by Kristen Pham
“How is this possible?” Kanti asked.
Azra turned to Valerie. I owe you a debt now that I can never repay. When you used your vivicus power after Zunya attacked me last year, you did more than save my life. You created new life within me then, though I did not know until later what had happened.
Valerie remembered Zunya’s attack vividly. Azra had protected her and Henry, and had nearly died as a result. She shook her head, and bumps rose on her arms.
“I think you’re mistaken. I never meant, never even thought—” Valerie stuttered.
“There can be no mistake,” Summer interrupted. “We have consulted with powerful Healers and the People of the Woods. This manifestation of power from a vivicus is possible. There are legends.”
Elden suspected when he first saw me after you used your magic to save me, but did not want to give me false hope. It is true, Valerie. When you brought Sanguina back from the brink of death, you also restored her humanity. When you saved me, you gave me the gift of life.
Valerie’s eyes met Henry’s. He was staring at her with awe. But Valerie trembled at the news. To have a power inside her that she didn’t understand, that worked without her conscious intention, was as terrifying as it was incredible.
Kanti put her arm around her shoulders. “Doesn’t surprise me, Val. And so much magic could be in no better hands than yours.”
Cyrus gave her a tight smile, but he seemed as stunned as she was. He gripped her hand tightly, and she could feel how cold his was in her own, which was burning hot.
Valerie heard a low voice in her mind. It was Odysseus, the memory of Azra’s husband, was with them as well. You have been told this so you can be honored, not to cause you discomfort. If some part of my soul still drifts through the universe, unable to leave Azra completely alone, the gift you have given my wife would allow me now to rest. Our undying gratitude is yours.
Valerie wished she could run away from it all—from the beauty and the immensity of her power, and from what it meant.
“Is there a way that we could leave my part of the story out when you tell people this amazing news?” Valerie asked.
Summer and Azra exchanged glances. It was Summer who spoke. “News of the pregnancy has leaked. We don’t know which of the Conjurors we consulted shared the news, but it has become public.”
Oleander has called the Grand Masters to meet three days hence to discuss whether I am fit to lead now.
“That’s ridiculous!” Kanti almost shouted. “Are we living in the dark ages?”
Perhaps. My powers have vanished with my pregnancy, but not my ability to advise. However, I will yield to the decision of the Grand Masters.
“Let me speak to them,” Valerie said. “We can’t take on the Fractus without your help in winning the support of the Grand Masters.”
Azra nodded. I have been authorized that I may bring you, and you alone, with me to the meeting. But I cannot say if they will give you a hearing.
“I’ll make them,” Valerie said, not sure if it was panic or determination that wouldn’t let her contemplate the possibility of losing Azra as the leader of Arden.
The next few days flew by. Emin had come to stay with Valerie until his mom could pick him up, and his bright presence was a welcome distraction from her anger with her father. The sound of his singing wove through the house on the pink breath of Emin’s magic, and Valerie, Henry and Oberon couldn’t help singing along.
The morning of the meeting with the Grand Masters, Oberon confronted her as she snuck quietly out of her room so as not to wake Emin, who was still sleeping in her bed.
“I don’t like that you’ll be among the Grand Masters without my protection or Henry’s,” her father said in a stubborn tone.
Valerie hadn’t confronted her father about his role in the death of Dulcea’s parents, deciding to handle one crisis at a time. But tense as she was, her anger burst out.
“I’m not sure I trust your judgment, so it’s best that you won’t be there. I wouldn’t want you to kill someone you decided was threatening me. I couldn’t live with that on my conscience, and I don’t know how mom lived with the death of innocent people on hers,” Valerie spat out.
The expression of shock and horror mixed on Oberon’s face almost made Valerie wish she could retract her words. But her father was adept at hiding what he felt, and he quickly schooled his features.
“There are many whose lives I ruined. I will live with that regret for all of my days, and try to atone,” he said.
