by Kristen Pham
Oberon stopped at a giant tree that was hollow inside. It was an apartment building straight out of a storybook, where rabbits or birds would live. Definitely not where she was expecting Oberon to sleep.
Her instincts weren’t totally off. Most of the residents of the tree were animals—well, talking, thinking, intelligent Conjurors who looked like animals, really. Calling them “animals” would probably be like using the word “elves” to refer to the People of the Woods.
“Okay, that’s weird,” Henry said, sounding just like Kanti.
“I thought he’d live in a basement or something. Somewhere dark and depressing,” Valerie agreed. “And we can’t exactly peer in the windows of this place. There aren’t any.”
“True, but we could try to find his mind,” Henry suggested. “We could do that from the comfort of our room though.”
“Let’s do it here. That way, if Oberon leaves or he’s able to block us, we can follow him.”
Henry nodded and shut his eyes. He opened his mind to her, and they concentrated on the groundskeeper. Sensing his mind was easier than when they had searched for Jet, because he was physically closer and Henry had met him. They saw his apartment, which was filled with leaves and flowers, and then they were hurled out of his mind.
It was like a hammer banging the inside of her head, sending her to her knees in agony. Next to her, Henry groaned. The pain was followed by a lightning bolt that slammed into the ground inches from where they knelt.
Oberon appeared at the base of the tree, his sightless eyes staring directly at them. “Who are you? A fool, if you would try to invade a mind as old as mine. If it’s a fight you want, you’ve come to the right place.”
His voice was quiet, but somehow, she could hear everything he said as if he was whispering in her ear.
“Let’s get out of here,” Henry said, and he grabbed Valerie’s hand. They began to run, and Oberon’s lightning followed them, hitting the ground where their feet had been milliseconds before.
Valerie tripped and winced, waiting to be burned alive. But again, his bolt just missed her. He must be deliberately avoiding direct contact. He was trying to scare them, not kill them.
“I’m sorry,” she called. “We should have talked to you.”
“What are you doing?” Henry said, yanking her to her feet. “We are NOT reasoning with this guy. He’s nuts.”
“Wait!” Oberon’s voice called after them, but she let Henry lead her away. He was right, staying in the path of Oberon’s lightning, hoping that he’d listen to reason, was not the best idea she’d ever had.
They reached their house out of breath. Valerie could sense that Henry’s terror went much deeper than hers. She didn’t know why, but she couldn’t quite believe that Oberon was working for Sanguina or Reaper.
“We’re out of our league with this guy,” Henry said once he caught his breath.
“Maybe you’re right. But we don’t have any answers yet, and I can’t drop my investigation now,” Valerie said.
Henry shrugged. “We’re kids. Can’t we leave this to Azra and the Grand Masters to figure out? With all their power, they’ll find the spy and take care of him. So far, getting involved almost got you killed—twice.”
“I don’t think he was trying to kill us,” Valerie argued.
“The burnt rubber on my shoes would beg to differ with you,” Henry said. Sure enough, his sneakers were ruined beyond repair.
She sighed but let the subject drop, knowing how stubborn he could be once he’d decided something. She’d continue her search on her own. She could be stubborn, too.
After dinner that night, Valerie brought Kanti to her new home to give her a tour. When they entered her room, a scroll was lying on her bed, like it was waiting for her. The paper was iridescent, reminding her of Azra’s mane. She was intensely curious, but forced herself not to touch it. It could be a bomb, for all she knew.
“Oooo, what’s Azra writing you about?” Kanti asked.
“How do you know it’s from her?”
Kanti laughed. “I always forget you don’t know the most basic stuff. Her scrolls are special. They have that beautiful rainbowy color, and smell it.”
Valerie sniffed. “Lilacs.”
“Yup. She only sends those for special reasons. I got one when I became a journeyman at the Imaginary Friends’ Guild.”
“How’d I miss that? I thought you were an apprentice!”
