“Isn’t that one of those charms the Elsies carry in Knunx?” she asked.

“One of the villagers gave it to me,” Barclay told her. “But listen to this! It only makes noise if it’s in the water.”

He thrust it into her hands, giving Hasu no choice but to test it out herself. She dunked her head beneath the surface and held the conch to her ear. When she reemerged, Barclay expected her to look impressed. Instead, she shrugged and passed it back to him.

“It’s probably just the shape of it,” she said. “Making the water rush through it or something.”

“But it’s so loud. Don’t you think that’s a bit strange?”

“But… it’s just an Elsie charm.” Then Hasu’s eyes widened. “I mean, I know you were an Elsie too, but… it’s just a pretty shell, isn’t it?”

Barclay sighed. “I guess you’re right.”

While Hasu swam off to join the others, Barclay laid the rest of his wet clothes out to dry on the rowboat and slipped his conch and kritters back into the soaked satchel.

“Ah yes, I remember Runa mentioning you’re from the Elsewheres, Barclay,” Edwyn said.

Barclay grimaced. “Is it really that strange for a Lore Keeper to be from the Elsewheres? I’m tired of everyone acting like—”

“I’m an Elsie too,” Edwyn told him.

Barclay’s mouth fell open in surprise. “You are?”

“Yes. From a kingdom far from any of the Wilderlands—maybe about four or five weeks from the Sea, and at least ten or twelve from the Woods. Growing up, I barely knew what Lore Keepers were. They were just a story.”

“Then how did you end up becoming one?”

“I decided I wanted to be one. I’ve always been the sort to chase after stories. I traveled to the Woods and bonded with the first Beast I could find.”

“You have a Woods Beast?” Barclay asked.

“Oh, well…” He looked sheepish. “Not anymore. It was a long time ago. But can this just be between us, Barclay? I think Munsey has enough drama with Runa and Cyril trying to work together. I wouldn’t want to start any gossip too.”

Barclay nodded with understanding. “Yeah, that’s fine.”

He still had a few questions, though. Edwyn was the only other Lore Keeper he’d met from the Elsewheres, and while they clearly had come from very different places, Barclay wanted to learn more about him. How did his family reaction to him becoming a Lore Keeper? Did he ever go back to his home? What did his home think about Lore Keepers?

But then Cecily whined farther down the atoll. “How did you find one? I’ve looked everywhere!”

Tadg brandished his Oystix proudly. “I’ve dived for them with my dad before.”

“Yasha found one too,” Shazi said.

Yasha held out his empty hands and shrugged. “Mine was just a regular mussel.”