“Agreed,” Blue said. “SJ, it’s all up to you then.”
“Lovely,” she said with an eye roll. “No pressure then.”
tand down and don’t bother coming after her,” Arian said from the mirror of a Mark Two in Daniel’s hand. The thick trees of a forest surrounded my friend.
“That’s not going to happen. I’ll save her and then I will find you and kill you by the time this is over.”
“I feel sorry for you, Daniel,” Arian replied. “The fact that you actually believe that is pathetic. Anyway, she can’t say I didn’t try to talk you down. I’ll enjoy visiting your statue when you fail.”
The dream faded and a new scene was born. I was at a graduation ceremony at Lady Agnue’s. Girls in purple robes with matching academic caps milled around. Blue, Girtha, Divya, and I were talking with Jacqueline. The golden tassel hanging from her graduation cap matched two of the long cords around her neck. She had about eight cords—one for every club she was a part of. A valedictorian medal shone at the center of her chest.
“Congratulations again!” I said, giving her a grand hug. “Your speech was amazing. Like literally, I am moved.”
“Me too,” Girtha chimed in. “I am not touchy-feely by any means and even I got misty-eyed.”
Jacqueline beamed. “Thanks, guys. I can’t wait for what comes next.”
Again the scene shifted. I faced a forest with bushes that looked like swirls of cotton candy. The trees had black wood trunks and branches with vibrant red bushels of leaves. Dream versions of me and Daniel crouched low behind a cotton candy bush. They were spying on something. I turned around to follow their perspective. Ahead, the sky was lavender. Three bright yellow suns sat on top of mountains in the distance; their golden essence dripped down the rocks like runny egg yolks. A silver-shelled, blue-bodied snail the size of a house trudged along nearby. I had no idea what realm this was, but it was trippy.
Despite all the strange grandeur, Daniel and Dream Me were only paying attention to Jason and Blue, who were a ways in front—arguing.
“What does it matter what my Hypotheticals were?” Blue said.
“Because I have a feeling that at least one of them matched mine,” Jason said. “And if you’re not going to admit yours, then I’m going to have to go out on a limb and hope I don’t look like an idiot.”
Blue held up a hand, a slight cringe in her expression. “Jason, whatever you’re going to say, this isn’t the time or the place.”
“Blue . . .” Jason sighed.
The scene changed. This time I was in the white void of my dreamscape. Liza was there. She wore a cobalt blue tracksuit—always keeping it casual no matter how serious the expression on her face. My magic mentor sat on a floral sofa, which looked like the same one from the spa waiting room at Lady Agnue’s.
“Since you keep cancelling magic training with me, this was the only way I could properly connect with you,” Liza said. “Your call this morning was basically just you unloading a ton of overdue exposition on what happened at your trial, and updates about Mauvrey, and then you hung up before I could ask any questions.”
“Yeah, I haven’t really felt like using magic since the trial and I got sentenced to—What the frack?” Even in my dreams I was wearing the stupid genie cuffs.
“They’re bonded to your soul,” Liza said by way of explanation. “Even in dreams you can’t escape them.”
“Wonderful,” I responded bitterly. “Your sister’s the worst, you know that?”
“Crisa, I’m trapped in an isolated land forced to predict the future until the end of time. Believe me, I understand the dislike.” Liza got up from the couch. “Do you—I don’t know—need a hug or something?”
The way she offered so awkwardly almost made me laugh.
“Thanks, but I’m okay.”
“Good. I’m not great at them anyway. What I really wanted was a firm answer about when you want to train next. I was so glad to hear that you finally reached Natalie Poole in her dreams while you were in Camelot, but I fear if you don’t keep pushing yourself, you will lose that momentum.”
“I know. I just have too much going on right now, Liza. Once Mauvrey has been moved and my friends and I are settled at Chance’s, we can pick up magic training again. For now, I have finals and I would love to focus on tests that don’t involve life- and-death circumstances for a bit. Is that okay with you?”
“It’s fine with me, Crisa. All I can do is assist you when I can, and when you let me . . .”
