The Truest Heart Read online

  “She might be a little busy with royalty in the house,” said Blue.

  “I just want to drop it off,” Cory replied.

  Ping! A message had arrived in the basket. Cory retrieved it and brought it back to the table. “Can you believe it? This is from Gladys. She says that she has company who would love to see me. She wants to know if I can come over today.”

  “That’s awfully nice of her,” said Micah. “I didn’t know that Goldilocks thought you were such a good friend.”

  “I didn’t, either,” said Cory. “Zephyr is rehearsing tonight, so I have to eat an early dinner. I could go see Goldilocks this morning. Macks and I can head over there as soon as he gets here. I’ll put my hair up and wear my dark glasses again. That seemed to work well last time.”

  When Cory told Macks that they were going to the shoe house on North Shore Road, he knew exactly where it was located. “I’ve fished in Wander Lake many times,” he told her. “The best way to get to the lake is to go down North Shore Road. Every time I go past that house, I wish I could see inside.”

  “Then you’re in luck,” said Cory. “Because it looks as if you’ll get your chance today.”

  It didn’t take them long to reach North Shore Road, but the FLEA had blocked it and weren’t letting anyone past. Curious neighbors were clustered near the roadblock, trying to see what was going on.

  “Sorry, sir,” one of the officers told Macks. “The road is closed for the day.”

  “But I was invited,” Cory told the officer. “Gladys Piper sent me a message this morning.”

  “Let me see if you’re on the list. What is your name, miss?”

  “Cory Feathering,” she said softly, not wanting to let all the neighbors know.

  “I’m sorry, I didn’t catch that. You’ll have to speak up.”

  “Cory Feathering,” she said in a louder voice.

  Cory tried not to look when there was a stir among the neighbors. Apparently, they had heard her. So had the FLEA officer. He gave her an appraising glance before turning back to the leaf he held in his hand.

  “Yes, you’re on the list. You may go through.”

  The FLEA officer moved the blockade enough to let Macks’s solar cycle through. Even then they weren’t able to drive all the way to the shoe house. Another FLEA officer stopped them when they were two houses away. “You’ll have to park your cycle here, sir,” the officer said, pointing to a spot by the side of the road.

  After parking the cycle, they walked up to the front door of the shoe house without anyone else stopping them. While Cory knocked on the door, Macks ogled the house like a tourist, craning his neck to see the laces dangling high above. Gladys answered the door a moment later. “Oh, good, you’re here. And you’ve brought your boyfriend.”

  “This is Macks,” said Cory. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

  “I’m her bodyguard,” said Macks.

  “Really!” said Gladys. “I’ve seen the posters and heard about the court case, but I didn’t know you needed a bodyguard. Well, come on in. Goldilocks and Serelia are in the kitchen. Rupert has taken the children shopping. We were just about to have a cup of tea. Would you like some?”

  “Serelia is here?” said Cory.

  Gladys nodded. “She traveled with Goldilocks and Rupert. Ah, here we are. Sit wherever you’d like. There are plenty of chairs!”

  Gladys’s husband, the Pied Piper, had kidnapped forty-two children and brought them to the fey world. After he was convicted of kidnapping, he’d been sent to prison, leaving Gladys to raise the children on her own. With such a big family, the house was crammed with furniture, leaving very little room to move around.

  “Hi!” Goldilocks said in a cheerful voice as Cory took a seat.

  “Hi!” Cory said to Goldilocks and Serelia. She was about to introduce Macks to them when she noticed that he was standing by the door, looking confused. “Oh, right. You’re too big to fit in any of the chairs. Would you like to wait outside instead?”

  Macks nodded, looking grateful. “I’ll be by the front door if you need me,” he said before hurrying out.

  “So you’re married now,” Cory said to Goldilocks. “That’s wonderful! How do you like living in the castle?”

  “It’s a lot bigger than I’m used to. I got lost three times the day you left,” said Goldilocks.

  Cory turned to Serelia. The woman was one of the most powerful water nymphs around and took care of all the water issues at Misty Falls, Prince Rupert’s ancestral home. “And you came with Goldilocks and Rupert?” Cory asked her.

