I’d gone straight from Advanced Arcane Rites to the library to finish up the outstanding written assignments before our weekend trip. I didn’t want any unfinished work hanging over my head. I was about to wrap up when Hazel Hazeldine, the chancellor's assistant, appeared at the edge of my table.
“Pardon me, Miss Davies, but Chancellor Tilkin would like to see you now,” she chirped.
I glanced up from my papers. “Now?” My mind searched my schedule. I didn’t recall any planned meeting.
Hazel seemed to read my mind. “This is impromptu. The chancellor will be busy in the coming weeks and is trying to get through the roster.”
I frowned. “So this is a routine appointment?” I wasn’t aware of anyone else being summoned.
“More or less,” Hazel replied.
I gathered my belongings and followed Hazel down the long stretch of corridor to Chancellor Tilkin's office. Hazel swung open the door without knocking. The chancellor’s familiar was perched on the mantel of the fireplace. Her tail swished at the sight of us.
The chancellor waved me forward. “Come in, child. So glad you were available to join me.”
As though I had a choice. I settled uncomfortably into the chair. Despite Hazel's assurances, I began to feel like this wasn’t a friendly visit.
“I’ve been reviewing your file this week,” the chancellor said. She tapped a stack of papers on her desk.
My body tensed. My file? “Any particular reason?”
Chancellor Tilkin leaned back to study me. “You’re a Third Year now, Cerys. There are certain expectations.”
Terrific. My conversation with Master Horton and Professor Mayweather was coming back to haunt me. “And?”
“And there is concern that you don't seem to be working at your full potential. Your entrance test was rather impressive. I'm sure you remember your performance.”
I did. It had been an exciting day for me. I had poured all of my energy and effort into securing a spot at Spellslingers. It had been my entire life's goal and I had achieved it.
“I’m excelling in several areas,” I said. “Runes, herbology….”
The chancellor held up a hand. “I am well aware of your prowess, child, but an agent must master each skillset. Think of the consequences if you cannot wield a blade against an adversary in the field.” She clucked her tongue. “It would be catastrophic for you.”
My chin dropped. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, Chancellor. I have every intention of improving. Master Horton offered to tutor me.”
“Yes, he mentioned that.” She smoothed back a loose tendril of white-blond hair. “At first I thought perhaps it was a mistake to place you with Danielle. She has a way of eclipsing those around her.” She paused to smile. “At the time, I had assumed that you could hold your own.”
My throat tightened. “And the suggestion now is that I can’t?”
Hazel reentered the room with a tray. The smell of blackcurrant filled the air. She set a steaming cup of herbal tea on the chancellor’s desk and handed me a glass of lime fizz. I quietly thanked her.
“That remains to be seen, child. There is still time to show us one you are capable of. I brought you here now so that you’re aware of the situation. No one wants to see you fail.”
I felt queasy. I’d never failed at anything. I rose to the occasion even when I didn’t want to. Even when it meant—I cut off the thought. Now wasn’t the time.
“Is there any reason why you would choose to underplay your powers?” the chancellor asked.
“Why would I do a thing like that?” I replied. “I’m not like Bryn. I didn't have to hide my magic in Terrene or from my father.” At the mention of my father, my hands automatically tightened on the glass.
“I don’t know. I was hoping you could tell me.”
“I’m not like Mia,” I said. “The spotlight doesn’t bother me.” Although I was more of a team player than Bryn or Dani. That was the mother hen in me, always checking to see whether everyone was okay and had what they needed. The inevitable result of being the oldest child.
“And are you still set on the Eastern Quadrant?” the chancellor asked.
“Why wouldn't I be?”
The chancellor sipped her tea. “It is so far from your family. Are you certain that is your preference? After all, this is a long-term career decision. It isn’t the same as choosing a university or an academy where you know your presence will be temporary.”
