The Doorway and the Deep by K.E. Ormsbee Read Free Book Online Page A

sneaking in the first place?” asked Eliot.
    â€œBecause,” said Lottie, “the adults aren’t going to tell us what the Tailor’s arrival is really about. That means we have to find out for ourselves. Isn’t that right, Fife?”
    â€œJust so,” said Fife.
    â€œMaybe,” said Eliot, “the Tailor came back because he was tired? Living away from home can be exhausting.”
    Lottie looked up sharply. Though Lottie missed nothing about her former life in New Kemble, she knew that the letters exchanged between Eliot and Mr. Walsch weren’t a substitute for the father and son seeing each other in person. At least she and Eliot were heading back to Kemble Isle the next day.
    â€œThat’s not why he’s returned,” said Fife. “Uncle doesn’t give up easily. Whatever news he’s brought back with him has got to be big. That’s why we’re going to find it out.”
    With that, Fife floated through the courtyard archway.
    By now, Lottie had seen inside all the courtyards of the glass pergola. Some contained statues, others fountains, still others weapons. The most important courtyard contained the Great Lantern of the wisps and was accessible only by members of the Dulcet family.
    The courtyard they now stood in was, in Lottie’s opinion, the ugliest of them all. It was overrun with ill-tended vines and thorny plants, and there was no bench to sit upon, nor fountains to listen to, nor statues to contemplate. It looked like a gardening project gone wrong, then forgotten. As a result, no one ever visited this courtyard. Lottie supposed that was why Fife had brought them there.
    â€œRight,” Fife said, crouching at the entrance of the glass pergola proper. “This close enough for you, Ada?”
    Adelaide shut her eyes, her upturned nose wrinkled in concentration.
    â€œIt’s faint,” she said. “They’re in your mother’s private quarters. Stay quiet, the rest of you.”
    Lottie heard a snicker. Eliot’s eyes were watering from laughter.
    â€œSorry,” he squeaked out. “I’m still getting used to it. It’s
funny
. She’s like a comic book character.”
    Adelaide kept her eyes closed, but color burst in her cheeks.
    â€œWhat’s funny,” she said, “is that you’re the only one
without
a keen, Eliot. Now hush up and let me concentrate.”
    Eliot nodded obediently, though he covered his mouth and continued to laugh silently.
    Adelaide remained quiet. She frowned, faintly at first, then harder. At last, she shook her head, annoyed.
    â€œThis is stupid,” she said. “He’s talking about some new collection of robes he bought in Thistlebram. Nothing more.”
    â€œNo,” said Fife. “He didn’t come home early just to chat about thread counts. He came back with important news.”
    â€œMaybe we missed it,” said Eliot, who had since recovered from the shakes.
    â€œ
No
,” Fife said. “No, this kind of news is the news you don’t just mention and forget. It’s the kind of news that requires immediate action. Like an invasion of Wisp Territory or a cure that’s faster than Mr. Wilfer’s. Something
big
. It
has
to be.”

    â€œFife,” said Oliver. “Maybe the Tailor just wanted to come home early, and that’s all. Home-keeping hearts are happiest, for those that wander they know not where are full of trouble and full of care.”
    â€œThat’s certainly what it sounds like,” said Adelaide, “which means we’ve been doing all this juvenile snooping for nothing. You’re his nephew, Fife. If you’re so convinced something’s wrong, ask him yourself.”
    â€œWhat an excellent idea!” Fife cried, clapping Adelaide on the shoulders. “Why didn’t I think of it? Oh! Yes! Because, unlike some people, I don’t have sponge cake for brains.”
    Adelaide