“I don’t believe it’s your job to question the question,” Declan said.
Patsy pursed her lips. “Fine, but I can’t be held responsible for the vision. A hold harmless agreement is part of the deal.”
“What’s the holdup?” Matteo yelled. “I’m freezing out here. I need to skate.”
“We accept your terms,” Declan said smoothly.
Patsy nodded, causing her curls to bounce. “Reframe it as a question and we’ll get started.”
“Where are the blood healing stones that Volans Moldark intends to use for his resurrection?” I asked.
Patsy wore a pained expression. “Seek and you shall find.” She skated toward the center of the rink, her short skirt flapping in the artificial breeze.
She and Matteo joined their gloved hands and began to skate in a circle, while Declan and I moved to the platform for a better view of the ice. For a moment, I forgot that I was meant to watch for a vision. Patsy and Matteo were mesmerizing skaters. Then the music blasted around us and the skaters increased their tempo. Matteo twirled Patsy in the air and then swung her around by an arm and a leg. Their synchronized moves were captivating to watch.
Declan bumped me with his hip. “Maybe you and I could give it a try later.”
I laughed. “Only if I have a death wish. My balancing skills aren’t as honed as my levitating skills.”
The music pounded and the skaters moved faster until their movements were a blur. When the ice changed color, I gripped Declan’s arm but refused to take my gaze off the rink. Images flashed on the ice, but they were too quick to process.
“Did you catch any of that?” I asked. My hands now grasped the metal bar of the platform. I couldn’t afford to miss anything.
“Hold on,” Declan said calmly. “They seem to be slowing down.”
He was right. Flashes of color morphed into clearer pictures, although Patsy and Matteo seemed to be moving at the speed of light. I saw a huge lake with an arched stone bridge. Then a tall building that appeared to be in the middle of a city. I squinted to read the sign. Three Brothers Bank. The next image was a cottage in the woods. Smoke billowed from the chimney. I tried to note every possible detail—the types of trees, the presence of frost, the cottage itself. Anything that would narrow down the location. Otherwise, it would be impossible to pinpoint.
“Are you memorizing all this?” I asked. I felt Declan’s hand cover mine and a comforting warmth spread throughout my body.
“We’ll find them, Mia,” he said.
“The goal isn’t just to find them,” I replied. “The goal is to find them before the brothers do.”
“We will,” he assured me.
Once I was sure the images were repeating, I dared to shift my gaze to Declan. “How can you be so certain?”
“Because they’re missing a secret weapon.”
“And what’s that?” I asked.
He cupped my chin in his hand. “You.”
Once we were back at the academy, I described the visions in excruciating detail, down to the last frosted leaf.
“An arched stone bridge over a lake,” Cerys said. “That could be anywhere in the world.”
“It could be in Terrene for all we know,” Bryn agreed.
“Three Brothers Bank in a city should be easy,” Dani said.
“But even if we find the bank, we have to figure out where the stone is inside it,” I said. “A vault? A desk drawer?” Stress racked my body. “Nothing about this is easy.”
“The Hermes frat boys aren’t going to be better at this than we are,” Bryn said. “We have that much going for us.”
“Unless they have instructions from Moldark,” I argued. “They could have a map with X marks the spot.”
“Then they’d have the stones already,” Dani said. “But they don’t, so, whether it was due to Moldark’s paranoia or some other reason, they have to search the same as us. Only we’re smarter.”
“And far more capable,” Cerys added.
My gut twisted. “I’m glad you all feel so capable.” All I wanted to do right now was curl into a ball and weep.
“Mia, you’re one of the most talented witches in the world,” Dani said. “If you weren’t, you wouldn’t have made it this far at Spellslingers. You wouldn’t be on track to become a Keeper of the North. You have to have more faith in yourself.”
“I’m not like you,” I said. “This takes massive effort. It’s practically a reprogramming of my brain. I wasn’t born with confidence oozing out of every pore.”