  Serelia nodded. “I came to meet Rina. I was hoping you could arrange it for today. We aren’t going to be here long.”

  Goldilocks set her teacup down with a loud clink. “We really just came to get Mother and the children. I want them to come live in the castle. There’s so much room there, and Rupert said that we can get tutors for the children.”

  “We’re going, but I told Goldilocks that I don’t know if we’ll stay there for good,” said Gladys. “I don’t want to impose on her in-laws.”

  “It was Rupert’s idea,” Goldilocks said. “I’m sure his mother will get used to it.” “I thought you said his parents liked the idea,” said Gladys. “I’m not going if they don’t want us there.”

  “I’m sure they’ll love you, Mother,” Goldilocks told her. “They’ll love the children, too. I’m just not sure what to do about Tom Tom.”

  The only child Gladys had given birth to was Tom Tom. He was an employee of the Tooth Fairy Guild and one of the people who had tormented Cory.

  “Doesn’t he have to stay around until his trial?” asked Cory. After all the nasty things he had done to Cory, Tom Tom had been arrested. The Tooth Fairy Guild had posted bail for him, getting him out of jail.

  “That’s just it,” said Goldilocks. “He has to stay in town. He’s been living here with Mother, but if she moves away and sells the house, where is he going to go?”

  “That boy has been in trouble his entire life,” said Gladys. “I’ve tried to keep him in line, but he doesn’t listen to anyone. I really don’t know if this is a good time for me to leave.”

  “But Mother . . . ,” Goldilocks began.

  “I should probably go see if Rina is home,” said Cory. She pushed her chair back and stood, but Goldilocks and Gladys were too busy arguing to notice. Taking the cloth bag holding the necklace from her purse, Cory slid it across the table to Goldilocks. The girl barely glanced at Cory, but she did begin to fiddle with the bag. When mother and daughter continued to argue, Cory glanced at Serelia and they left the room together.

  Macks was sitting on the grass, waiting for Cory when she stepped outside. “We have to go down the street,” she told him. “I need to find out if Rina is home so I can introduce her to Serelia. Serelia, this is Macks. He’s my bodyguard while the trial is going on.”

  “It’s nice to meet you, Macks,” said Serelia. “I’ve heard about that trial! What a mess. I don’t get involved in guild politics anymore, which is just the way I like it. From what I’ve heard, though, I think you’re doing the right thing. I know I wouldn’t take kindly to a guild interfering in my personal life.”

  “Where does this Rina person live?” asked Macks. “I can go on ahead and see if she’s home.”

  “Rina is a child. She lives with her parents in the house at the end of the street,” said Cory. “Their house is right next to the lake.”

  “I’ll go find out,” Macks told her, and headed off.

  Cory and Serelia started walking in that direction, talking as they went. “When did you get here?” Cory asked.

  “Yesterday,” said Serelia. “I rode in the coach with Goldilocks and Rupert. Longest trip of my life. Those two couldn’t do anything but make eyes at each other when they weren’t kissing. When I wasn’t taking a nap, I pretended to be just so I wouldn’t have to see them. That’s Rina’s house, huh? A house right next to a lake is perfect for a water nymph.”

  �
��I understand Rina’s mother has a hard time keeping her out of the water,” said Cory.

  “Sounds like me when I was a girl,” said Serelia. “Look, your bodyguard is coming back.”

  Macks looked embarrassed when he reached them. “They’re home,” he said. “At least I assume it’s them. A woman and a little girl were in the yard when I walked up. They took one look at me, ran in the house, and locked the door. You might want to go to the door while I stay here by the street. Some people are really scared of ogres.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that,” said Cory. “I’m so used to you and your friends that I don’t think of you as anything but people. Thank you for checking on them for me, Macks. I’m sorry they were so rude.”

  “Not rude so much as scared,” said Macks. “You can’t fault a person for that.”

  Cory and Serelia walked to the front door together. When Cory knocked, no one came to the door until she called, “It’s me, Cory! I’ve brought Serelia Quirt to meet you.”

