The Hallowed scurry about their diurnal, exchanging brief pleasantries before disappearing to whatever narrative pulls them in. What would they do if their annus was no longer ruled by outdated stories? Would they blindly continue to serve an absent Idol, or would they forge their own future? Most people like rules. It helps them to make sense of the realm, and I understand their need for it, even if I don’t share their values.
“What are you plotting?” Nash whispers in my ear. When did he abandon his books for me? I glance over my shoulder. His gaze flicks from the courtyard to me. His lips kick upward, making my heart beat a little faster.
“I am not plotting anything. All this studying and researching without results makes me angsty. I need to take a walk and get rid of some of this energy before my clumsiness takes matters into its own hands and creates something interesting.”
He sighs. “Actually, I could do with a few items from the inventory. I’ll make you a list.”
“You’re sending me shopping?”
Gwyneth’s eyes lift from her book. “I also need something.”
Why do they need things to read? I fold my arms and narrow my eyes. “You don’t need to make up phantom shopping lists in order to get me out of the chambers. I am quite capable of making my own entertainment.”
She shakes her head. “Nobody is making stuff up, Daphne. There are a few things in these books that we need to test for authenticity.”
“Meaning you found something useful?”
“Perhaps,” she agrees with an incline of her head.
“I’ll go with her,” Theo rumbles. “I’ll pick up some clean sheets.”
My head snaps toward him. “Why would you need clean sheets?” More importantly, who has been on his sheets to dirty them?
His lips twitch. “When we spelled our quarters to only admit everyone in this room, we barred the cleaning staff. We, as in all of us, need new sheets for every bed because we like to keep them fresh.”
Oh. That is a perfectly innocent reason.
Gwyneth pulls a piece of parchment from a stack next to her and scrawls something on it. “Two pink feathers and a length of gold thread,” she murmurs before glancing at Nash in question. It’s good they are making a list, because you can bet I will forget it in two tempos.
Nash grabs his open book with a frown and flicks back through the pages. “I need the hide of a bunkum.”
“The entire thing?” I counter. “I will never be able to carry that.”
“Good thing you have me with you,” Theo reminds me.
Nash continues as Gwyneth adds it to the parchment. “That’s all,” Nash declares.
I grab the list from my sister just as the genie appears in a puff of purple smoke. I waft it away with a cough.
“Is there any need for the theatrics?” I grumble. “I’m sure it can’t be good for the environment.”
The genie rolls his eyes. “Poseidon is working on a plan to meet you on land. I believe from my observations that he intendsto honor the exchange of weapons. However, I am not convinced he will be happy to leave you out of the water.”
“Continue to keep us updated,” I tell him as I stride past him to the door.
“Where are you going?” he asks.
“Shopping,” I declare, waving the parchment in the air.
My broom zooms around my ankles. “You want to go out, Sir Sweeps-A-Lot?”
The genie appears between me and the door, his gaze burrowing into mine as he folds his arms and puffs out his chest. “Tell me you did not name the broom without naming myself or your faithful mirror man.”
So they did want names? I’m an idiot. “I did name him, but I wasn’t aware you wanted one, too.”
“All magical things want names,” the genie counters.
“What would you like yours to be?”
