by Kristen Pham
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?
Chapter 22
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, alo
ng 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.
Gideon released a small breath of relief, but she saw a new tension in his shoulders that spoke of something more. “He did not indicate that he would leave the Globe so soon. Perhaps because he knew that I did not approve.”
“That’s why I came to see you. I asked Chrome what your reaction was when you found out that he would be sent to Earth, and he didn’t tell me. I wanted to make sure that he’s not in some kind of danger that I don’t know about.”
Gideon examined her silently for a moment before he spoke. “I know of no risks to Chrome’s physical well-being that would jeopardize his safety on Earth. My concern is for his mental stability for such a task.”
“What do you mean?” Valerie asked.
“I have known Chrome since I was a pup, as he used to call me. Though he was always more serious than Jet, he was the most fair-minded and honorable of Knights. But since Jet’s death, hatred has arisen in him. Instead of justice, he seeks vengeance.”
“I can’t blame him,” Valerie said, remembering her own losses the year before.
“Vengeance leads to a path of war, not the light,” Gideon said. “Chrome may inadvertently serve the Fractus by indulging in his blood thirst. I fear he is on the brink of losing control.”
“And if he lost control on Earth and sparked a battle, countless innocent human lives could be lost,” Valerie said. Gideon bowed his head once. “Thank you for telling me. I’ll watch over him.”
“He respects you more than you know,” Gideon said. “If anyone can bring him back to himself it would be you.”
Back at Skye’s office, Valerie was not surprised to find that her brother was still mentally projecting on Earth. She knew she’d have to pull him back to the Globe eventually so that he could eat and drink. But for now, she left him undisturbed.
Instead, she projected back to the electronics store and found a couple of the human Guardians eating lunch. They told her where she could find Chrome, which was now many miles away.