  Rina’s mother must have been standing just inside because the door opened right away. “Cory!” cried Minerva. “You shouldn’t be out there. There’s an ogre lurking around the neighborhood!”

  “Actually, Macks is a friend of mine. He walked ahead to see if you were home,” said Cory. “I brought Serelia Quirt to meet you and Rina.”

  Minerva’s eyes opened wide when she turned to Serelia. “Miss Quirt! What an honor! Thank you so much for coming!”

  “I’ll leave you now so you can talk,” Cory said. “Have a good trip back, Serelia. It was nice to see you again.”

  “And you, Cory,” said Serelia. “Thanks for your help.”

  “Do people react to you like that very often?” Cory asked Macks as they returned to his solar cycle.

  “Not too often,” he replied. “It’s mostly people who aren’t used to seeing ogres. We don’t have a good reputation. People who don’t know us are the ones who tend to believe it.”

  “People who don’t know the truth can believe the strangest things,” said Cory.

  They were riding the solar cycle toward the roadblock when Cory glanced back at the shoe house. She wondered what was going to happen to it if the family moved away. It was perfect for a family with so many children, but she couldn’t imagine who else might want to live there.

  The FLEA officer had already opened the barricade for them when they reached it, so they drove past without stopping. Cory was about to say something to Macks when the first clod of dirt hit her helmet.

  “Put your head down!” Macks shouted as they were pelted with more clods of dirt.

  Cory ducked, but that didn’t stop her from seeing the flower fairies standing by the edge of the road, throwing dirt at them. So much for my disguise, she thought as she and Macks sped away on the solar cycle.

  Micah was home from work earlier than usual that night, so he was there to eat an early supper with Cory and Blue. On their way to Olot’s cave, Cory peeked over Blue’s shoulder, watching out for any more holes. When they reached the cave without incident, Cory was happy to get inside. Daisy was already there, and she came running over when Cory walked in.

  “I dumped Tabbert,” she told Cory. “Guess what I did last night?”

  “Found a new boyfriend?” said Cory.

  “No, silly! I started writing a song. It’s about friendship. Don’t you get it? I’m writing a song about you and me. When it’s done, I’ll bring it to rehearsal and we can try it out. It’s really good, so far.”

  “That’s wonderful,” Cory said, giving her friend a hug. “I’m sorry Tabbert was such a lousy boyfriend.”

  Daisy shrugged. “Boyfriends come and go, but a best friend is forever!”

  “Everyone!” Olot announced. “I’d like you to meet Dillert. He’s going to take over Goldilocks’s old job.”

  “Hello, everyone,” said Dillert, flashing a grin that showed off his perfect white teeth. The pointy ears peeking through his dark curls identified him as a fairy, although he was taller than most and broader across the shoulders.

  “I think I dumped Tabbert just in time,” Daisy whispered to Cory. “Do you see this guy? Hello, Mr. Right!”

  Cory laughed and shook her head. “You’ll never give up, will you Daisy?”

  “Why should I?” Daisy said as she started toward the place she usually stood. “I’ll find the right one someday.”

  Cory stood motionless as an image of Daisy formed in her mind. She waited for another image to appear, willing it to happen, but none did. It will someday, Cory thought. She was sure of it.

  The rehearsal went longer than usual when Olot insisted that they practice a song they’d long found troublesome. They had it almost perfect when they finally quit for the night.

  Cory was gathering up her possessions, getting ready to leave, when Olot called out, “Don’t forget, we have a gig tomorrow. We’re playing at my cousin Itchy Butt’s birthday party. He says there will be plenty of food, so come hungry and ready to play!”

  “Another ogre party,” Cory said to Blue as they walked out the door. “Whatever happens, I am not taking part in any three-legged races!”

  Cory and Blue were both tired when they reached Micah’s house that night. Cory’s uncle was already in bed asleep, so Cory said good night to Blue and left to get ready for bed. Weegie and Noodles were both curled up in Noodles’s bed, snoring gently. Wondering why the woodchucks were sleeping inside, Cory brushed her teeth and changed into her nightgown. Blue was asleep on the main room floor before Cory turned out her lights, and it wasn’t long before she was asleep as well.

