Guardians of the Boundary (The Conjurors Series Book 3) (21 page)

Valerie unzipped her bag and
held out the yellow rose to him. Now that she had time to examine it more closely,
she felt it buzzing with magic that seemed in harmony with the power that
hummed in the field, like they were on the same frequency.

“You have found it, at last,”
Elden said as he took the flower from her hands. When he touched it, the flower
seemed to perk up, its petals turning a brighter shade of gold and the stem
standing straighter.

“Will you destroy it?” Valerie
asked, a little afraid of the answer. Part of her worried that the bargain she
had made with Elden to let the People of the Woods decide the fate of the Byway
was the right one.

“Our people will vote,” he said,
unable to take his eyes from the rose. “They know the risks of allowing it to
exist, but to destroy such a perfect specimen of nature would be viewed as
sacrilege.”

“But you have to!” Henry said,
his anger leaping up more quickly than it had in the past.

Elden’s eyes narrowed. “We don’t
have to do anything, young man. We answer to no Conjurors.”

“I understand,” Valerie said,
moving to stand next to Henry. She subtly stepped on his foot and hoped he
understood her silent command to back off.

“I will keep my word to you,
vivicus. When the voting is complete, I will find you. I cannot promise what
the fate of the Byway will be, but I have few doubts that, after returning this
rose to its true home, you will have the support of my people in the battle
that is coming,” Elden said.

His eyes flicked to Azra as he
registered a thought that she must have sent to only his mind.

“I know what is at stake,” he
said, his body tense with impatience. Then he left the valley without another
word.

Knowing how exposed
the Byway was nagged at Valerie as she and Henry returned home, but she didn’t
have time to dwell on the outcome. She had promised Skye and Calibro that she
would introduce them to Chisisi and Thai that night.

In her room, she touched Thai’s
crystal and found him in a Japanese hotel lobby, arguing with a man at the
front desk.

“I’m not asking for personal
information. I am only asking if you saw an older man brought here. An American,”
Thai said, his stance aggressive. “It’s a matter of life and death.”

“I’m sure it is,” the man said
smoothly, but his expression didn’t change. “I’ll speak to my manager.”

Thai turned and saw Valerie, and
he walked to a secluded corner of the lobby. He let out a frustrated breath.

“No one wants to cooperate to
help find Joe. Even the police here think we’re out of our minds,” Thai said.
“I promise you, I won’t stop searching. I will find him.”

“I know you will,” Valerie said,
and she meant it. She doubted there was any obstacle that wouldn’t crumble
under Thai’s determination. “Right now, I’m not here about that. Can you take me
to Chisisi? I have some news for you both.”

Thai led her out of the hotel
and down a bustling street that seemed much cleaner than what she’d been used
to when she lived in Oakland. They reached a store on the corner that had old
electronics in the window, and Thai went inside.

When they crossed the threshold,
a woman with long, shiny black hair nodded to Thai, recognizing him. She pressed
a button under her desk, and a panel in the wall swung away. Valerie couldn’t
help grinning as they stepped inside. It was like being in an action movie.
Sometimes she forgot the lengths humans had to go to on Earth to hide, when
there wasn’t magic to make concealment easy.

Chisisi sat at a table with
three other men and two women. They were talking excitedly, but they stopped
when Valerie and Thai entered. Though they were strangers to Valerie, Chisisi’s
friends recognized her, and their eyes grew wide.

“Welcome, Valerie. As you can
see, our circle is growing,” Chisisi said, his voice warm.

“It’s an honor,” a woman with
curly red hair said, almost bouncing in her seat.

“Thanks,” Valerie said, trying
to shake off the awkwardness she always experienced at the unmerited respect
she received from strangers. She knew Oberon, and maybe even Gideon, would urge
her to use their impression of her to her advantage, so she straightened her
shoulders. “I’m thankful that you are all here. Our team had a big win today. We
recovered the Byway on the Globe and it is safely protected.”

Grins broke out around the
table, and Thai stepped toward her. His arms lifted a little as if he was going
to try to hug her, though of course he couldn’t. He seemed to remember himself
and relaxed his arms.

“That’s not all,” Valerie
continued. “We think it’s time that we had a little magic on our side here on
Earth. The Grand Masters on the Globe want to work with you to bring some
Conjurors to help with the search for Joe and the Byway, and to protect you if
the Fractus try to attack.”

