobalt blue eyes. She dropped a shaky curtsy as Alden bowed.

"Do you want me to stay?" Alden asked.

Terik waved him away. "It works better one-on-one—you know that."