  A few hours later, Cory woke to Weegie’s shriek. “Ow! That hurt, you big dummy. Why are you walking around like that at night? You’re not Blue! Who are you?”

  Cory shot out of bed and into the main room, nearly running into Micah as he appeared in his doorway. Weegie was there, glaring at a stooped figure struggling in Blue’s grip. The indistinct figure was nearly as big as Blue, but as Micah walked around the room, lighting fairy lights, it seemed to shrink until it was no bigger than a ten-year-old boy.

  “Well, I’ll be!” Micah said as he examined the figure. “I know what you are! You’re a Worry That Won’t Let You Sleep at Night! I’ve read about you in the old books, but I wasn’t sure you really existed.”

  The creature moaned, covering its face with its hand. Cory began to worry that it was in pain.

  “I guess we were due for another monster,” said Blue. “All right, Worry That . . . whatever you’re called, I’ll need your name and guild affiliation to start with.”

  When the monster hunched into itself and refused to speak, Blue gave him a shake. “I don’t have all night for this. Speak up!”

  “I know what to do,” said Micah, and he ran from the room.

  “My back hurts!” Weegie said, glowering at the creature. “I heard a sound and came out to look around, and that stupid monster stepped on me!”

  Noodles bumped her head with his and began to lick her. They were nuzzling each other when Micah returned, bringing a big tube with a button on the side. Aiming the tube at the monster, he pressed the button and a bright light shot out like a ray from a miniature sun.

  The monster cowered and began to whimper, rubbing its eyes with its knuckles.

  “Worry monsters are a lot less threatening once you examine them in daylight,” said Micah.

  The creature looked up to reveal big eyes with deep purple circles underneath. Its shoulders slumped as it dragged its feet backward, away from Micah’s light.

  “Tell me your name and guild affiliation,” Blue ordered. He stepped closer so that he towered over the creature, and gave it another shake.

  “My name is Sidney Glomer,” it said in a mournful voice. “I’m a member of the Itinerant Troublemakers Guild.”

  “Do you suppose this is one of the Big Baddies that the ITG was going to send?” asked Cory.

  “I don’t know,” said Micah. “I don’t know that much about them.”


  After Sidney answered the rest of Blue’s questions, Blue walked him to the door and let him go. The creature shuffled off, making little moaning sounds.

  “I hope we can get some sleep now,” said Micah. “We have to get up in a few hours.”

  Cory nodded and they all went back to bed. Although she was exhausted, she couldn’t stop thinking about the monster. It had looked so sad and pitiful that she felt sorry for it. She began to worry that it might be sick. Then she began to worry about the other monsters that the ITG might send their way. What exactly was a Big Baddie? Was each monster going to be worse than the last? It looked like the trial might not ever end. Would the ITG send monsters to plague them the entire time? And what if the guilds won the case? Would she have to leave town to avoid their constant persecution?

  Cory eventually fell asleep again, but only because she was exhausted. It was a restless sleep, however, filled with troubling dreams.

  CHAPTER

  10

  Cory was dreaming about her mother and Officer Deeds when she forced herself to wake up the next morning. “That’s one match I’m not going to make,” she told herself as she climbed out of bed. She was almost as tired as when she’d gone to bed the night before and thought wistfully about taking a nap later. “I know there’s something we have to do today,” she muttered as she looked for the clothes she planned to wear. “I just can’t remember what it is.”

  Dressed and ready to go out, Cory left her room a little later than usual. When she passed through the main room on the way to the kitchen, she saw that Blue’s makeshift bed had already been put away. She found Blue in the kitchen, talking to Micah. It looked as if they had both been up for a while; they were dressed and had nearly finished eating their breakfast.

  “Where did you get that light you used on the monster last night?” Blue was asking Micah.

  “My mother gave it to me for my birthday a few years ago. I’ve noticed that when people don’t know what to give me, I often get fairy tube lights. I have a drawer full of them in my bedroom.”