Then the wind and rumbling and rain were gone as if they had never been—and the humans in Cel-Romano began to believe this was all the terra indigene could do, began to believe they had conquered the Others and would hold all of this new land.

Began to relax.

• • •

Flowing around her home in the Fingerbone Islands, Alantea listened to the stories in the surf—stories that came through the seaway from the Five Sisters, who knew much about Thaisia. She listened to the cries of anger coming from Cel-Romano’s western shores and the strait that connected her domain to Tethys’s home.

There was a malignant current running between Cel-Romano and Thaisia, a current that didn’t touch the other parts of the world. At least, not yet.

A question had come from Thaisia not long ago, and she and the gards living in her domain had helped find the answer. Might she not ask a question in return?

And when she had the answer, she would decide what to do.

To: Tolya Sanguinati

Grandfather wants you to stay in Prairie Gold and keep him informed about what is going on in that area. He is especially interested in hearing about things the human news isn’t reporting.

—Vlad

To: Crispin James Montgomery

No trains running. Will leave with Sierra and her girls as soon as we can. Cyrus called several times, wanting to be included in this visit. Didn’t say anything about bringing his wife or children. Once I told him we were staying with your boss, he lost interest. Doesn’t mean he won’t get interested again. Thought you should know.

—Mother

CHAPTER 39

Watersday, Juin 23

With the exception of Meg Corbyn, all the humans currently residing in the Courtyard had spent the night elsewhere, even if elsewhere was just across the street. Merri Lee had stayed with Ruth and Kowalski; Nadine Fallacaro had slept on the Denbys’ couch, while Chris Fallacaro had bedded down in a borrowed sleeping bag; and he and Lizzy had stayed in the half of Captain Burke’s duplex that had been previously occupied by the Denbys.

Burke had told him he was welcome to use that half of the duplex as a temporary residence or even rent it if he wanted to stay instead of squeezing into the efficiency apartment in the Courtyard or hanging on to the one-bedroom apartment he’d rented when he’d first come to Lakeside. While the offer was generous—and Monty had no doubt Burke would respect his privacy—he couldn’t count on regular work hours, especially now, and he would end up leaving Lizzy with Eve Denby or Ruth Stuart anyway. Easier for everyone to have Lizzy staying across the street from her caretakers and playmates.

And despite yesterday’s upset, the Courtyard was still the most protected place in the city.

So many things he’d like to discuss with Burke—and nothing either of them could say with his seven-year-old daughter and Grr Bear sitting in the backseat.

“Daddy?”

Monty looked over his shoulder. “Yes, Lizzy girl?”

“We really can’t watch TV or movies today?”

“Mother Court passed sentence. No movies or TV for a whole week.”

“But Grr Bear and I didn’t do anything bad.”

“You were accomplices.” He saw Burke’s lips twitch.

Lizzy conferred with Grr Bear. Boo Bear, Lizzy’s previous stuffed toy, had been her constant companion. Grr Bear, whose wooden head and paws had been carved by Henry Beargard, seemed more like a conscience that was less inclined to go along with “cute naughtiness,” let alone outright wrongdoing.

But Grr Bear couldn’t discourage all misbehavior, especially when it was started by someone else.

Monty suspected that, from now on, Nathan Wolfgard’s teeth would prove to be a more effective deterrent in that regard.

Lizzy tried again. “Grr Bear thinks maybe not a whole week if we behave?”

“Does Mother Court show leniency?” Burke asked so quietly the question wouldn’t carry to the backseat.

“Not in my experience,” Monty muttered. Until yesterday when he saw her in angry-mom mode, he’d thought of Eve Denby as a practical, energetic, amiable woman. Last night he considered what would happen to any appeal for mercy once Eve teamed up with his mother, Twyla.

Gods. If he were still a child, he’d give Pete Denby half his allowance each month to be the attorney on retainer.

Monty turned his face away to hide his smile.

“Daddy?”

“Don’t know, Lizzy. I’ve never stood before that particular judge before.”

“Oh.”

The discussion lightened the mood in the car until Monty dropped Lizzy at the Denbys’ apartment, and he and Burke drove to the Chestnut Street station.

“Didn’t think about it last night,” Burke said. “Was there anything in the kitchen for breakfast?”

“Not really, but Eve had said Lizzy could have breakfast with Sarah and Robert.” And he would welcome a large cup of coffee—even what was served in the station’s cafeteria. “Have you heard anything through your grapevine?”

Burke didn’t speak for a long minute. “Some trouble around Market Street—again. Trouble around what is left of Lakeside University as well as the technical college. Nothing that wasn’t expected here. Governor Hannigan locking down the region as fast as he did stalled any attempts to burn Intuit villages or any other settlements within the wild country. Or course, his actions might have saved the Northeast from at least some of what’s coming, but it pretty much destroyed his chance for being reelected if the residents of Toland have anything to say about it. And when it comes to elections, they usually have quite a bit to say.”