“You and Henry were still on Earth. It isn’t a big deal. Becoming an apprentice and a Master are important, but journeyman is an in-between step.”
“Sounds like a big deal to me. Sorry I wasn’t here to celebrate with you. Is Cyrus a journeyman now, too?”
Kanti made a face. “Not yet, so don’t mention it. You know how he gets.”
Valerie nodded. Cyrus was her best friend, but there was no denying how intensely competitive he could be.
She carefully unrolled the scroll, which was sealed with silver wax. There were no words on it, but Azra’s voice filled her mind with words and an emotion—urgency.
The Grand Masters are voting tomorrow on the Excision. I would not ask you to risk coming to the Capitol unless you were truly needed, but I think you should be a part of this discussion. Come to my office tomorrow at high noon.
She relayed Azra’s message to Kanti, whose mouth hung open.
“So what’s high noon?” Valerie asked.
“It’s the same thing as regular noon, except that something major is happening. Azra’s speech gets formal when she’s really worried,” Kanti explained. “I never thought the Excision would come to a vote. I can’t imagine cutting all contact with Earth. All those kids who depend on us…”
“Plus Thai and Tan,” Valerie said, her palms starting to sweat.
“Somehow you’ve got to convince them there’s a better way to prevent the Fractus from getting to Earth.”
“But is there?” Valerie asked. Kanti didn’t know, and neither did she.
Chapter 23
Despite everything that had happened that day, it was with a lighter heart that Valerie visited Thai that night. He had survived the separation, and she hoped he’d soon be on the Globe by her side.
She was surprised to find Chern with him. Thai sat on the bed, staring at the carpet.
“Thai? Chern? What is it?” she asked, a deep dread in her stomach.
Thai shook his head, and Chern spoke up, stumbling awkwardly through his attempt at an explanation. “I thought perhaps—you see, I’d heard you were speaking tomorrow to the Grand Masters and—dear me, I’d not expected you here.”
“What’s going on?” Valerie asked, and her frustration must have leaked into her voice because Chern turned red.
“I thought Thai here might be able to convince you that the Excision is the right thing to do. I was assuring him he could get to the Globe before it happens. It’s for everyone’s safety!” Chern said, his voice high with panic.
“Why didn’t you tell me about the Excision?” Thai asked, meeting her eyes for the first time.
“I was going to talk to you tonight,” Valerie said, perplexed by the stony set of his features.
“But you’ve known for days!”
“Weeks, really,” Chern said.
“Shut up!” Thai said, and Valerie’s eyes widened. She’d never heard him yell before.
“I’ll leave you two,” Chern said, and vanished.
“Why are you so mad? You’ve been kind of busy, remember?” Valerie reminded him.
“I’m not a kid! This affects me and Tan, and we have a right to know. Not to mention—never mind,” Thai said, visibly shaking with emotion.
“What?” she asked, for all the world wishing she could touch him. She knew if she could hold him, everything would be okay.
“I don’t have to tell you. You’re not the only one who can keep secrets.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to overwhelm you with everything you had going on.”
Th
ai took a deep, shaky breath and seemed to pull himself together. “No, you’re right. I’d probably have done the same thing in your place.”
“It’s going to be okay, I swear. If I can’t convince them not to cut off the connection between Earth and the Globe, I’ll get you and Tan here before that happens,” Valerie promised.
“Is this Excision thing truly the only way to prevent the Fractus from coming to Earth?”
“I don’t know about that. But Midnight believes it is.”
“Midnight agrees with Chern?” Thai asked. Valerie nodded, and he raked his fingers through his hair. Midnight had been the one to help Thai understand what was happening to him when he first experienced symptoms as an amoebiate, and Valerie knew how highly he thought of her.
“Do you ever talk to Midnight?” Valerie asked.
“She visits when she has time, but she never mentioned this, either.”
“I’m sure she didn’t want to worry you.”
“I guess I need some time to process this,” Thai said, and then turned to Tan, who was still unconscious. “What if he doesn’t wake up in time? I can’t leave him.”
