“The Queen’s uncle?” cried Lodia. “But why? What have we done wrong? What reason have we given him to attack us?”

Seeing her father’s face set into the grim lines, she gasped. Then she choked out her next question.

“’Tis not because of Mother – is it?”

“No,” answered Missa and Rohanus, swiftly and in unison.

They exchanged a glance that I couldn’t read before Missa returned her attention to the map, signaling for her son to deal with his daughter.

“Loddie dear, there’s a lot more going on in the kingdom than someone feeling hurt and betrayed by her friend.” Although Rohanus’ tone was mild, it held a hint of reproof.

As well it should.

The daughter and granddaughter of important Earth Court officials was in a prime position to track the broader political picture – a much better position than, say, Katu’s, and he managed to keep abreast of developments at court.

While Lodia was busy shriveling up and curling in on herself (not literally – she was a human, after all), Missa swept towards the stairs. “Rohanus, go to the Earth Court and warn Ancemus that there may be a situation in the forest. Tell him not to wake the Lady yet. I shall verify it myself first.”

Wait – “verify” the situation? When I’d already told her everything she needed to know? What further verification could she possibly need?

Puffing up my feathers, I snapped from Lodia’s shoulder, You’re wasting time. You already know all the relevant information.

The mage spared a single glance in my direction, so full of contempt that I actually lost my train of thought.

Her son, however, dared take a step after her. “Wait, Mother! At least take someone with you. Just in case….”

Without looking back at him, she echoed my words. “Thou’rt wasting time. Tell Ancemus I shall join you at the Earth Court.”

Forgotten by the adults, Lodia had been twisting her fingers and digging her nails into her palms. All of a sudden, she blurted out, “Grandmother! At least take Pip with you!”

Somehow, it was her words, and not mine or Rohanus’, that stopped Missa on the top step.

At her grandmother’s raised eyebrows, Lodia started twirling her nightgown around her finger. “Pip – Pip can guide you. She knows – she knows where to go – because she’s the one who saw – the army.”

Missa’s eyebrows lifted even higher. “Still so trusting, Lodia? I would sooner go alone than be stabbed in the back by a proven liar.”

What? She was still hung up on that whole normal pet sparrow business?

If you don’t trust me, why are you going to the forest at all? Why are you having Rohanus warn the Earth Court?

“Because,” answered the mage, “your claims dovetail with certain reports we’ve been receiving, enough so that they are worth investigation.”

So that meant she hadn’t leaped into action because of what I’d seen, but because my story was the final…stitch in a piece of embroidery?

Or rather, her personal confirmation would be the final stitch. Given how angry she’d been when she threw me out, I supposed it shouldn’t have surprised me. But what did surprise me was how urgently I wanted her to trust me.

That is what I saw! You have to believe me!

“I did believe you last time.” Unspoken were the words, And look what happened then. “At the moment, I am giving you one chance to redeem yourself. One. Now, I believe I told you that I wanted you out of my house.”

And with that, she vanished down the stairs, leaving me frozen behind her.

I’ll go with you to the Earth Court. Let me go with you to the Earth Court. I’ll help explain what’s going on to Ancemus.

As Rohanus strode past the touch-me-not plants in his neighbor’s yard, I fluttered around his head, trying desperately to convince him. After all, I was the eyewitness. I was the one who could answer any questions that the Lady of the Lychee Tree’s advisers might ask. Information got distorted or lost when it passed through too many mouths. I knew that. (I’d even taken advantage of that many times.) And I was sure Rohanus knew that too. So why did he keep averting his eyes?

You need me to explain what’s going on to Ancemus.

“No, Pip.”

No? No? Why not?!

“Pip, you heard what my mother said – ”

A gong rang out twice, interrupting him. In the distance, a short, squat human man approached with a heavy tread. “Suspicious person abroad!” he bellowed, and struck his gong twice more with his mallet.

Rohanus sighed. “Master Fan, ‘tis I. Koh Rohanus.”

The night watchman peered up into his face. “Why, ‘tis indeed! Sir, why are you abroad at this hour?”

“I have urgent business at the Earth Court, Master Fan.”

The watchman hastily stepped aside. “Say no more, say no more. Apologies for delaying you, sir.”

Rohanus opened his mouth, hesitated, and then lowered his voice to warn, “There may be trouble this night. Be alert.”

“Yessir!” The watchman stood to attention with his gong and mallet and protruding belly. “Just give the sign, and I shall wake all the townsfolk!”

“Good man.”

And on Rohanus walked. I waited until we were several lanes away before I started up my arguments again.

In front of the gate to the Earth Court, he finally asked, “Why is it so important to you to deliver this report in person? We won’t take action until my mother returns. We won’t even formally notify the Lady of the Lychee Tree.”

Because they have my friends!

“Your friends?” He looked so blank that I wanted to clip him with my wing.

Yes! Didn’t I tell you from the start? They ambushed our wagon! They took my friends! A mage who wasn’t a good mage to start with, and now they stole her seal! And a baby horse spirit who doesn’t know a thing!

“I thought those were just convenient traveling companions – ”

Yes! That too! But I need to save them, and you’re wasting time! Plus I left my other friend, the bamboo viper spirit, to watch over them, and she’s too cursed nice! She doesn’t fight! She doesn’t know how to fight! If anything happens, she’s not going to be able to do anything! That’s why we have to rescue them as fast as possible!

Understanding dawned in Rohanus’ eyes at last. “Ah, I see. I see.” He weighed his options until I was on the verge of screaming. Then he said, “Come. Let us speak with Ancemus.”

I could have kissed him.

But he would have hated that, so I settled for running my beak through his hair once.