My resolve strengthened. “I’ve wanted to be an Enforcer of the East since the moment I decided to join the Agency of Magical Forces. I’m fit for this job. For this life. No, I’m not as flashy as Dani and I don’t have Bryn’s blood magic, but I bring my own skills to the table. Other enforcers will wish they had my rune expertise. I’ll be an asset.” It was only when I stopped speaking that I realized my voice had been shaking with quiet rage. The chancellor took the hint.
“My advice to you is to demonstrate your skills this year to the best of your ability, starting this weekend on your field trip. This is the time to prove your worth, Cerys. The enforcers don't need to take you if you don't qualify. Perhaps you spend too much time focusing on others and their needs. Perhaps it is time to focus on yourself.”
“Now you sound like Alana,” I said. I gulped down my lime fizz.
“Ah yes, Alana. How are your sessions going with her?”
“She’s very insightful.”
“Indeed.” The chancellor cocked her head. “Is it possible that your past trauma…?”
“No,” I interrupted. “I just need more practice. That’s all.”
The chancellor inclined her head. “Very well then. Enjoy the field trip. It’s a wonderful place. I’ve no doubt you’ll love it there.”
I polished off my lime fizz and stood. “Thank you, Chancellor Tilkin. I’m going to prove myself on this trip. Just wait and see. They won’t be able to handle my awesomeness.”
The chancellor lifted the cup to her lips and smiled. “I look forward to reading the reports.”
Chapter Three
“Do you have everything you need for Allegheny Forest?” I asked.
“Whatever I forget, I'm sure we can magic it,” Dani said. Her shoulders sagged. “I’m not a fan of this particular field trip.”
I cast a glance over my shoulder. “Why? Because it's camping?”
Dani shoved a water bottle with the Spellslingers logo into her bag. “It’s just not my thing. I like a hot shower and a soft bed.”
“That’s because you’re spoiled,” Bryn said. “Try sleeping in alleyways. That’ll put more than a kink in your neck.” After the death of her mother, Bryn had been homeless as a teenager in Terrene. She’d remained in hiding from her father, the evil sorcerer Volans Moldark, unaware that, in a cruel twist of fate, he’d been killed years before.
“Sorry, Bryn,” Dani said. “I wasn’t thinking.”
Bryn waved her off. “Totally fine. I don’t recommend being homeless.” She tossed a T-shirt into her bag with an image of a witch on a broomstick that read ‘Broom Hair, Don’t Care.’ “I, for one, am excited to see my first energy vortex.”
“This is apparently a major one,” Mia said. She slung her overnight bag over her shoulder. “Ley lines are cool enough, but a convergence is even better.”
“Maybe we'll run into something big and nasty and have to fight it,” Dani said hopefully.
I nudged her with my elbow. “That's the spirit.” As an earth witch, I was probably more enthusiastic about this trip than the other witches. Even though we all possessed elemental powers, my magic would be particularly strong there.
“What time are we supposed to meet everyone?” Bryn asked. “Do I have time to grab a snack?”
“I’ve already packed extra food,” I said. “And make sure you've all gone to the bathroom before we leave.” Although the portal cut down on travel time, we still had to be processed by the Order of the Edge at the border. The good thing was that, because it was an annual
outing, the academy prepared the paperwork in advance, which would make the crossing smoother.
“But I don’t need the bathroom, Mom,” Dani said with a mock whine.
Bryn set down her bag on the floor. “Now that you mention it, I have to go. My bladder thanks you.”
I flashed a smile at Dani. “See? My nagging is effective.”
Bryn paused on her way to the bathroom. “Icarus really wants to come with us. They said no familiars, didn’t they?”
“Afraid so,” Mia said. “They said there are too many of us to keep track of as it is and the forest is too big for familiars to wander around in.”
“But Icarus can fly,” Bryn argued. “He’s an owl for Pete’s sake. He won’t get lost.”
Mia shrugged. “I didn’t make the rule.”
Bryn glanced over at the snowy owl perched on the frame of her bed. “Sorry, buddy.”
I stroked Haggis behind the ear. “Sorry to you, too. Hold down the fort.” She purred and nudged my hand.
