The disgusting concoction I’d created must have been exactly what the little Lutine expected to see, because once Jademace inspected our handiwork he announced himself satisfied that I was the Haruspex – the first female Haruspex. It apparently meant he’d continue to treat me with a healthy dose of suspicion, but he was convinced enough to let his fellow Lutines into the castle.
Standing outside with Emma, I watched the little hobgoblins march in formation into the courtyard, their back’s ramrod straight, arms swinging vigorously.
“Aren’t they adorable?” Emma announced. She’d pulled her long blond hair into a ponytail which blew in the stiff breeze and was receiving several covert stares from the Lutines. I suspected they’d never seen blonde hair before; each and every one of them had fr
