My brows lifted. “Well, that would be a shame. We’ve just become friends, too. I’ll endeavor to not die by your hand today—though I can’t promise to be quiet. I was recently told that I talk too much.” Adelie had never mentioned that. She must have liked our conversations.
He kept on walking. Silent.
My boots were covered in dust once we stopped at the edge of a forest. I peered up at the druid, probing, “Are we here or something?”
Master Niallan sighed heavily and rubbed at his eyes. “No. I need to use the Original druid amulet to get us there. We wouldn’t make it back here within twelve hours otherwise.”
“Okay.” I hid my excitement by yawning and waving at the trees in front of us. “Should I wait here for you to go get it? Because I don’t think I’m supposed to let you out of my sight for this Challenge.”
He shook his head and stuffed his hands into his pockets. “I’m waiting for it. Just shut up, please.”
I shrugged and sat down, resting with my back against a thick tree. My swords dug into my back, but I relaxed nonetheless. I dug the toe of my foot into the dirt and scrutinized the forest before us. I mumbled reluctantly, “It’s really pretty here.”
Master Niallan sighed again. “Be. Quiet.”
His hands were now palms down at his sides. And he stared at his feet—or, actually, the ground.
My head cocked. “Wait. Are you—”
“Yes, so shut your trap. I’m concentrating.”
Anticipation bubbled up inside my chest.
I yawned again behind a fist.
Five minutes later, the ground directly in front of him cracked open the smallest bit. The dark brown dirt lifted and mounded. The scent of pine tickled my nose as the druid ruler bent at the knees and dug through the soft dirt.
He turned his right hand over.
In his palm was a golden jewel the size of a baseball.
The Original druid amulet.
I blinked. “The vampire one is lovelier.”
Master Niallan’s brows rose…and his lips actually curved into a small smile. “They look exactly the same, except for the color.”
I shrugged. “I like red jewelry better.”
“You would, bloodsucker.” He brushed off the dirt with care.
“Correct me if I’m wrong, Master Niallan, but you’re also a bloodsucker now.”
His shoulders shuddered in revulsion. “I need no reminder of that.” He rose to his full height and wrapped the attached red chain around the golden amulet. He jerked his head at me. “Get up. Time to go.”
I stood to my feet and brushed off the back of my black pants. I watched as he lifted the amulet into the air and started drawing a large circle in the clear space. Gold sparkles followed the path as he whispered words under his breath—what had to be the ancient druid language since I didn’t understand it at all.
Power slammed into my skull. I wobbled.
Master Niallan grabbed my right hand while he continued to work. My head instantly cleared. I steadied on my feet as a rush of cooling druid power cascaded over me.
I would be on my ass right now if he hadn’t protected me from the spell he was weaving, using the energy of the most powerful druid artifact on earth to work his magic. I kept my hand in his and didn’t hesitate to step through the completed and outlined circle with him when he moved forward.
Our feet landed on black, flaky rocks.
My head swung in every direction.
I stared at the shoreline we suddenly stood on. Gentle waves crashed and flowed over the black rocks, almost reaching our feet before the water retreated backward. I muttered, “Um, where are we?”