Once Bryn finished in the bathroom, we met the rest of our group at the archway in front of the academy. I noticed Bryn gaze longingly at Mercer Lake. “I think you’ll be impressed with the lakes this weekend. Robin said that they’re really impressive.” Robin Chambers was our former prefect and now an analyst with the AMF.
Warden Theo Armitage swaggered over to us from another group. “Are you witches ready for hard work this weekend?” He rubbed his hands together. “This is one of my favorite events of the year.”
I waved my hand eagerly. “I can't wait.”
He pointed at me. “I bet you can't. This is going to be especially significant for you. I just hope all the magical energy there doesn't overload you.”
“I doubt it,” Dani said, slinging her arm along my shoulders. “Cerys is more powerful than she lets on.”
I winced, remembering my conversation with the chancellor. Did everyone think I was underperforming? It seemed I’d really need to up my game on this trip.
“Everybody ready?” Warden Gray Mappleworth addressed the group, but we all knew he was only interested in his girlfriend’s response.
“Not quite the weekend away for us that I was hoping for, but I’ll take it,” Bryn said. She and the vampire met when Bryn first arrived at Spellslingers and the pair quickly became inseparable, initially because of a murder investigation and then by choice.
A purple bus with a golden ’S’ on the side pulled up in front of the archway. We climbed aboard and sang off-key all the way to the border. Everyone seemed in good spirits and I felt positive about the weekend. Hopefully, no nightmares would plague me in the wilderness.
Because of our destination, we had to travel to a different border than our usual one into Terrene. We disembarked and joined the line where the Order of the Edge was busily inspecting passports.
Warden Armitage snapped his fingers. “Spellslingers, we are in the express line over there.” He pointed to a green sign flashing the word ‘express.’ “Our border agent is called Simon. We've already run everyone's credentials through, so just give him your name as you pass by.”
Gray stepped forward. “And make sure you put a dab of anti-nausea potion on your wrist if you’re prone to it,” the vampire advised. “We’re not jumping too far in time and space, but it's not the same as crossing into a local Terrene town.”
I whipped a small vial of anti-nausea potion out of the zipped pocket of my bag and dabbed a few drops on each wrist. “Anyone else?” I held the vial aloft. “Here’s your chance. If you vomit on yourself, don't come crying to me.”
Bryn contemplated the potion. “What if I came to vomit on you instead?”
I gave her a sharp look and she begrudgingly swiped the vial from my hand and used the potion on her wrists.
We filed across the border like the dutiful future agents that we were. The bridge loomed ahead. It looks like any other rickety wooden bridge that straddled a river. Before I made it completely across, I began to feel vibrations deep in my chest. Robin hadn't been kidding. This place was heaving with ancient magic. It would be the ideal location to show what I was capable of in the field.
The bridge spit us out into a forest with the most interesting trees I’d ever seen. Although the bark was brown and perfectly normal, the branches undulated like rubber arms. The roots were visible and created the illusion of long-necked dinosaurs.
Bryn's eyes sparkled a brilliant blue. “Do you feel that?”
I did. It didn't surprise me that Bryn felt it too. Undoubtedly, there was a lot of water here in the form of lakes, creeks, and rivers.
Beyond the dinosaur-shaped trees, I identified clusters of northern hardwood trees. I noted birch, beach, oak, and black cherry. A strange sound erupted, prompting laughter from the group. It was a high-pitched warble that I didn't recognize.
“It's a turkey,” Bryn exclaimed, pointing to the strange bird hightailing it away from us. Its neck was red and textured.
“It looks like it has a fan on its butt,” Dani observed.
Bryn fixed her with a hard look. “Don't you dare denigrate the turkey. It was nearly the national bird of my country if Ben Franklin had had his way.”
“Who's Ben Franklin?” Mia asked.
Bryn heaved a sigh. “Only one of our Founding Fathers. If I had to guess, I bet he was really a wizard living in Terrene.”
“This way and stay together,” Warden Armitage said. He beckoned us forward. “This place is huge and I don't want to lose anyone.” He stopped and glanced back at us. “Unless you’re really annoying. Then I'll make an exception.” He started forward once more.
