Flashback ( PDFDrive )

FORTY-TWO
IT COULD’VE BEEN LUZIA,” FITZ said for what had to be the tenth
time, repeating the conclusion that Tarina had come to.
And it did make sense. Luzia might’ve secretly stuck around to
make sure Tam and Wylie pulled off her illusions without any
problems. There was also no way to tell exactly how fresh the
footprints were, so they could’ve been made earlier, when Luzia was
figuring out where to place all of her mirrors.
Sophie had hailed Luzia to verify either theory, but Luzia didn’t
answer—which didn’t mean anything, but . . . Sophie didn’t like it.
And the monster in her mind was wide awake now. Stalking her
thoughts. Trying to stir up trouble. But she fought back the haunting
voices with lots of deep breaths. And by leaning again on Fitz.
She was very aware of Wylie and Tam watching them, but Fitz
didn’t seem to care one bit. And that was good, because his shoulder
was quickly becoming her favorite place in the whole world.
They stood as a group on the other side of the illusion, watching the
trolls make their final preparations to the tower.
“What if it’s not safe for the babies?” Sophie whispered.
“I can have my empress post guards here,” Tarina offered.
It wasn’t a bad idea. But Sophie couldn’t help thinking about
Luzia’s vague warnings about the trollish empress and decided, “I
want Sandor to sweep the forest as well. And Flori. And Bo. And