"I . . . don't understand," muttered Sophie. "Is this really the Black Swan's hideout, or just a trap?" Glancing at the door warily, she turned to Fitz. "You know how to get to the round window, right? Does this make any sense to you?"
Her sweaty fingers clutched the half-empty piquatine bottle, sliding down and almost dropping it. No . . . it was too precious. She couldn't afford to lose it. They might need it for something else.
Fitz shook his head. "No, I only knew-"
Dex shushed him. "Shhh! Anyone could be listening now, especially the Neverseen."
They fell silent, so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
Keefe broke the endless silence by saying, "Okay, you just made it sound so creepy. Like they're watching us, hidden, oh, I don't know, using a Spyball or something?"
Sophie gasped. "That's it! Spyballs!"
Did you bring yours with you? Fitz transmitted.
She shook her head. No, since it was Edaline who packed my bag, and she doesn't know that I have one-
Keefe snickered. "Awww, no secret telepathic conversations with each other when Keefe is around."
They both jumped and blushed beet red.
"So," interrupted Dex. "What about Spyballs?"
"Maybe they watched us with the Spyball."
"So?" countered Biana. "Mr Forkle watched you with a Spyball? That seems unbelievable" - she sighed. "I miss Foxfire. Even Dame Alina. Oh, wait - it's not her anymore. It's Magnate Leto Kerlof."
She ended with a dramatic flourish that sent them giggling.
But then Sophie stopped, a sudden doubt dawning on her.
"Biana, how do you spell 'Kerlof'?" she asked frantically. She needed to clarify this now.
"K-E-R-L-O-F," replied Biana. "Why?"
But Sophie was one step ahead of her. "If you re-arrange the letters K-E-R-L-O-F," she gasped again, "Guess what?"
"What?" asked Fitz, Keefe, Dex and Biana.
"You get 'Forkle'!" Sophie told them, and they gasped too.
So Magnate Leto was Mr Forkle. And then she remembered he had also used 'you kids' twice too.
Why didn't she notice before?
So that was why Magnate Leto had told her not to tell the Councillors she could still hear his thoughts with the ability restrictor. Why he had always supported her in everything, why he had always helped her.
He was Mr Forkle.
"Wow," breathed Keefe. "I did not see that coming."
"Me too." Biana joined in.
"Me three." Fitz added.
"Me...Four." Dex did not seem too happy to be the last one.
Gathering her scattered thoughts, Sophie took a deep breath.
She had been too focused on the symbol on the door that she didn't even try to open the door.
Grasping the silver knob, she turned it.
It clicked, and opened. It was unlocked.
She stepped in, followed by her friends.
