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“I don’t usually do this sort of work,” Bespoke sighed “It’s a dirty business But if Charlie says I’m to look after you, I’ll hold my nose” He laid down the Brannocks at their feet

“But why?” asked Ta footwear’?”

“My dear girl, do you recall that I said shoes get you where you’re going and tell you where you are? It was only a o, but there’s been a spot of excite’s shoes…are the other way round They o anywhere at all Make sure you don’t float off back to your oorld or go gallivanting about kicking up trouble and stories and quests Hu And so that no one mistakes you for…for one of us But you! You’re not human! You are one of us! I don’t see why I should have to do it Who ever heard of a troll in Changeling shoes? Or a Fetch” He said it as though it was a naughty word “ForgiveI have a filthy old mouth, everyone says so”

Taed “It’s what I am”

Bespoke laughed “I forget how plainspoken you hardwoods can be Yes, dear, but in polite circles Fetches refer to themselves by the sort of wood they’re chopped out of You can call yourself Walnut if you like It’s a perfectly respectable species”

“You mean there are others? Like me? Fetches? Walnuts?”

“Of course—the spriggans make thean country I had such a nice set of Tulipwood twins in the other week for holiday clogs Now, I am sorry, I am, but please put your feet here and here, my lambs”

They did, slotting their heels at the same moment into the shells of the Brannocks “If your shoes are aoing, can’t you et to the Spinster? Whoever she is I think the King forgot to tell us that bit”

Bespoke Espadrille adjusted the sliders To on the Brannock Curling letters arched over the toe slider, spelling out the Cobbler’s Creed: Wheresoever I Shall Go, Bear Me Thence Without Blisters or Sorrow Below this, he read the measureest: Cloudcuckooland, Under Hill, Under Dale, the Road Most Traveled By, Through the Wasteland, After Love, Far to Go Before All’s Done, Wanderlust, Around the World Seven Ti Tom Thorn’s foot, a troll’s foot now, stuck out quite far beyond the end of the Brannock He waggled his toes in his school socks, which were stretched so badly the weave had split in two places Tam’s feet just barely touched Far to Go Before All’s Done She fidgeted in her lap

Bespoke walked over to the left-hand shoelace wall He tugged on one of the laces and the wall popped open like a Suoatskin and rabbit fur in every color He stroked the golden quills on his great chin with one hand and tugged on his tusk with the other “Can’t do that if I don’t know her address, o in for fancy shoes She’s an old woreat powers—but aren’t all old woreat powers? Occupational hazard, I think She’s a Strega with a terrible gaze I have heard through the textile underground that she alears blue Her curses are black and strong as bulls and they never end Usually a curse gets bored and wan

ders off after awhile But not the Spinster’s hexes They show up to work first thing and go ho bread and onion dip and crow-eyes and whatnot, but she disappeared Spinsters do that so so on the lawn Wearing sensible shoes, can you iine? Poor Charlie He must think she can curse him back to his ferry But he doesn’t want one of her curses Not really The last soul she slapped about never saw the light of day again He asks everybody he ive you anything you want”

Bespoke Espadrille selected a bolt of deep, dark green leather and one of pluht, puffy sky-blue rabbit pelt “This one, this, and that,” he said loudly Perhaps there was an assistant in the back Blunderbuss snuffled at the fur

“We must find her,” Tom Thorn said

“We promised,” Tam nodded

But Bespoke was not listening He’d sunk his head into his great chest, deep in thought