Stella's eyes grew huge. “And when were you planning on bringing this up?”
“Well, now.” Twobble threw his hands up. “Seems like the right time.”
“The Priestess knows about old passages,” Nova said. “She’ll have set listening charms beneath the ground, at the very least.”
Skonk snapped his fingers. “Not all ground.”
Twobble turned to him. “Cousin.”
Skonk’s grin spread slowly. “The UnderLoom has troughs.”
Stella blinked. “I’m sorry, troughs? Gutters?”
“They’re not gutters,” Twobble said, immediately defensive. “That’s an insulting mortal term.”
“They are absolutely gutters in the sense that they can drain and carry things away quickly,” Skonk said. “But our troughs are enchanted. They’re smaller than one would expect, and they tend to propel objects with great force.”
“What kind of objects?” I asked.
Skonk scratched his head. “Just about any kind. I mean it has to fit.”
“Okay… what size are the troughs?” Stella asked.
“Ohh. About yay big.” Twobble put his hands together, leaving only about eight to twelve inches between them.
I laughed. “There's no way I can fit in that. Not even my right thigh would.”
Skonk snickered. “That's what makes them enchanted. They make the impossible possible.”
“There is no normal conversation where enchanted troughs come up.” I sighed.
Skonk lifted the crouton bag. “This one did.”
Bella was smiling now. “Are the troughs under the compound?”
“Not under it,” Skonk said. “But they're certainly near it enough to spit at it if you’ve got range.”
Stella wrinkled her nose. “Let’s use any other measurement than spit. I run a tea shop for crying out loud. Let's act a little more dignified.”
Twobble scowled. “When have you ever been worried about being dignified?”
She chuckled. “Touché.”
“So, they’re near enough to create a false disturbance,” Nova offered. “And distract the guards at the compound.”
Twobble brightened and rubbed his palms together. “Ah, goblin mischief as strategy. Love it.”
“It's a great idea,” I said. “I'm just grateful you finally decided to mention them.”
“We couldn't say anything too soon in case word got out.” Twobble looked at Stella and pointed with his thumb. “I'm not saying, but I'm saying.”
Nova looked at me and back at the map. “So, the goblins create movement beneath the west slope. Frank, Caleb, and Stella approach from the south, visible but guarded. The Priestess’ attention splits.”
“And Maeve, Bella, and Ardetia slip through the east seam,” Caleb finished.
My father shook his head. “I still don’t like it.”
“I don’t either,” I said. “But I like doing nothing even less.”