An uncomfortable beat passed between us. I could sense she was a bit disappointed in me, perhaps a bit frustrated too. But I didn’t want to bend on this. Training with Liza had always been difficult, but lately it felt like a burden, and a constant reminder of the fragility of my magical nature. I needed a break from that, at least while I finished the semester.
Seeing I wasn’t going to change my mind, Liza gave me a somewhat sad, concerned look. “Good luck with the rest of the term. Call if you need me.” And with that, she vanished.
A moment later, I woke up.
The library candelabra chair I was perched in had become a safe haven for me these last couple of days—high enough to see anyone coming, but removed enough that no one could get to me with ease. I needed that. Sometimes even just fifteen feet of distance could make a difference when you were living in a state of stress.
Although our Oz allies had informed us that the attack against the Emerald City had been quelled and they were safe, I was still full of anxiety over the possibility of villains making a move on them again. The last few weeks I’d already been worried about when Mauvrey’s memory potion would be done. Now on top of that I had the way more stressful concern of when SJ and Merlin would make their move and transport Mauvrey from Oz to Clevaunt.
I checked the SRB necklace/Hole Tracker, which I now called my SRTracker. It was half past four in the afternoon, still plenty of time to be productive. I needed to get it together and try to outrun my worries. Maybe I’d visit the Lady Agnue’s Twenty-Three Skidd arena and get in some practice to wake myself up.
I packed up my books, dismounted the candelabra chair, and headed through the stacks. On my way out, I spotted Blue sitting at one of the long wooden tables in the center of the library. Her blonde hair glowed in the light of the nearest gold lamp encased in a lavender glass shell, the likes of which were spread across each table.
“Hey,” I said—apparently too loudly because I got shushed from Mrs. Fofferman, who was reshelving books a hundred feet away. Her Labradoodle-esque hair looked as alert as the eyes behind her thick, telescope-lens-sized glasses.
I slid into the chair opposite Blue.
“Hi,” she whispered, looking up from her book. Beside her, scraps of parchment paper were covered in notes, diagrams, and equations.
I squinted at the paper. “What exam are you prepping for?”
“Driver’s Ed.”
“Wait, what are you doing here then?”
“Well, I thought if I did some research on different driving techniques and maneuvers, I’d be better prepared for—”
“Blue.” I tugged the book away from her. “I know research and books are your jam, but you can’t study your way out of this. You need to practice. I thought you were working with Jacqueline?”
“I was, but she’s graduating soon and I didn’t want to bother her too much. She’s probably busy studying for her own finals right now.” Blue pointed with her thumb and I spotted Jacqueline at the other end of the table.
I closed Blue’s book and stuck it in my book bag. “I’m taking this and checking it out so you can’t study from it anymore.”
“Crisa, I need—”
“Jacqueline,” I said in a loud whisper, waving at our friend.
“SHHHH.” Mrs. Fofferman was getting agitated.
Jacqueline looked up from her book, then scurried over. “What’s up?” she whispered.
“Blue doesn’t want to bother you, but don’t you agree
that reading isn’t going to help her improve her driving?”
Jacqueline raised an eyebrow. “Blue, I told you I don’t mind, and I could actually use the study break. If you’re free in thirty minutes, we can head out to the track together. Libraries are no place for driving prep.”
Blue sighed. “All right, all right. Thanks.”
I patted Blue on the arm and mouthed a thank you to Jacqueline before walking to the check-out desk. “These four please,” I said to Mrs. Fofferman as she took her place behind the desk.
“Have them back in the same condition this time, Miss Knight,” Mrs. Fofferman said, stamping the cards inside each book. Her desk had so many different stamps and inkpads it looked like a stationary store. “You have a tendency to bring back books with crumbs lurking in the pages.”
Am I expected to starve while I study?
“Yes, Mrs. Fofferman. Sorry, Mrs. Fofferman.”
I gathered up my books and left the library.
“What up, Crisa?” said Nick the Guardgoyle as I strode into the hall.