“You mean we’ll get to see real
magic?” the red-haired woman asked, and Valerie worried that she’d faint from
joy.

Valerie smiled at the woman’s
excitement, remembering how it had been to learn the truth about magic for the
first time. “You will. In fact, two Grand Masters from the Globe are coming to
meet you today, if you are willing.”

“Oh, we are!” the woman
exclaimed.

“Your help is most welcome,”
Chisisi added. “Much can be accomplished if we work together.”

Valerie explained the details to
the group, answering their questions and assuaging any worries they had. The
whole time, she couldn’t help but notice how Thai stared at her, as if his eyes
couldn’t get enough of her face. Her heart stuttered under his scrutiny, and
she was glad when it was time to send Calibro and Skye a message to let them
know where on Earth they needed to mentally project to meet the group.

It didn’t take long to bring the
Grand Masters to the little shop in Japan, and after initial introductions, the
group debated what skills the Conjurors who came to help should have that would
be compatible with Earth’s rules. By the time Valerie left, she was comfortable
that Chisisi and the Guardians on Earth were safer than they had been before, and
that they would progress in finding Joe and Earth’s Byway more quickly.

Finally alone, memories of the
day passed through Valerie’s thoughts—Oberon’s grief etched in his face; Reaper
dissolving before her blade could touch him; Henry’s rage; Azra in the flowers;
and her army on Earth finally taking shape.

So why, after all that had
happened, was the image that she couldn’t banish from her mind that of Thai’s
intense stare, as if he could see into her soul?

Valerie was examining Pathos in
the garden the next day when a jumble of images from Chrome intruded on her
scrutiny. She saw a flash of a battle overlaid with his excitement, an image of
Jet, gray from being tortured by Reaper, that carried profound grief, and an
image of a blue and green planet rushing closer. She tried to make sense of the
overriding message of his thoughts.

“You’re being sent to Earth?”
Valerie asked when the wolf appeared at her side. She dropped to her knees
beside him and tentatively placed her hand on his back.

Chrome stiffened, and then
relaxed. Visions of the Grand Masters asking him to be the first to go to Earth
tumbled through her mind as he shared what had happened. They thought his
ability to trace magic trails would mean that they could find the Byway on
Earth more quickly, and that his magic wouldn’t disrupt Earth’s rules enough to
make him sick.

“But how can they be sure?”
Valerie asked. She saw the answer in an instant—they couldn’t be. She knew that
Chrome would have accepted their proposal right away, embracing the potential
for danger, maybe even hoping for it.

“I’ll miss you,” Valerie said,
and she could hear that her voice sounded like a little girl’s.

Over the past two years, Chrome
had been by her side during some of her toughest battles. And when Jet had died
in front of her and she hadn’t been able to save him, he’d never blamed her. His
presences had been a big comfort.

“What does Gideon think?” she
asked.

But no more images passed
through Valerie’s mind. Whatever Gideon’s response had been, Chrome wasn’t
sharing it. Instead his soulful eyes stared into hers for a long moment.

“I know I can’t go with you to
Earth in person, but I’m coming in spirit.” There was no way she would let Chrome
be the test case to see if the Conjurors could send someone safely to Earth
without her being at his side.

“I’m coming, too,” Henry said. He’d
been standing at the door, listening. Henry’s face twisted, and Valerie
wondered if he was fighting back tears. As he walked over to join them, he
said, “Chrome, will you look for my dad when you make it to Earth? Please.
Reaper won’t keep him alive much longer.”

Chrome nuzzled his
nose into Henry’s leg, and an image of a pack of wolves around a fire appeared
in Valerie’s mind. She’d seen it once before—when Chrome and Jet had offered
her protection after Sanguina had almost killed her. She was touched that
Chrome would make the same gesture to her brother. She ran her hand gently along
Chrome’s flank and let her tears fall into his coat. When she finally pulled
away, she saw that Chrome’s eyes were wet, too.

Valerie and Henry followed
Chrome to a guild that Valerie had never been inside before. The doors were
solid stone, and etched into them was an image of two Conjurors shaking hands.

“This is the Relations Guild,”
Henry whispered to her.

Chrome nudged the door, and it
opened to a bustling room filled with a diverse group. She saw fairies, People
of the Woods, and several animals in addition to the usual variety of Conjurors
roaming around Arden. Valerie remembered that the Guild managed the
relationships between Arden and the other countries on the Globe, and that Skye
was the Grand Master.

