Elmer cleared his throat.“Never mind that.Are you two going to do this or not?”
I didn’t have to look at Lu to know what her answer would be.
This was big—trying to use god powers, god spells, trying to understand the book to find the lost gods’ spells.Lu and I weren’t trained for it.
We knew magic.We’d been around it all our lives.
But we were not wizards.
Was it a stroke of luck Cardamom had come back into Ricky’s life just when we needed a wizard?
Yes.
Was I suspicious about that coincidence?
Also, yes.
But we were at the point of no return.We’d made our deals with gods, with monsters, with seers and demons.If we wanted justice—to kill the monster who had destroyed our lives—if we wanted to make sure neither Atë nor any other god could ever get their hands on the book again, then there were risks we had to take.
Cardamom was a risk I was willing to take.
“Let’s get you in the same room as the book,” I said.“Find out if it knocks you out or not.”
“Fun,” he said.“When do we start?”
Lula stood.“Now.”
“Later,” I said.“I don’t remember when we last slept.I say we eat, get some rest, and hit it early in the morning.”
We had ourselves a little glare off, my wife and I.Then she cut her gaze to the side.“How much time do you think we have before someone or something else finds this bolt hole?”
“I’d wager six hours, minimum,” I said.“Enough time for food, and a couple hours sleep.”
“Food will be ready in a bit,” Pamela said.“I put on a roast and sides.There’s cornbread in the oven.Eunice sent some extra food too.”
“Sounds delicious.”Cardamom stood and pushed his chair flush with the table.“Need any help?I’m handy in the kitchen.”
Pamela sized him up from head to foot.“I think you’re exactly the kitchen help I’ve been looking for.This way, Wizard.”
He chuckled.“Just Card works.”
“Oh, I’ll make sure you work, Just Card.”
They pushed through the swinging door into the kitchen, leaving me, Lula, Abbi, and Elmer in the room.
“I’m gonna take a walk,” Elmer said.“Make sure the trips and guards are solid.Tell the girls to save me some of that grub.”
He picked up his rifle and cleaning kit then walked out of the room.
“I think Cardamom is going to be a big help.”Abbi came over and took Lula’s hand.“Even the lizard thinks so.”
“You’re talking to the lizard?”Lu asked.
Abbi shrugged one shoulder, her head tipped.“It kind of talks to me?It likes Card’s magic.But…”
“But?”I asked when she didn’t go on.
“It says lots and lots and lots of bad people are looking for him.”
