Board Thread:Short Stories and Fanfictions/@comment-44544645-20191211195811/@comment-44544645-20200102020643

Nineteen

“Glimmer didn’t sound like Luzia,” Tam argued.

'''“Yeah, but Glimmer can mimic.” Linh countered. “Gethen probed your mind, didn’t he? You know my voice really well. So Glimmer was probably able to pick up on my voice and sound similar—to get you to trust her even more, because the Neverseen needed you for the stellarlune thing, if they were plotting a stellarlune thing and haven’t already done it. She left super abruptly this afternoon, remember? She could have gone back to Luzia’s home, transformed into Luzia, and been there when Alden and Fitz came by for the probing. Glimmer and Luzia were both working with stellarlune, too.”'''

'''Sophie nodded, another piece of evidence surfacing. “Didn’t Luzia work with Vespera on illusions at some point? Vespera could have recruited her then.”'''

“What are you kids up to?” Mr. Forkle shouted.

'''Sophie looked at her friends, none of them wanting to break the news. Marella was the one who said it.'''

“We think that Glimmer and Luzia Vacker are the same person.”

'''There was gasping and shrieking and shouting, everyone trying to make their voice be heard. Then a loud, high-pitched whistle infected Sophie’s ears, screeching and humming until everyone was silent.'''

'''“Sorry about that,” Councillor Noland apologized. As a Voiceforator, he could scream loudly in various tones and manipulate his voice. “It was the easiest way to call for order.” '''

“Explain,” Councillor Bronte demanded.

'''Sophie and her friends did their best, showing them the list of information and pointing out all the similarities. Finally, Mr. Forkle said what they were all thinking.“Someone needs to go back and check to see if Glimmer is missing.” '''

'''“And I am not up for yet another debate on who gets to take the risk,” he continued. “Sir Tiergan, Mr. Wylie, Mr. Tam, and Miss Linh will go.” '''

“Just Tiergan,” Tiergan corrected, true to form.

'''Mr. Forkle pushed on before anyone else could stop him. “Glimmer was staying at their house, Mr. Tam’s ability is handy for disguising, Miss Linh is a powerful Hydrokinetic, should any dangers arise, and Mr. Wylie’s ability as a Flasher will be useful for the same reason. They will be gone for ten minutes—or less. Tiergan will transmit to me if any danger arises.”'''

'''With a lot of grumbling, the deal was made. '''

'''Those ten minutes were the longest ten minutes in Sophie’s life. She paced the living room anxiously, tried to add more information to their list, and finally collapsed in an armchair, waiting for them to leap back. The Councillors were debating telepathically, leaving everyone else with nothing to do but worry.'''

Finally, just as the final grains of sand were falling through Mr. Forkle’s hourglass, the group arrived.

'''“It’s true,” Tiergan muttered. “Glimmer is gone. It seems likely that she is Luzia.”'''

'''Councillor Emery took a deep breath. “We’ve reached a concensus. Alina, Bronte, Clarette, and Zarina are going to Marintylla right now to apprehend Empress Pernille. The rest of us will remain here, to try and sort out this mess.”'''

“You should bring some kind of protection,” Mr. Forkle warned.

'''Emery shook his head. “Goblins and ogres aren’t allowed in Marintylla.”'''

“Then bring us,” Sophie urged.

'''Bronte looked at Sophie. “Your intentions are admirable, Miss Foster. But between all of our special abilities, we should be able to handle this ourselves. Also, we’ll be less conspicious this way.”'''

'''“There’s no time for debate. We need to move quickly,” Mr. Forkle cut in. “Good luck.”'''

The four Councillors stepped into the beam of an orange leaping crystal and glittered away before anyone could respond.

'''Sophie was dazed. Were these people—the ones taking a spontaneous risk after less than half an hour of discussion—really the same ones that took forever to make descisions and often seemed to hate her? '''

'''It was a good change. Really good.'''

Finally, everyone was taking a stand.

'''“Does anyone have any idea where Glimmer might be?” Councillor Emery asked. “Besides the Neutral Territories?”'''

'''“Could we check her registry feed?” Councillor Darek wondered. “Wait—if she’s Luzia Vacker, how does she handle having two identities?”'''

'''All eyes turned to Mr. Forkle. '''

'''“She probably is swapping her pendants on and off, leaving the not-in-use pendant in an unsuspicious place. Her Glimmer pendant is probably still at Tiergan’s home, while her Luzia pendant might still be on her. We should check her registry feed—was she wearing it today?” “She wasn’t,” Oralie answered, and then she muttered something like, “I can’t believe I missed that.” '''

'''Sophie closed her eyes, looking back on the memory. “Yeah, she wasn’t. Great, we have nothing to go on.”'''

'''“What do you mean?” Councillor Terik turned to her. “The discovery of stellarlune is huge!”'''

'''There was an awkward silence where everyone in the Black Swan tried very hard not to look at each other. '''

'''“Good point!” Keefe enthused. His tone would have taken her by suprise otherwise, but Sophie knew he was trying to cover for her. '''

'''“We have another lead, too,” Linh said. '''

Everyone turned to look at her.

'''“When Glimmer came to live with us, I didn’t trust her. I was so mad that I stuck a tiny tracking device into her leg. And it turns out that was a good thing, because now she thinks she can head back to the Neverseen, or at least away from us—but I know exactly where to find her.”'''