“That sounds like a problematic skin condition,” Bryn said.
Dani glared at her. “You should be more confident, Mia. You saved the world from a terrible fate. How could you not feel confident after pulling that off?”
“I didn’t stop it completely, though,” I replied. “If I had, we wouldn’t be in this mess now. That prophecy was geared toward bringing back Moldark. I only figured out part of their goals, and not even the most important one.” My chest heaved and I felt like I was going to be sick.
“We all missed the boat on that one,” Bryn said. “No one realized there was a larger plan at work, not even experienced wardens.”
“Not even your demigod of war boyfriend,” Dani added.
Cerys seemed to sense my emotional state. She came over and engulfed me in a warm hug. “We’ve got this,” she said. “And you’re the reason we’re going to succeed.”
“What’s the best way to do this?” I said, forcing my anxiety to take a backseat. “I can recreate the images I saw with a spell. Maybe we should assemble a group so everyone can view them at the same time.”
“Or maybe we should start with someone most likely to identify unfamiliar places,” Bryn said.
Understanding settled in my bones. “Cato,” I said.
“Cato,” Bryn confirmed with a nod.
“To the library,” Dani announced. “Clementine, you’re in charge while we’re out.”
“Why should she be in charge?” Cerys asked. “My familiar is perfectly capable of keeping order.”
Dani tossed her familiar a disgruntled look. “Everybody work as a team while we’re gone.”
We filed out of the room and headed outside to the library steps.
“If it isn’t the Glam Squad. No, wait…the Quad Squad,” Fred said. The stone gargoyle seemed to notice our matching tense expressions. “What happened? Someone find out they’re not getting placed in their quadrant of choice?”
“If only,” I said.
George clucked his tongue. “That bad, huh?”
“You have no idea,” I said.
“Chin up, air witch,” Fred said. “It’s not the end of the world.”
I resisted the urge to respond. We continued past the gargoyles and through the open wall of the library where the gryphon’s head was mounted on the back wall. His eyes reminded me of two marbles. They fixed on us as we approached.
“Eventide, my favorite witches,” Cato said.
“Just the gryphon we wanted to see,” Bryn said. “We are in need of your singular brand of expertise.”
“You flatter me, daughter of Moldark.”
Bryn cringed at the mention of her father. “Mia is going to show you a few images. We’d like your help identifying the locations.”
“Wands away,” Cato said.
I conjured the image of the arched stone bridge over the lake. “We’re looking for this place. Any idea where it is?”
Cato scrunched his beak. “It seems like it should be in our world, but I assure you it is not.”
“Then where?” I asked.
“Terrene,” he replied. “A place called Connecticut.”
“Connecticut,” Bryn repeated. “I lived there briefly when I was a child. Which town?”
“The closest town is Darien,” Cato said.
Bryn snapped her fingers. “Yes, I can guide us around.” She paused. “Okay, that’s probably overstating it. I haven’t been there in years, but I know wh
ere we can get an excellent burger.”
Dani rolled her eyes. “Of course you can.”
“What?” Bryn gave her an innocent look. “We have to eat. Keep up our strength.”
I showed the next image of the bank.
“Three Brothers Bank is one of the oldest financial institutions in our world,” Cato said. “There are three major branches and that is one of them.”
“Do you know which city it’s in?” I asked.
“I do. The building next to it is the giveaway,” Cato said. “A sacred hall. The city was built around it.”
“Of course, Evenstar,” Dani said. “I thought it looked familiar.”
“And the final image.” The bank dissipated, replaced by the cottage in the woods. “I don’t recognize the trees right outside the cottage, but the trees behind them are turmeric cedars, only found in the Northern Quadrant. I can’t narrow it down beyond that, though.”
Cato studied the image. “I concur with your identification of the quadrant. Beyond that, I’m afraid I do not know.”
I couldn’t disguise my disappointment. We had to find the stones before the Fraternal Order of Hermes.