“Do you know Dulcea, a master in the Society of Imaginary Friends? She took me in when I had no home on the Globe. She was the first person to ever really take care of me, and now I have to tell her that my father slaughtered her parents,” Valerie said.
Some of her anger had left her, replaced by a hollow dread. Her friendship with Dulcea would never be the same.
Oberon started to reach for her, but Valerie yanked her arm away and left. She decided to run to the Capitol building. As her feet pounded the ground, she tried to erase the memory of her father’s face and concentrate on what she was going to say to the Grand Masters. But her anxieties about Oberon, her powers, the threat of the Fractus, even Thai, wouldn’t leave her in peace.
When she arrived in Azra’s office, she saw Gideon talking with the unicorn.
“I am glad you’re here,” he said as she entered. “I came to tell Azra that, thanks to your words to the People of the Woods, I believe we have brokered a tentative alliance against the Fractus. If you are able to bring them the Byway, their loyalty will be assured.”
One significant piece of her plan had fallen into place.
Their magic will be critical if the tide turns against us among the Grand Masters.
Valerie turned sharply to face Azra. “Did they really believe what Reaper said?”
Azra nodded, her mane brushing against Valerie’s hand.
A group is discussing sending an emissary to the Black Castle to negotiate terms with Reaper, but nothing has been decided.
“How can this be?” Valerie’s heart began to pound.
“Reaper told them a compelling story,” Gideon said. “It is not too late to take control back and give the Grand Masters a true vision for a better future.”
Valerie shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Everything she planned to say had been about Azra’s fitness to lead, but clearly she needed to think bigger.
As she and Azra entered the great hall and ascended in their bubble, Valerie saw that their usual place, in the center of the room in a spotlight, had already been taken. Oleander saw them arrive and began to speak before they could stop her.
“Before we say anything else, I want to congratulate Azra on her news. No one could be more deserving of this miracle,” Oleander said, a sickly sweet note in her voice that gave the lie to her words.
But the other Grand Masters must not have noticed the falseness in Oleander’s tone, because they all cheered, long and loud.
When they quieted, Oleander continued. “Today isn’t about stripping Azra of her title or casting her out. She has served us long and well, and we are grateful to her. But the time has come to set aside outdated ideas. Azra has long clung to how things have always been, but the universe is changing. Earth is finally ready for us to return. They need us, and we need our home.”
There was muttering among the Grand Masters. A voice, young and high, rang out above the rest. Valerie saw that it was Calibro, a girl who was the Grand Master of the Justice Guild. Despite her age, she had a thoughtful gravity that made people listen.
“We never even considered another leader of the Grand Masters until Reaper’s visit. This is the first we’ve heard that some consider her ideas to be outdated. Why do you call for her to step down now?” Calibro’s words elicited nods all around her.
“Because it is time in more ways than one. Time to elect a Conjuror who can see that the Fractus have evolved their strategy and deserve our support. But also time because
Azra needs to focus on herself. Did you know that her magic has now been passed to her child? All of her gifts are gone. She is no longer the most powerful of us all. She is as devoid of power as a human,” Oleander said, and Valerie heard a note of glee in her voice.
Valerie turned to Azra in surprise. Azra had mentioned her powers being absent, but she thought it was temporary.
It is the way of unicorns. We pass our magic to our children. And when my child is born, I will finally age and eventually will join my Odysseus among the stars.
Valerie was thrown by Azra’s words. She had always seen the unicorn as a constant on the Globe, but after centuries of living, now she was going to die. The surprise of Azra’s news nearly robbed Valerie of her words, but she knew she had to force herself to say something before Oleander took complete control of the gathering.
“It seems pretty convenient that you want Azra to step down now, when the Fractus want our support. Who do you think should lead instead? Yourself? You helped murder Midnight. You shouldn’t even be walking the streets!” Valerie shot at Oleander.
Valerie realized too late that she hadn’t heeded Gideon’s advice. She needed to change the story, not exchange insults.
