Leslie had been right. It was disturbing to have a clear view of the ground, especially when the plane juddered and jinked in the turbulence. He and Enopp had both looked up everything they could about flying, so they knew the turbulence shouldn’t bother them. But when the plane shifted like that it was disturbing not to be able to see anything holding them up.

But Eluik had kept looking out the window anyway, to get used to it. It wasn’t the same thing as being trapped in the cave, when it was so hard not to slide down to the cave mouth and start to fall. That had been terrifying. But he had gotten used to trusting that the gate at the cave mouth would always catch him and bring him back up. And he was getting used to this, too. And getting over the feeling that he was as much a prisoner inside this airplane as he had been in the cave, because that feeling was completely irrational. Now he had the power to leave this plane whenever he wanted. So he didn’t want to. Mostly.

“You’ll get a crick in your neck from keeping your head twisted toward the window the whole way,” said a woman’s voice. In a strange version of the language of Iceway.

Eluik was startled, but didn’t show it. Slowly he turned his head and then his body until he could see the woman who was sitting in Enopp’s seat. Enopp had gone to the toilet. This woman had not been in the waiting area and she had not boarded the airplane, because Eluik had made a point of memorizing everybody on the plane.

“When Enopp comes back, he’s going to want his seat,” said Eluik.

“Since we both know that you and your brother could simply gate yourselves to wherever you’re going…”

“You must be Hermia,” said Eluik.

She smiled. “You were warned to watch out for me?”

Eluik almost laughed at her vanity. “Because you speak a version of the Icewegian language, so you’re a gatemage, and that’s a very short list.”

“You should really learn English,” she said.

“Enopp will be back soon,” said Eluik, “and the airplane’s full, so if you have something to discuss…”

“It’s really quite simple. This airplane is headed for Blue Grass Airport in Lexington, and I can’t think why you might be going there.”

“That’s where the airplane lands,” said Eluik. “So it seemed prudent to choose the same destination.”

“Something or someone near Lexington.”

“If Danny wanted you to know…”

“Are you his dog now? On his leash?” asked Hermia. “I know he’s keeping you safe. I know that the Silvermans’ farm isn’t all that safe now.”

“Because of the games you played with the Wild Gate,” said Eluik.