We followed the wardens along a scenic hiking trail. Even the moss that grew on the boulders made the area seem like a work of art.
“There’s a river ahead,” Bryn said. She closed her eyes and inhaled softly. “I can feel it. The energy is so powerful here.”
Gray fell in step beside her. “That's what makes this a perfect field trip for this group. You can really let loose here and tap into your potential. I know Armitage has some great activities lined up for later.”
“I assumed it would be survival stuff,” Mia said, in a way that suggested survival stuff was not on her list of great activities.
Gray nodded. “A little of that, but don't worry. Plenty of fun to be had as well. The campsite isn't far.”
“I don't mind if it is,” I said. “The surroundings are magnificent.”
“Wait until you see the rest of it,” Gray said. “Last year was my first experience here and it was pretty amazing. You'll go nuts over the falls. You've never seen a block of sandstone like it.”
Energy pulsed within me. “If I'm not careful the magic is going to start spilling out of me,” I joked.
We arrived at the campsite while the sun was still high in the sky. We claimed our spots and set up the tents that the wardens had organized, which took no time at all for a group of magic users.
“In five minutes we’ll begin a tracking exercise,” Warden Armitage explained. “Then when the sun sets, we’ll split into two groups and do a hide and seek exercise. The goal is to find the opposite team members before they find you. I'll explain the details later.” He rolled up his sleeves. “First, I'll go over the rules of the tracking exercise. I’ve manifested a mapinguari from our realm. The creature is roaming freely somewhere in this forest. Your job is to find it and return here with it.”
“It’s real or a spell?” Priscilla asked.
“Real,” Warden Armitage said. “This isn’t like your session with Master Horton the other day. The creature you’re tracking is very much alive and willing to attack you if you don’t track it properly.”
Dani's hand shot into the air. “Do you want it dead or alive?”
“Alive,” Warden Armitage said. “Just the way you would want in real life. Whether you want to question it or bring it to justice, the living part is crucial.”
Dani gave a crisp nod of understanding.
Wade
raised his hand. “What's the prize for capturing it?”
The warden scowled. “Your prize is a job well done and proof that you aren’t incompetent.”
“Some prize,” Wade muttered.
Beside me, Bryn snorted.
“You will work in groups of four,” Warden Armitage continued. “In reality, you'd be working in groups of two as agents, but given the number of us here, groups of four make more sense.”
“Make sure you bring your weapons,” Gray added. “Just because the magic is strong here doesn’t mean you don’t need a Plan B.”
Dani stroked the hilt of Revival before sliding the sword into its sheath. “We are so going to win this thing.” She looked at us. “What do we know about the mapinguari?”
“You’re going to have to explain this thing in great detail,” Bryn said, “because it is completely foreign to me.”
“It's foreign to all of us,” Dani said. “This creature is native to South America, so I may actually come across one of these when I become a Sentry of the South.” I could tell from her expression that she was eager to locate the mapinguari.
“Is it like Bigfoot?” Bryn asked.
Mia scrunched her nose. “What's Bigfoot?”
Bryn lifted her arm high. “Yea big. Brown and furry. Walks on two legs.”
“Never heard of it,” Mia replied.
“The mapinguari is generally about seven feet tall with one eye…” I began.
“Only one eye?” Bryn repeated. “There’s an advantage right there.”
“They’re ferocious,” I continued. “Another strategic advantage is that they avoid bodies of water, so we can use that information to help us track it.”
Bryn's expression soured. “No water? There goes my usefulness.”
“Don't be silly,” Dani said. “You know perfectly well you're far more than a basic water witch.”
It was true. Bryn was a particularly powerful witch thanks to her father's bloodline. She had the rare ability to use blood magic, although she used it sparingly as it was incredibly dangerous and powerful. One of her greatest fears was becoming like her father and turning to the dark side of magic.
Outwit: Spellslingers Academy of Magic (Enforcer of the East Book 1) Page 3