“I’ll get you both here, I promise.”
He nodded distractedly. Inexplicably, he changed the subject. “Did you ever find out anything about your dad?”
Valerie shook her head. “Only that he isn’t Leo. I’m not sure where to look next.”
“Do you think—are prophecies ever wrong?” Thai’s eyes drilled into hers, like her answer was life or death.
“I haven’t heard of false prophecies before, if that’s what you mean,” Valerie said, considering. “But, from what I’ve been told, they don’t usually work out the way you think they will. Why do you ask?”
“My mind is all over the place.” Thai wouldn’t meet her eyes. “Can you give me some time? I think I need to rest.”
“Of course,” she said uncertainly. Thai’s usual warmth was absent, and a chill touched her heart. Something had changed, and her sense of dread grew bigger.
Valerie didn’t dress up for her meeting with the Grand Masters like she had last time. Instead, she wore jeans, a T-shirt, and shoes she could run in. Just in case.
She met Azra in her office. The unicorn was pawing uneasily at the ground. Thank you for taking the risk to come. The decision to vote on the Excision has been rushed. Many of the Grand Masters are deeply afraid that the Fractus have found a way to return to Earth at last.
“Do you think they have?”
I don’t know where the Fractus stand in their quest to return. Cutting off all contact with our true home is a mistake. We would waste away as a people without it. Even though we are light-years apart, somehow it is our lifeblood, keeping us connected with our past. Without it, we are a civilization cut off from the universe, lost in the center of a black hole.
Valerie was ashamed that she hadn’t considered any implications bigger than losing Thai if the connection was closed. Kanti had worried about the children on Earth, and Azra saw how Conjurors needed the connection. Her concerns were wholly selfish. She could see why Gideon had been so disappointed in her.
I have taken extreme precautions with our bubble when you meet everyone today. It has been reinforced by several Grand Masters—the Chemistry, Empathy, and Levitation Guilds have all triple checked it. And I have added some defenses of my own that I believe will hold in a crisis. But failure is not impossible, and there will be those who will not want you to speak.
“It’s okay. I’m not afraid,” Valerie said, and for the first time in weeks the Laurel Circle was warm on her finger. It was time to step up—Thai’s future was at stake, along with countless others who might be born with too much magic.
This time, when she and Azra entered the enormous hall packed with Grand Masters, it was very quiet, with none of the pleasant bustle that had filled the room during her last visit.
Valerie and Azra ascended to the center of the room. When they were inside the spotlight, a burst of adrenaline made her head spin. Among all those Conjurors was at least one who wanted her dead. Her magic flowed through her in full force, ready to protect her.
Today we’ll listen to all arguments for and against the Excision. The first Grand Master to present her case is Midnight of the Guardians of the Boundary.
Midnight floated to the center of the room and presented her case for the necessity of the Excision. Valerie had trouble concentrating on her words as she scanned the room for threats. She found that many of the Grand Masters were sneaking glances at her, and she couldn’t help trying to guess which one was plotting against her.
Before she knew it, Midnight was replaced by a series of other Conjurors. She heard Rastelli make his best attempt at explaining why the children of Earth needed the Conjurors, Kellen bluster that the Knights were completely capable of handling any threat the Fractus posed, and the Grand Master of the Empathy Collective talk about the effect on the psyche of the Conjuror people. But most of the Grand Masters argued in favor of the Excision, effectively ending the danger the Fractus posed to humans once and for all.
“The people of Earth will be on their own, it’s true,” Skye argued as the representative of the Relations Guild. “But they will never again face the threat of enslavement or worse, extinction, at the hands of Conjurors with more power than ethics. Such a risk outweighs any of the costs presented here.”
Finally, it was Valerie’s turn. She had practiced her arguments in her head ever since she had received Azra’s scroll, but she didn’t need them. The logic of the situation had already been debated. It came down to doing what was right. Before she began speaking, their bubble jostled, like it had been hit by a missile. She fell to her knees. Azra tossed back her mane, and Valerie could swear she saw light blaze through her silver horn.