Guardgoyles were stone statues with the bodies and tails of lions, heads of Doberman Pinschers, and wings of dragons. They were partially animate and could move their necks, wings, heads, and tails. Such statues were stationed in different areas of the school, but the only two we saw regularly were Nick and Russell, who sat atop the pillars on either side of the library entrance. They were notorious gossips.
“Just studying, Nick,” I said, closing the library doors behind me. “No mischief today.”
“That’s too bad,” Russell replied. “I miss your mischief. No one has tried to bribe us for a few weeks now and we could use the bacon.”
“Oh, sorry to hear that. I’ll save you some at breakfast tomorrow and bring it by. Free of charge.”
“You’re a saint, Crisanta Knight,” Russell said.
“I don’t know about that,” I mused. “I take it by now you’ve heard the news?” I raised a cuffed wrist.
“Yeah, tough break,” Nick replied. “We empathize. We’re magical and we don’t get to live freely either.”
I looked up at the Guardgoyles. Maybe it came with the territory of being preoccupied with school and life and yourself, but a thought I’d never had suddenly crossed my mind.
“Russell, Nick—you guys are magical. But what are you exactly? You’re modeled like animals, but you talk and process things like people do.”
“We’re an example of what happens when anyone tries to use magic to restore life,” Nick replied. “You’re the first person who can do that without stuff going horribly wrong, but you’re not the first person to try it. A century or so ago, Russell and I were soldiers who died in battle. Around the same time, a fellow in the area happened upon a genie. His beloved dogs had recently died, so he tried to use one of his wishes to bring them back to life. This all happened before genies and Godmothers were banned from trying to give life to things. They eventually learned the hard way that they’re not physically powerful enough, so things go bad when they try.”
“Like really bad,” Russell tagged in. “When that genie granted the dog owner’s wish, the souls of those dogs mixed with the souls of various other deceased creatures in the area, including us. The result was the half-alive, hodgepodge animal stone blobs you see before you. The other Guardgoyles at this school have similar backstories—they are all different for that reason too. We’re just weird-looking magical mistakes. Byproducts of a time when Godmothers and genies tried to manipulate life and failed.”
I stared at them. “Th—that’s awful. You guys are the only Guardgoyles I’ve met since the rest are near the staff dormitories and other places kids don’t go, but I always assumed the others looked the same as you. I can’t believe I never knew.”
“You never asked,” Russell said. “No one does. But that’s cool. We’ll forgive your teenage thoughtlessness in exchange for more food.”
“Uh, okay,” I said. “Double bacon tomorrow. I promise.”
And any other time I remember for the rest of my school career. It’s the least I can do. I’m never going to look at these guys the same way again.
I wandered down the hall thinking about how important it was to have a healthy dose of perspective once in a while. Although I had genie shackles, at least I wasn’t a mutant animal statue. Those poor souls . . .
The Mark Two started ringing in my pocket. After hurriedly passing a flock of girls who tried to avoid eye contact with me, I found my way to a windowsill where I could put my things down and take the call.
“Emma!” I announced happily when my godmother’s face filled the looking glass. “You got a Mark Two!”
“Not quite. I am not allowed to have one due to the regulations of my banishment. This actually belongs to Susannah.” Emma turned the compact and Susannah’s face appeared.
“Hello, Crisa.”
“Susannah. What are you doing at Emma’s?”
“Trying to make amends,” she said. “To you, to your family, and to the person I used to be. You weren’t wrong to treat me so coldly when you came home this semester, Crisa. I made a lot of compromises in my career as an ambassador. I convinced myself I was doing things because they were right, but they were just easy. I shouldn’t have sold out for favor, advancement, and privilege. Which is why when Emma showed up at your trial, I decided to take steps to counteract the bad I have done.” She cleared her throat. “I had a meeting with the Godmother Supreme and exchanged several favors. Emma is going to be released from her banishment on a temporary basis. I came to visit her to give her the news.”