Oleander’s eyes sparked, seeing her chance. “I won’t even dignify your accusation with a response. This child thinks she knows what is best for our people? I don’t understand why she has a voice among us. I grant that her vivicus power is unique, but clearly it has gone to her head, if she thinks she knows what’s right better than we do.”
Skye gave her a sharp glance, as if telling Valerie to be quiet and let him handle this.
“The vivicus has a point, Oleander. Azra has not steered us wrong in the many centuries of her rule. To change captains now, when we are encountering a storm, seems foolhardy,” Skye said.
“Don’t you see? It’s in a storm that we need our strongest leaders. That person is no longer Azra,” Kellen jumped in, fluttering in a bubble next to Oleander. “And I will vouch for the fact that this vivicus child is not living up to her promise as a Knight. She is no leader. She is one who is easily manipulated and controlled.”
Valerie had almost forgotten that Kellen, as a Grand Master, would be present at this meeting as well. She met the eyes of the Conjurors in the room, and the force of their doubt in her matched her own.
“We’re not here today to discuss Valerie,” Skye said.
“Except to rule her out as a successor to Azra,” Oleander agreed, and the Grand Masters murmured their assent.
“But isn’t she the one who enabled this miracle of Azra’s pregnancy? That should count for something!” a stubby grand master that Valerie had never met shouted.
His words were met with gasps and a rising clamor that didn’t sound entirely friendly. Valerie didn’t think she was imagining the fear that flashed in the eyes directed at her.
“Her powers are irrelevant. She didn’t even know she was doing it!” Oleander said, lifting her lip in an unsightly snarl that showed her irritation at the direction the conversation was going. “We’re here today to vote out Azra, not gossip.”
“Yes, let’s vote this dinosaur out of her position and give it to someone with enough magic to command some respect,” Kellen said, earning a grateful nod from Oleander.
“What does Azra have to say?” Calibro’s clear voice cut through the rumblings again.
It is true that my magic has been passed on. But I have seen many centuries of conflict, and the birth of this world. I am not afraid of change. As the universe evolves, so must we. But if my time here is at an end, then I will bow to your decision.
“I say we vote!” called Al, the Grand Master of the Stewardship Guild.
“Red to remain mired in the past with Azra as our leader, Green to move to a new future with a new leader,” Oleander said, effectively cutting off any more interruptions.
Before Valerie’s eyes, the bubbles containing each Grand Master changed color. She anxiously scanned the room, trying to see which was greater, the red or the green. Her stomach sank as she saw bubble after bubble turn green.
Words crossed the perimeter of the bubble she shared with Azra. Green, 61%, Red, 39%. They had lost. Azra no longer led the Grand Masters.
Chapter 9
Emin was waiting on the lawn outside the Capitol building, doing cartwheels on the grass while Henry watched over him. Kanti and Cyrus were with them, and she saw Oberon trimming the hedges nearby, probably to discreetly keep an eye on her. But even the sight of Emin’s joy couldn’t lift the heaviness from Valerie’s heart, and it must have shown.
“Azra’s been voted out? I don’t believe it,” Kanti said, her beautiful face a mask of disbelief.
“Let’s all regroup tomorrow on next steps. Sweetie, why don’t you and I show Emin your Guild?” Henry suggested to Kanti.
Kanti grinned and held out her hand to the boy. “There’s waterslides!” she said, and he squealed as they headed toward the Society of Imaginary Friends.
Cyrus gave Valerie’s hand a squeeze. She hadn’t seen much of him over the past few days, and she hadn’t had the energy to address what was bothering him with everything going on.
“Let’s walk,” Valerie said, and Cyrus nodded.
They wove through the winding streets of Silva, and Valerie told him everything, how her words had slipped away and that the Grand Masters were as unsure of her as a leader as she was herself.
Cyrus listened, his usually expressive face serious. “You’re not a god. You won’t always know exactly what to say. Sometimes you’ll try, and people won’t listen. But that doesn’t mean you’re a failure.”
Valerie nodded, knowing he was right. “But of all the days I wish I’d found the right words, today was the most important. I doubt I’ll ever be able to sit in on a meeting of the Grand Masters again without Azra to back me. And can we take on the Fractus without their help?”
