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Noli was very worried about you and asked me to keep you safe until she could get here,” he lied, needing the girl to trust him. Magnolia was probably still on her brother’s airship back in the mortal realm.
    “Oh, I’m so glad.” Elise looked visibly relieved. “Everyone is always off having adventures and I’m afraid they’ll forget me.”
    My, how naïve she was.
    “Will you come with me?” Kevighn held out his hand. “You must be hungry. We’ll find you something hot to eat and a much more comfortable place to sleep.”
    She eyed him, lips pursing slightly, head cocked to one side. “How will Noli know where I am? Is she there?”
    Kevighn flashed her his most disarming smile. “Noli’s not there, but that’s where I told her to find me. We’ll send word so she won’t worry about you.” He motioned for the purple wood faery, the one that loved Magnolia best. “Find Magnolia and tell her to come to the Thirsty Pooka as soon as possible.”
    The faery nodded and flew out the window. Odds were the faery wouldn’t find Magnolia, but the little girl sat back on her heels and gave him a satisfied nod. Good.
    If the faery did actually bring his fair blossom, well, that would be even better.
    “All right, Elise.” He noted that she said her name differently. A mortal name like her brothers, no doubt. “Why don’t we go before it gets too late?”
    She stood, smoothed her dirty dress with her smudged hand, then picked her valise up off the table. “Where are we going?”
    He took her hand. “Why, to a wondrous place. It’s called the Thirsty Pooka.”

Three
    The Staff of Eris
    Surrounded by books, Steven sat on the floor of Quinn’s office. Opening another journal, he flipped through the pages, trying to find anything helpful. Quinn had spent much of his life researching rare and odd artifacts in the Otherworld. If anyone knew what Brogan was trying to assemble, it would be Quinn. Unfortunately, Quinn wasn’t here, so these journals would have to suffice. Not that Steven was finding anything.
    A word on the page caught his eye:
    Every day I mourn Creideamh more and more, and further regret the role I played in her death. Even Dom wishes he didn’t do what he did. But it’s the law. I should have told her to accept exile and promised to go with her. We could have been happy in the mortal realm—or even among the dark court with her family and friends. No. I allowed my pride to blind me. In the end, I will never forgive myself. All that I’ve done to atone for my sins will never be enough. I lost the greatest gift I’d ever had without realizing what I’d done until it was too late. One day her brother will track me down and kill me. When he does, I’ll allow it. Then my love and I will be together once again.
    Steven marked the page with his finger. Creideamh. Where had he heard that name before? Never had he known Quinn to have a wife or girlfriend. Dom would be Steven’s father. A sigh escaped his lips. If only he knew what information might be relevant—or where to look.
    Noli burst into the room, James with her. He looked up. They didn’t look as if they’d brought supper.
    “V, V, I remember. I know what Brogan’s trying to do. We have to protect the pieces. We have to keep them safe.” Noli’s steel-colored eyes danced like a mad woman’s, her expression frantic. She no longer wore her hat, and chestnut waves escaped her coif, adding to the effect.
    “Wait, what?” He blinked. She remembered ? From where?
    She plopped down on the floor next to him, spreading her skirts around her. “I know what it is.”
    James took a seat in Quinn’s chair.
    Steven traced a glyph in the air with his finger, the design glowing green, then fading.
    “What’s that?” A lock of dark hair fell in Noli’s eyes as she peered up at him.
    “A soundproofing spell. We need to be cautious.” The three of them appearing at the earth court palace this morning to challenge his uncle had cost them