Still thinking of it as gathering? Sophie’s voice sounded cheerfully in her mind. And even though the voice belonged to Claire … Claire had nothing to say.

Lyric carefully slipped out from her seat, and Claire followed. Trying to be as quiet as possible, they began to scurry up the aisle to the large domed doors at the back of the theater.

“Weft!” The director’s voice boomed over them. “Where do you think you’re going?”

Lyric stopped in her tracks. “I … Excuse me, Director?”

“You’ve missed a day and a half of practice. If you want to be an understudy for Claudia”—he nodded in the direction of one of the younger dancers, who didn’t throw ribbons but scattered silk flowers across the stage—“you had better get your Flyers on and get up here.”

Lyric gasped. For the first time, she was truly speechless. She didn’t move.

The director frowned. “Unless, of course, you don’t want to travel to Hilltop Palace?”

“Congratulations!” Claire said, trying to conceal the eagerness in her voice. She was happy for Lyric, really, but also it would be much easier to observe the protective measures around the Love Knot Tine if she didn’t have to worry about what she’d say to Lyric. She liked the younger girl and didn’t want to get her in any trouble. “Go on up there!”

“But,” Lyric whispered back, “the tine! Your memory!”

Claire gave her a gentle push. “I’ll be fine.”

Lyric didn’t need to be told twice. She bounded up to the stage and disappeared into the wings. As the musicians again struck the first note, Claire turned her back on the stage and began to walk up the dark aisle.

It was time to steal a crown.

Chapter Nine

CHAPTER

9

Tapestries covered the lobby’s walls, and the carpet was so thick, Claire felt as if she were wading through wet sand. But though the lobby was beautiful, full of intricate and lush details, her eyes were drawn to a single spot. Two grand staircases curved down to the first floor, and in the center, like a charm on a necklace, was the Spinners’ Love Knot Tine.

At least … Claire thought it must be the Love Knot Tine.

It was hard to tell.

Thick walls of glass surrounded all sides of it, distorting and warping its shape so that all she could make out from it was something vaguely crescent-shaped. It didn’t help, either, that the glass had been carefully cut and polished so that it sparkled with the intensity of the sun.