“You said that 39% of the Grand Masters voted for Azra to continue leading, and it’s a safe bet that those same people are wary of the Fractus. You don’t need to win the hearts of every single Grand Master. Maybe those 39% will be enough,” Cyrus said.
Hope reignited in Valerie’s heart. “You’re right. And many of the Grand Masters who agreed that Azra should step down would never support attacking humans on Earth. Once they know the truth about the Fractus, they may change their minds.”
“We need to stay on their radar, keep reminding them of our message,” Cyrus said.
“Cy, you’re a genius,” she said, and he flashed her his usual smile.
They had wandered outside the city into the woods to the Lake of Knowledge. Standing on its banks, she turned to face her best friend—and boyfriend, she reminded herself. Cyrus’s eyes searched hers.
“Tell me what’s been bothering you,” Valerie said, resting her forehead against his.
Cyrus flushed and then tried and failed to give her a cocky smile. “Who says anything’s wrong?”
“It’s me. We know each other too well to hold back,” she said.
“I can’t stop thinking about how incredibly powerful you are. As if being the great hope of the universe and beautiful and smart and an incredible fighter isn’t enough,” Cyrus said, and he let out a breath of frustration. “How can I ever be more than your clumsy sidekick? I’m selfish and jealous and my power is useless in a real fight.”
“You know that’s not true—your power has saved my life more than once,” Valerie reminded him.
Cyrus shrugged, unconvinced. “I want to be your hero, not the other way around.”
Valerie wound her arms around his neck and whispered against his lips. “You stayed by my side, watching over me, my entire life. When everyone else in the world abandoned me, and I didn’t even believe in you anymore, you still remembered me. You are more than a hero to me. You are my best friend, my family, knit into my heart forever.”
Cyrus crushed his mouth against hers.
“Traitors! The both of you!”
Cyrus and Valerie jumped apart at the sight of Rastelli walking out from the trees. His eyes glinted with a mad light, and his clothes were tattered, as if he hadn’t changed them for days. He held a staff at his side, which he gripped so tightly his knuckles were white.
Cyrus pushed Valerie behind him and hissed, “Let me handle this. He knows me.”
Rastelli moved to shove Cyrus aside, but Cyrus fought back, shoving him hard in the chest. Rastelli stumbled, and Cyrus pushed his advantage, keeping the Grand Master from getting too close to Valerie.
“There’s no way I’m letting you hurt her,” Cyrus said.
Rastelli growled, and Cyrus moved faster than Valerie had ever seen him, blocking him from reaching her by driving his shoulder into Rastelli’s gut.
“You’ll die for your betrayal!” Rastelli screamed.
“Betrayal? Rastelli, what are you talking about?” Cyrus held up his hands, using his softest voice.
Valerie trusted Cyrus’s instinct that Rastelli could be calmed, like he had when she’d encountered him at his Guild. Which was why she never saw his response coming.
Rastelli aimed his staff at Cyrus and lightning shot out, slamming Cyrus in his chest. Cyrus rocketed through the air, landing several feet away flat on his back.
“Cyrus!” Valerie screamed, running to his side.
Before she could even check for a pulse, Rastelli’s staff hit her temple with a force that made her vision go black. She fell to the ground beside Cyrus.
Rastelli’s face was grim. He pointed his staff again at Cyrus, but it didn’t shoot lightning. Rastelli shook it, frustrated. Valerie remembered the Fractus she had fought at the Black Castle who had staffs similar to Rastelli’s. Those Fractus shot lightning straight from their hands, but she wouldn’t be surprised if Reaper had found a way to weaponize their power.
Before Rastelli could regroup, Valerie kicked up with all her strength. Her foot connected with the staff, which flew back and hit Rastelli in his head. She regretted the move, because it allowed Rastelli to retain possession of the staff, but the Grand Master staggered backward a few steps, and a trickle of blood drew a line down his face.