“Which border is the quickest for crossing into Connecticut?” I asked.
“No need to tangle with the Order of the Edge,” Cato said.
“What choice is there?” I asked. “It’s not like we can…” I stopped. “Teleport.” I smiled at the gryphon.
“Do you think she’d let us?” Dani asked.
“Explain the urgency,” Cato said. I have no doubt she’ll agree to the request.”
I tucked away my wand, feeling more upbeat now that we’d identified two of the locations. “Who’s ready to take a ride?”
Chapter Nine
I was shocked when Chancellor Tilkin agreed to let us borrow her blue-grey feathered cloak. It was a family heirloom, and incredibly valuable to boot. Thanks to Bryn’s desperate puppy eyes and a grand speech about the fate of the world, we found ourselves squeezed inside the cloak—no easy feat with four of us, but we managed.
I flipped back the cloak to reveal the lake from my vision. I could see the stone bridge in the distance with its distinctive arch.
“We’re going to need more light,” Dani said. “The sun’s nearly set.”
“I’ll light my wand,” I said.
“No, we’ll need more power than that.” Cerys stepped away from the cloak and held her hands out, palms open. She began to chant under her breath.
Tiny white lights appeared all around us and it took me a moment to realize they were fireflies. “You called to them?”
Cerys opened her eyes and smiled, delighted with the result. “I’ve been practicing in the woods at the academy. Glad to see the fireflies in Terrene are just as responsive.”
“Not too much magic,” Bryn warned. “We don’t want to alert some random League trio in Connecticut.”
The fireflies lit the path that wound around the lake so that we could get to the bridge. “I don’t know where to start,” I admitted.
“That’s what I’m for,” Bryn said. “I’m the bloodhound.”
“Like Rudolph is for you,” Cerys said with a laugh.
Bryn slowed her steps and turned around in a circle. “I’ve been here before. My mother…” The water witch frowned. “She and I came here on a picnic when I was little.”
“Do you think that’s why I saw this place in the vision?” I asked. Maybe there was no stone here after all.
Bryn stopped and closed her eyes in concentration. “It’s here. I feel it.”
“Do you think it’s a coincidence?” Dani asked.
“Doubtful,” Bryn replied.
“Why hide one of his stones here?” I asked. “Why in Terrene at all?”
“Safer for one thing,” Bryn said. “It would be far less likely to be detected if it’s not in our world.”
Cerys walked to the edge of the lake and gazed out at the water. “I think it was for sentimental reasons.”
“Again, doubtful,” Bryn said. “I feel a tug toward the bridge. The stone is somewhere over there.”
“This lake is huge,” Dani said. “The stone could be anywhere at the bottom.”
Bryn’s eyes glimmered with determination. “I’m a water witch and I have my father’s blood magic. There’s no one more suited to find this stone.”
“Bryn’s right,” Cerys said. “The AMF’s best chance is right here, right now.”
I embraced the hope that surged within me. “Let me just put this somewhere for safekeeping.” I carried the feathered cloak to the wooded area and used my magic to levitate to a high tree branch. I made sure to hang the cloak where no one else could reach it.
“Good thinking,” Dani called.
To save time, I then levitated the four of us to the middle of the stone bridge. With the moonlight reflecting off the water, it would have made a beautiful scene if not for the reason we were here.
“Sense anything?” Dani pressed.
Bryn stared at the water. “Down there.”
I followed her gaze to the inky darkness below. “What’s your plan?”
Bryn retrieved her wand from her pocket. “Magic.”
“You don’t need your wand for water magic,” Dani said.
“No, but I have no clue what I’m going to find down there,” Bryn replied. “I’d rather be prepared.”
“This is Terrene,” Dani argued. “There aren’t any monsters at the bottom of this lake.”
“You do remember the hydra, don’t you?” Cerys asked. “That was in Terrene.”
“Good point.” Dani patted Bryn on the back. “On second thought, take your wand.”