I was astounded. I’d only seen Emma twice in the last ten years. Now Susannah was going to free her from exile. The same Susannah who I had written off as dishonorable and despicable after I found out she was in on rigged protagonist selection. Her support and kindness at the trial was a pleasant surprise, but this went above and beyond.
“I can’t believe it,” I replied. “Sooz, thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” she said. “You and I were both there when your castle burned. After that, I realized that I needed to rebuild too. I hope this is a start.” Susannah glanced over her shoulder. “Here’s Emma.”
The compact returned to my godmother’s face. “Be good, my dear Crisanta. Our agreement with Lenore is still pending, but hopefully I can visit you soon.”
“I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”
“As will I. Now off you go, princess. You probably have plenty of studying to do. I love you.”
I smiled and felt light for the first time in a while. “I love you too, Emma.”
“Great practice, team,” Gordon announced. “Bobby, watch your throws; they’re veering left. Bailie, you could use a little more flight training this week. Crisa, your use of the extender grip function was impressive today. Daniel—solid. That’s all I can say, man. Real nice job.”
Another day of killing it at practice. Although five days had passed since the attack on Oz, and the ghost of worry stalked my friends and me as we anxiously waited to hear from SJ, Twenty-Three Skidd always put me in a good mood.
“On that note, gang,” Javier said more seriously. “This Sunday’s match is the semifinals. If we win that, we’ll be in the championships. I want everyone to get as much practice as they can. Review the personalized notes that Gordon and I handed out. And get plenty of rest. We can and have to win this. Gordon isn’t exactly top of his class and he should have something to hang his hat on when he graduates.”
“Shut up,” Gordon said with a smirk. “But seriously, listen to Javi and do your jobs. We’ll see you Sunday. Dismissed. Oh, except you, Daniel. Let’s talk for a minute in the office.”
Daniel and I exchanged a look. “I’ll take your Pegasus to Redwood,” I said.
“Thanks,” he replied, giving me the reins.
I trotted our steeds over, removed my armor, then went to meet Kai and Blue on the sidelines. After getting permission from Lady Agnue and Lord Channing, Daniel
and I had invited the girls to take the time-crack with us today. As I joined them, Chance, Girtha, and Divya entered the field for their practice. Seeing us, they headed over too.
“Where’d Daniel go?” Kai asked as I reached them.
“He’s talking with Gordon and Javier. Something secretive I gather. I’m sure he’ll be out in a minute and can dish. You two ready for the big magic training drill I’ve been planning?”
“Yup.” Blue stretched her arms. “After being tense all week during Jaqueline’s Driver’s Ed practice, I am ready to unleash at something that I’ve actually gotten great at. Prepare yourself to be blown away.”
“Dang, I wish I could watch this,” Girtha said.
“We’ll give you the recap later,” I said. “Have a strong practice, guys. You’re going to need it to beat us on Sunday.”
“Please,” Divya said. “We might all be friends, but the Lyons are going to annihilate the Seven Suns like nobody’s business.”
“Like you did the last time we played each other?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Okay, that’s enough smack talk,” Blue said. “Especially since it doesn’t matter what either of your teams do because the Crusaders are going to be the victors in the end.”
Girtha, Divya, and I simultaneously turned to Blue and stared at her challengingly.
“You can’t beat what you can’t see coming,” Divya said. She swiftly snapped the fingers of her left hand in Blue’s face, which distracted our friend long enough to allow Divya to swipe her other hand around and smack Blue lightly on the back of the head.
“Ow,” Blue said, surprised.
“So good at smack talk and yet so unprepared for an actual smack,” Girtha teased.
“Come on, Divs, Girtha, let’s go get ready,” Chance said. “Blue, Crisa, stay sharp. We’re coming for you.”
“Bring it on, Prince Charming,” I replied with a grin. He mirrored the smile and waved goodbye. Our friends went to armor up in the dugout just as Daniel exited, having finished removing his. He must’ve come out of the office during our conversation. He exchanged a few words with Divya and Girtha, and whatever he said got them terribly excited. Divya and Daniel exchanged a high five and Girtha gave him an affectionate punch on the shoulder.
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