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people’s names. He’d introduced us to many of our current group. Joi owned the cottage we rented and Helios Tea Room in Carmel. She’d adopted two of Juliet’s littlies from DG—Bodie and Sema—and taken them north to Wolf Lake for the summer. They needed to be kids. I knew it was hard on Juliet not having them around. She defined herself by shielding them.
Without the kids, she may feel useless
.
    “We don’t have to expand too far. Think about it. Of each of us who already know the truth, we have mavens. Tony understands many of the religions in the world. Nelli’s fluent in law, psychology, and the social programs exploited by the Nocti. Joi knows the gossip and happenings of Carmel long before they’re public. I know art and cultural customs.”
    Nelli worked for the state’s attorney general investigating abuses in the child services division. She’d taken it upon herself to uncover the truth of Dunklebarger and find all the missing kids, dead and alive, who had gonethrough there over the years. She was also the niece of Gus, Rumi’s best friend and retired history professor from Butler.
    Rumi continued. “Faye knows music. She plays and teaches many instruments. Gus knows Indiana and world history from teaching it for years at the university. Each of us has a talent, an expertise that will benefit the cause if we utilize ourselves fully.” He finished listing the people he’d introduced us to months ago.
    “And there’s your Auntie’s journal, which Tens began transcribing and sharing with us. There are generations of experts.”
    I swiveled my head toward Tens.
    He kissed my cheek.
    “That’s what we mean by education. The curiosity of this life takes on a more relevant importance to us, to your safety, your duty. We wouldn’t be doing our best as elders if we didn’t suggest this. You don’t have to study the usual things, only the parts of knowledge that may lend you an advantage.” Tony appealed to me, then turned to Juliet and asked, “Why didn’t any child at DG go to regular school?”
    “To keep us away from people.” She shrugged, her eyes cast down.
    He nodded. “But maybe more importantly to control the flow of information?”
    “Don’t you know that old ditty that ‘information equals power’?” Rumi asked me.
    “We want to empower you.” Tony leaned in.
    “By making us do homework?” I asked.
    “In part. Maybe. But we need you to buy in. You have to believe in knowledge as power, too, or us digging up resources is a waste of time.”
    “There will come a time when you’ll know as much as we do.”
    “Sooner rather than later?” Tens asked Rumi with a wicked grin.
    “Ah now, boy, careful there, don’t be full of hubris!” Rumi chortled.
    “But until then, we’ve set up a list of texts and resources. Then we’ll come together and discuss our findings and what questions they lead us to—which will carry us on in the quest and so on.”
    Juliet raised her head from Mini’s neck. “What if the Nocti start making trouble?”
    “What about our duty to help souls?” I added.
    “That won’t get in the way. We’re not trying to tie you to a chair and give you busy work. This will ebb and flow around the rest.”
    I squinted at the scroll. “I am so tired of not knowing what’s next. Maybe even more tired of not knowing what I don’t know.” My brain twisted. “I’m in. If there aren’t pop quizzes or tests.” My mind wandered back to December and that final day of my old life, of real school with silly subjects and useless rules.
Who knew so much would change so fast?
    “The tests will be seeing if anything is applicable toour fight, yes? Do we learn anything that uncovers Nocti? Gives us an advantage? Answers the questions about Roshana and the missing? Leads us to more Fenestra?”
    “I’m in. I have pieces of my history, but not enough,” Tens answered. “I’d love to meet another Protector.”
    We turned to Juliet, who’d grown quieter and