Bryn stretched her arms above her head. “If I’m not back in five minutes…”
“Don’t let you die?” Dani queried.
“That would be appreciated.” Bryn climbed to the ledge of the bridge and dove headfirst into the water.
The three of us waited in absolute silence. I counted every second in my head until Bryn’s head finally split the water with thirty seconds to spare.
“Lots of fish in here,” she said. “Too bad we’re not camping or we’d have a nice supper.”
“Any luck?” Dani asked.
“I still feel it,” Bryn replied, “but I can’t seem to…” She halted mid-sentence. “Good grief. I’m such a moron. It isn’t in the lake.”
I leaned over the ledge. “Then where is it?”
She pointed in front of her. “It’s there.”
I looked down but saw nothing. “Where?”
“It’s one of the stones in the bridge,” she said. “It’s red, just like mine.”
Dani bent over to see. “Send a few fireflies down there, Cerys.”
The earth witch whispered to the fireflies and they moved their light to the base of the bridge. Although it was difficult to see from this angle, there was a speck of red amongst the grey and beige stones.
“How will you get it out?” Dani asked.
“You’re the stone queen,” Bryn said to Cerys. “Any suggestions?”
“It’s only one little stone,” Cerys said. “It shouldn’t be hard to budge.” She focused on the stone embedded in the bridge.
“I think it shifted,” Bryn called from the water. “Keep going!”
Cerys gripped the ledge, squeezing her eyes closed to block any distractions.
“Just about there,” Bryn said. She cupped her hands underneath the bridge, to catch the stone when it was finally released.
She didn’t get the chance.
Before I understood what was happening, I plunged into the water. My bones smashed against hard objects as I fell—the stones I’d been standing on before the bridge collapsed.
The cold water sent me into shock. My heart raced and I fought a sense of rising panic. I knew I was bleeding but had no idea from where. I opened my eyes underwater and tried to locate my friends, but it was too dark. I pulled out my wand and performed an illumination
spell. The tip of my wand glowed with white light, enough to see my immediate surroundings. I saw a flash of blond hair out of the corner of my eye.
Cerys.
As I swam closer, I could see that her eyes were closed and she had a bloody gash on her forehead. That wasn’t the worst thing, though.
We weren’t alone.
A shadow lurked in the distance—one I couldn’t quite discern. I scooped Cerys into my arms and kicked my legs as hard as I could. I had to get her safely to the surface and hoped that Bryn and Dani were able to do the same.
The air hit my face and I sucked in a much-needed breath before turning my attention to Cerys. She needed to be on dry land. Contact with the earth would help revive her. I called to my magic and commanded the wind to lift us from the water. A gust of wind blew us straight across the water to the lakeside. I turned Cerys onto her side and water spilled from her lips. She began to cough and I rubbed her arm.
“I’ll be right back,” I said. “I need to find the others.” Bryn should be okay. It bothered me that there was no sign of her. Whatever was lurking beneath the surface, I knew it couldn’t be good.
I ordered the wind to carry me back across to the middle of the lake and I dropped back into the water. I wish I relished water the way Bryn did—it would make this task much easier. I swam deeper, searching for any sign of my friends and keeping an eye out for the creature. I tried not to think about the stone. It was probably lost at the bottom of the lake by now.
I spotted Dani’s strawberry blond hair streaming behind her. Based on her movements, she was conscious and relief swept over me…until I saw the wand in her hand.
She wasn’t swimming. She was fighting.
I performed what Bryn nicknamed ‘the torpedo spell’ and shot toward her. Sure enough, she was facing off against a kelpie. The water spirit had taken human form but had retained its reversed hooves.
I aimed my wand at the seaweed and commanded the water plants to seize the kelpie. The water spirit was pulled toward the bottom of the lake, giving us a chance to rise to the surface.
“We need to get out of the water now,” Dani said.
Outgrow: Spellslingers Academy of Magic (Keeper of the North Book 2) Page 9