Rebel Angels

"You must give us every detail after," Felicity says."I shall be most interested to hear about it."

"Do you know Mr. Middleton well?" I pry.

"I've known him for ages," Felicity says. Standing there, with loose tendrils of golden hair curving under her chin, she looks a picture, her strange beauty at its most seductive.

"I see. And have you set your sights on him?"

Felicity makes a face."Simon? He is like a brother to me. I can't possibly imagine a romance with him."

I am relieved. It's silly of me to pin my hopes on Simon so early, but he is charming and handsome and he seems to like me. His attention makes me feel beautiful. It is only a small string of excitement, but I find I do not want to let go of it so soon.

One of Lady Denby's companions looks up, sees us staring. Lady Denby follows her gaze.

"Let's go," I whisper."Come on!"

"Must you push?" Felicity snipes as I practically fall over her. We duck down a hall. Felicity pulls us into an empty bedchamber and closes the door.

Ann glances around nervously."Should we be in here?"

"You wanted privacy," she says."Now we have it."

There is a dressing gown draped across a chair, and several hatboxes in a corner. The room may be empty--for the moment--but it is most definitely not unoccupied. "We'll have to work fast," I say.

"Precisely," Felicity says, grinning.

Ann looks as if she could be ill."We shall be ruined. I know it."

But once we hold hands and I make the door of light appear, all discomfort is forgotten, swallowed whole by our awe.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

WE'VE BARELY STEPPED INTO THE BRIGHT GLOW OF the realms when everything goes dark; cold fingers press against my eyes. I slide out of the embrace, whirling around quickly to see Pippa standing behind me. She still wears her garland, though it's begun to droop some. She's added nettle and a pink narcissus to brighten it a bit.

She giggles to see me gasping so. "Oh, poor Gemma! Did I frighten you?"

"N-no. Well, a little, perhaps."

Felicity and Ann run to Pip with a shout and throw their arms around her.

"What is the matter?"Ann asks me.

"I gave our poor Gemma a start. Don't be cross with me," Pippa says, taking my hand. She speaks in a whisper. "I've a surprise. Follow me."

Pip leads us through the trees."Close your eyes," she calls. At last she stops."Open them."

We're at the river. On the water is a ship the likes of which I've never seen before. I'm not entirely sure that it is a ship, for it more resembles a dragon's body, black and red, with great wings that stretch up on the sides. It is certainly of a monstrous size, curved at both ends, with one giant mast rising near the bow and a sail as thin as onionskin. Large ropes of seaweed hang over the sides, as do sparkling silver nets that float on the surface of the water. But the most extraordinary thing of all is the massive head attached to the front of the ship. It is green and scaly, with snakes as long as tree branches slithering about its fearsome, motionless face.

"I've found her!" Pippa says excitedly."I've found the gorgon!"

That thing is the gorgon?

"Quickly! Let's ask her about the Temple before she gets away," Pippa says, stepping closer to the intimidating ship. "Ahoy, there!"

The gorgon swivels her face in our direction. The snakes of her head hiss and twist as if they'd like to eat us for disturbing their peace. Surely they would if they were not attached to that thing. I am not at all prepared when the creature opens her large yellow eyes.

"What do you wish?" she asks, in a dark slither of a voice.

"Are you the gorgon?" Pippa asks.

"Yessss."

"Is it true that you are bound by the Order's magic to do no harm and speak only truth?" she continues.

The gorgon closes her eyes for the briefest moment."Yesssss."

"We are looking for the Temple. Do you know it?" Pip demands.

The eyes open again. "All know of it. None knows where it may be found. None but the Order, and they have not come for many years."

"Is there anyone who may know where to find it?" Pippa asks. She's annoyed that the gorgon is proving so unhelpful.

The gorgon looks to the river again. "The Forest of Lights. Philon's tribe. Some say they were once allies to the Order. They may know where to look for this Temple."

"Very well, then," Pippa says. "We wish to go to the Forest of Lights."