She followed Chrome down a hall
with soft blue carpet and stopped at a large door. Before they knocked, Skye
opened it and greeted them. Inside his office, the centaur seemed larger than
life.

His office was in the shape of a
diamond, and mirrors that were labeled with locations of cities around the
Globe covered the walls. Valerie assumed that the mirrors were spelled so that
he could speak to leaders from other countries.

Valerie had barely registered
her surroundings when Henry clenched his fists tightly. She saw the reason
standing next to Skye’s tall desk. Sanguina stood straight under the focused
intensity of Henry’s rage, but Valerie could see a little tremble in her hands
until she clasped them tightly in front of her.

Skye glanced from Henry to
Sanguina and stepped between them.

“I am glad you are all here.
Chrome is risking his life today, and we thank him for it. With this step, we
stop being a group of like-minded individuals and become a team,” Skye said,
making eye contact with each of them.

Valerie could see why he was Grand
Master of the Relations Guild. He had a powerful presence, and he knew how to
draw energy to the most important task at hand. His words had already
redirected Henry’s attention.

“Sanguina has brought the map
that was found in the Black Castle that Reaper used to scry with,” Skye said.

Valerie hadn’t given any thought
to the object that she and Sanguina had rescued from the throne room. Reaper
had used it, along with Darling’s fur, to send Zunya and some of his minions to
Earth. It gave her some satisfaction that they would use his tool against him.

“She brought what we need. Does
she need to stay?” Henry said through gritted teeth.

“Sanguina was a Guardian. She
will guide Chrome to Earth. Without her help, this would not be possible, so
you must put your petty rivalry aside or leave this room,” Skye said with a
powerful stomp of his hoof.

Valerie knew that Henry’s issue
with Sanguina wasn’t petty, but she also couldn’t harbor the same rage against
her former enemy after all they’d been through.

“It’s only for a little while,
Henry. Keep it together,” Valerie whispered to her brother.

He nodded once.

Sanguina stepped forward and
knelt before Chrome, her prosthetic leg banging awkwardly against the ground.

“I’ve never attempted this
before,” Sanguina said to the wolf. “I saw Midnight perform the ceremony once
many years ago. The rules about allowing a Conjuror to return to Earth are so
strict that it almost never happened. So I cannot promise that this will be
without danger.”

Chrome sent a picture of himself
growling at Reaper, and his meaning was clear. He would gladly face death to
strike against the Fractus.

Sanguina nodded, and she drew a
crystal from her pocket. “I’ve tuned this crystal to be in sync with the
minerals on Earth. It will act as an anchor and pull you across the universe.”

“Would it help to also have the
crystal of one of the Guardians on Earth?” Valerie asked, pulling Thai’s charm
from her pocket.

“Yes,” Sanguina said. “It will
make the location of his arrival more specific. I could only send him somewhere
on the planet, but not directly to where he is needed.”

Valerie handed Sanguina the
crystal, and she saw the astonishment in Henry’s face. He couldn’t believe that
she would trust Sanguina with something so precious.

Sanguina laid the scrying map on
the floor and gripped the crystals in her fists. She stared at the map, and
Valerie followed her gaze. The room began to hum, and the map shook so rapidly
that its lines became blurred.

Chrome placed his paw on the
map, pinning it to the ground, and the instant he did so, he began to shake,
too. Valerie started to reach for him as he trembled so hard that he struggled
to stand.

Skye held her back firmly. “This
was supposed to happen. Chrome knows that.”

The whole room began to shake,
and one of Skye’s mirrors fell off the wall and shattered on the ground.
Valerie looked away from Chrome, and when her gaze returned he was gone.

“Chrome!” Valerie
shouted, and she snatched Thai’s crystal from Sanguina’s hand, which was now
limp as the former Guardian slumped on the floor.

As soon as she touched it, she
was back in the room inside the electronics store in Japan with Henry at her
side. Thai, Chisisi, and the other Guardians on Earth stared at Chrome’s
writhing body.

Thai reached for him first,
gently patting the wolf’s flank. Chrome bared his teeth, and Thai jumped back.
But Chrome relaxed, his intelligent gaze flickering around the room until he
settled first on Henry, then Valerie.

