She closed and locked the book and put it in the box.I shut the lid and draped the cloaking cloth over it.
“Step out at the same time,” Card said.
We did so.I shivered like I’d just crawled out of the storm into a warm house.
“You did it!”Abbi bounded over to us.“You found the spell!”
“We foundaspell,” I said.“Still don’t know if it’s the one we need.”
“I’ll consult with Ricky, the Crossroads, and a few books I have there.”Card was already headed to the door.“I should be able to figure out what the spell is meant to do.”
He waved his hand across the door, releasing the wards he had set before stepping out.
“That was good,” Abbi said.“You did really good.”She beamed up at Lula and me.“I bet it is the spell you need.”
“Are you just saying that because you’re bored and don’t want us to go through the rest of the book page by page?”Lu asked.
“Yes,” she said simply.“That book is too much…everything.The power and magic…” She shook her head.“I want that spell to be the right spell.”
“So do I,” I said.But I had a gut feeling it was not the right spell.There was nothing about it that made it seem powerful enough to kill a god-created monster.There was no sense of violence in it.
If anything, it felt blank, empty, as if it were nothing more than a laundry list written in plain ink.
We closed the door behind us, Lu tugging to make sure the latch was set.
Lorde trotted down the hallway, her tail wagging.
Abbi let go of my hand and jogged to meet her.“We found a spell, Lordey.It might be the right spell, too.”She petted Lorde’s back then jumped off to the control room.
“It’s not the right spell, is it?”Lu asked.
“I don’t know.The first lost god spell we find in the book just happens to be the right one?”I asked.“How often does a coincidence like that go our way?”
“More often than it does for other people,” she said.“With all the forces and powers and magic messing with our lives?It could be the right spell because Fate decided we’re going to find it now.”
“I’d like to stay well beneath the notice of her or any other gods.”
“If wishes were horses,” she said.
“Then beggars would ride.”
It was an old nursery rhyme.I was surprised I remembered it.
We strolled into the control room.
Pamela was reading on a screen.She looked up.“Snacks in the kitchen,” she said.“Fresh drinks, coffee and tea if you want it.”
“I’m getting a drink, you want anything?”I asked Lu.
“Tea?”
“Earl Grey?”
“Please.”
She pulled out a chair and sat, propping her boots up on the opposite chair.“Any movement outside?”
“All quiet,” Pamela said.“Grandpa did another check on the perimeter.We’re snug as bugs.”
