“Noph, you aren’t planning to use that boat hook, are you?” Jacob asked sharply. Noph had been watching a pair of glowing eyes under the water beside the boat for several heartbeats. He’d thought of trying to hook whatever the eyes wereat least it was a distraction from all that spooky laughter in the darknessbut Jacob’s tone dissuaded him. “Of course not,” he answered. “I was just securing the hook. Has anyone else looked over the side of the boat lately?” “Yes, but don’t worry about it. We’re at the end of the line.” Ahead, the cave ceiling narrowed, ending their boat ride. Aleena moved the tiller to angle toward a cave mouth to the side, which led up and out of sight. Harloon hopped into the water and dragged the boat to the shore. Noph gasped and leaned over the side, watching for the eyes in the river. “Sdop dhere,” a voice boomed. “Doll, you musd pay a doll,” another voice shouted. “Dheir lighds so brighd,” bawled another. “Shud up, ‘ficial doll keepers can’d be bodhered by lighds,”