An image of himself digging into
a hearty dinner of meat appeared in her mind from across the universe, and
Valerie laughed with relief. Chrome was satisfied. He’d made it safely to
Earth. The wolf grinned at her and Henry before turning to assess the rest of
the group.

Chrome was eager to begin his
search for magic trails around the city. After a brief but bitter fight over
who would join him, Chisisi decided that he and the red-haired Guardian, whose
name was Elisabeth, would accompany him. The other Guardians on Earth were
vocal in their disappointment, all eager to see true magic in action.

“I’m sure Master Chrome will
share his expertise with us all over time,” Chisisi said, settling the ruffled
feathers.

“In the meantime, I can use your
help in the search for Joe,” Thai added to the remaining Guardians. “There are
dozens of hotels that we still need to check.”

It was clear from the faces of
everyone in the room that it wasn’t a task that anyone enjoyed.

“I’d consider it a personal
favor,” Valerie added, and the Guardians perked up.

“Me, too. I’m worried that my
father won’t survive long without your help,” Henry added. “I’ll be joining you
in the search, and I’d be happy to tell you anything you’d like to know about
the Globe.”

Valerie gave her brother a nod
of approval. His motivation worked, because Thai was easily able to round up
the Guardians and organize the search.

After they left, Chisisi,
Elisabeth, and Valerie sat down next to Chrome.

“What would be of most help to
your search, Master Chrome?” Chisisi asked the wolf.

Valerie saw an image of Chrome
racing over open plains, following the wind.

“He needs the freedom to roam
and follow the scent of the magic trails over the city,” Valerie interpreted.

“With all respect, Master
Chrome, I don’t think your search will last long if a giant wolf is seen
running free in major cities,” Elisabeth said. “What if we put you on a leash
and pretend to be your owners? Then no one would notice you.”

Chrome bared his teeth, so
insulted that Valerie worried he’d knock Elisabeth to the ground.

“That won’t be necessary,”
Chisisi jumped in. “It would be a hindrance and a travesty to do anything of
the kind. We’ll stay close by his side, and that will be enough to allay any
concerns.”

Without further debate, Chrome
gave Elisabeth a last glare and trotted out of the electronics shop and into
the bustling streets.

Chrome’s steps were swift and
sure as he wove between astonished pedestrians. As Chisisi and Elisabeth
struggled to keep up, Valerie had to repress a chuckle.

“I need to talk to a friend on
the Globe,” Valerie said to Chisisi. “I’ll check in on your search soon.”

With that, she let
her mind return to the Globe.

Valerie had almost forgotten
that she and Henry weren’t safely in their rooms at home, but still at the
Relations Guild. Someone had put them both on an overstuffed couch, and
Sanguina had vanished. Skye was working at his desk, but he stood up when he
saw her move.

“I didn’t want to overwhelm the
Guardians on Earth with my presence,” Skye said. “They were quite astonished to
meet me the other day. I had forgotten that there were no centaurs left on
Earth, so I was quite the novelty. I wanted to give them a chance to recover
before I visited again. I presume Chrome arrived safely.”

“He’s already searching for the Byway,”
Valerie confirmed. “Henry’s working with the rest of the Guardians on Earth
searching for his father. Is it okay if he stays here for a while?”

“I would prefer it,” Skye said.
“There aren’t many places in Arden that we can be certain aren’t compromised
now that the Grand Masters are supporting Oleander, but this office is safe.”

“Thank you. I’ll be back soon to
check in on Chrome, but there is someone I need to talk to first.”

Valerie left, hoping that she’d
find Gideon in his new apartment in a hollow tree in Silva. She was in luck,
because he was leaving the enormous structure when she arrived.

“We must postpone your lesson
today,” Gideon said as she approached him. “I have had word that the vote will
be cast soon in the Knights of Light as to whether to follow Kellen’s path with
the Fractus. Before that happens, you will need to speak to the Knights and
sway them to our side.”

“Is it time now?” Valerie asked,
her stomach twisting with nerves. Though she’d racked her mind on which tactics
to use to convince the Knights of the rightness of her cause, she didn’t think
she’d found the best argument yet.

“No. I will find you when it is
time. It is better that we are not seen together until then, because our
alliance will only attract attention from those who support the Fractus,”
Gideon said.

“I’ll steer clear until you need
me. But I came to find you for another reason. First, I wanted to let you know
that Chrome made it safely to Earth,” she said, and watched her mentor’s
reaction.