You’re safe. Speak your piece now. Azra’s words were unusually commanding, and Valerie sensed that she didn’t have a lot of time. But for once, her anxiety didn’t slow her down—it seemed to crystalize exactly what she wanted to say.
“We’ve talked a lot about what’s best for the people of Earth, whether the risks of contact between our worlds outweigh the benefits. But that’s only half the story. I believe the Excision is wrong for every Conjuror in this room. Earth is the cradle of this civilization, and without it, we are orphans who can never return home again. I know what it is to be lost, alone, and cut off from my past. It’s no way to live. And despite the risks humans face from the Fractus, I can’t imagine a world where Conjurors can’t reach back to make the home we left behind better and pull the children who are brimming with magic to the safety of the Globe. The connection makes us all stronger—let’s make it better, not eliminate it.”
There was complete silence after she finished speaking. “Um, that’s all I have to say,” she said, thinking they were waiting for her to finish. Their bubble was no longer jostling.
Whoever wanted to stop you from speaking is no longer attacking us. Perhaps it was not what the Fractus were expecting to hear. Azra said to her privately. Then, to the room at large, Azra continued. Thank you for your powerful words, Valerie. I’ll give you all time to deliberate.
“No!” Skye’s voice rang out. “We vote now, as we agreed. There’s no time to waste if what Gabriel shared is true.”
A low murmuring followed his words.
“I second the call for a vote!” called out a Grand Master with long, red hair that went to his ankles.
So be it. All in favor of the Excision vote yellow. Those opposed vote blue.
Before her eyes, the bubbles encasing the Grand Masters changed color according to their votes on the issue. To Valerie’s surprise, she saw Midnight’s bubble turn blue, and the Guardian nodded at her with respect. She had changed at least one mind with her words. But it wasn’t enough. Almost two-thirds of the bubbles turned yellow, and the rest blue.
“I failed. I’m sorry,” Valerie said to Azra.
Before you entered the conversation, I believe there
were fewer than ten Grand Masters who were going to vote against the Excision. You have convinced many with your words. I knew it was a last, desperate hope, but I could never have forgiven myself if I hadn’t tried everything in my power to stop it. You have exceeded my expectations and shown everyone in this room that you are, indeed, a worthy leader.
Before Valerie could reply, the walls of their bubble turned opaque. They were moving swiftly inside it, though she didn’t know where.
It’s programmed to go to the valley in my office after the vote is complete. Azra’s voice was calm in her mind.
The bubble popped and they stood in the beautiful valley.
“Our bubble was attacked before I spoke, wasn’t it?” Valerie asked.
Azra nodded. The assault came from all around us, both sucking away my magic and attacking it at the same time. The power required to do such a thing is immense, greater than my own. If the bubble had not been reinforced, we would no longer be with this world.
Valerie’s earlier courage eroded a little at Azra’s words. “Who hates me so much?”
She was startled by the sudden appearance of Azra’s husband, Odysseus. Then his low voice filled her mind. I’m afraid, for you, it is only the beginning. Those who would lead by example are always attacked by those who would lead by force.
Odysseus’s words followed Valerie home that night. She couldn’t imagine a life constantly on the run from people who wanted to hurt her. She fantasized about living on an island with no one but Thai by her side. Surely, in a world so full of magic, her dream was achievable. But she thought of her brother, Cyrus, Kanti, Azra, Gideon…she now had ties to people all over the Globe that she wouldn’t sever. It was hard to believe that only a year ago her closest friend was her doctor.
When she entered her room, she saw the hand mirror that Juniper had left her glowing on her bed. She picked it up and saw a fuzzy image of his face.
“Have you found Shade?” she asked excitedly.
“No, but we’re close,” he said, his voice coming through like a bad cell phone connection. “Chrome can sense his trail. He’s taking a really weird route—he must be trying to avoid being followed.”