After a painful half-hour of waiting for runners to wake Earth Court officials, we were huddled around a map in Ancemus’ study. And by “we,” I meant me and a crowd of rumpled officials and nervous clerks who milled in and out of the room. They hadn’t formally notified the Lady yet, but Ancemus had assured me that she was aware of the crisis.

“Is there anything else you can think of…?” The butterfly spirit faltered at the end of the sentence when he couldn’t add the usual polite “spirit.”

Everyone there knew what I was now – a soul with memories imprisoned in an animal body for unknown and currently-unimportant past crimes. (I certainly wasn’t saying the name “Piri,” and no one’s imagination went that way.) A vague corner of my mind cringed and gibbered that I was going to be in sooooo much trouble with Heaven, but I squished it. I’d deal with it later. After I got Bobo, Floridiana, and Dusty back.

That’s everything I can think of, I told Ancemus.

He and the other officials had questioned me until they’d extracted every last minute detail, most of which I wouldn’t even have thought to mention, such as the precise degree of pointiness of the pangolins’ heads, the length of their bodies, the distance that their pinecone-like scales extended down the sides of their bodies. Ha, I knew that having me tell the story would be better than having Rohanus relay a truncated, garbled version!

Ancemus glanced at the clerk who’d been taking notes throughout the meeting. The clerk nodded back.

“Very well,” said the Lady’s adviser. “Thank you for your invaluable insights into this evolving situation. You may be summoned later if the Lady wishes to speak to you herself. For now, please partake of some light refreshments in the waiting pavilion.”

At his signal, another butterfly spirit, this one in her animal form, fluttered over. “If you would follow me, please.”

Oh no, I wasn’t letting them shunt me off into a side pavilion while all the important decisions got made right in this room. Thank you for the offer, but I have no need for refreshments.

Honestly, I couldn’t have eaten anything anyway.

However, Ancemus stood firm, just as he had against Anthea that time. I appreciated his backbone a lot less when it was directed at me. “You must be exhausted after such a trying night. I understand that you fear for your friends, but please do get some rest. We may have need of you later, and it would be best for all of us if you were refreshed then.”

Well, it was hard to argue with that, even though I knew he was just saying it to get rid of me. But it was clear that the officials had no intention of discussing their strategy until I left, meaning that staying and arguing was only wasting time.

Precious time during which anything could be happening to Bobo, Floridiana, and Dusty.

Well, I’d just sneak out of the waiting pavilion and fly back here to eavesdrop. It wouldn’t be the first time I’d eavesdropped on this Earth Court.

Very well. Lead the way, spirit.

As I’d guessed, the butterfly spirit led me far from Ancemus’ study, deep into the gardens. We flew over the lake, and she ushered me into a pavilion with a fine view of the moon. Several sparrow spirits, in the form of teenage humans, were already waiting. They’d prepared clean water in a delicate porcelain cup and a platter of dainty snacks.

How would I shake this entourage?

As I drank some water and pecked at a cake (non-alcoholic, thank goodness), I cast back through my memories. I’d had an entourage in Cassius’ court too. All people of consequence did: the greater their consequence, the larger their entourage. You couldn’t project your importance, after all, without a horde of hangers-on, all quivering in anticipation of your next command.

I dipped my head, graciously acknowledging the servant who was refilling my cup. Thank you, spirit.

Unused to being noticed by those she served, she blushed and stammered out a “You’re welcome, my lady.” She stepped back into the quiet, waiting line of servants after that, but I could tell that she wanted to ask something. She’d gripped the handle of the water jug just a little too tightly, and her eyes had darted up to meet mine for a split second too long. It could have been because she was just that eager to serve me, but I thought it more likely that she had a question.

I even had a guess what it was.

So, we’re all Lychee Grove sparrows, born and bred, aren’t we? I remarked while gazing up at the moon. It was framed by craggy, ornamental boulders. Did you also grow up in the forest?

From behind me came a rustle, as if the sparrow spirits had forgotten that they were in human form and tried to spread their wings.

“Yes, my lady.”

“We’re all nestlings from the same nest, my lady.”

That was unusual, I thought, but not impossible. Not if their parents were awakened and determined to shepherd their offspring through a hundred years of life. In fact, it was precisely what Master Gravitas was doing for his daughter Pepper.

Another sparrow spirit clasped her hands before her and hopped a half-step forward. “My lady, begging your pardon, but the army – was it close to the princess-of-the-night village?”

Is that where your family lives? I guessed, and all the sparrow spirits bobbed their heads.

I hadn’t paid attention that time Katu took me to see the princess-of-the-night plants, because I’d been riding on his shoulder and trusted him to know where he was going, but I was pretty sure that we’d headed west from the city. Yes, I definitely remembered watching our shadows play along the street before us when we (he, to be more accurate) walked back into town.

I’m afraid I came from the northeast tonight. I didn’t have an opportunity to see how far to the west the army extended. At the sparrows’ stricken expressions, I soothed them, But Mage Missa has gone to investigate the situation. Has she, by chance, returned?

The sparrow spirits darted glances at one another, their heads turning and cocking in quick, birdlike movements.

“I’ll go check,” one offered, stepping behind a folding screen.

A moment later, a sparrow streaked across the lake. In no time at all, she was back.

Landing on the railing, she cheeped, “She’s back! She’s back! She’s talking to Lord Ancemus right now!”

A stir ran through the pavilion once more – the sense, if not the physical sound, of wings spreading.

Well, I proclaimed, meeting each spirit’s eyes in turn, why don’t we all go and listen? As sparrows?

The spokes-sparrow cocked her head to a side. “They told us to be ready, in case they need to summon you. If they come here and we’re all gone….”

But we’ll be right outside the window listening to them. If they send for me, we’ll fly straight back here. They’ll never know we were there.

They didn’t need further urging. Surrounded by a flock of sparrows, I zipped back across the Earth Court gardens.