Calya frowned. “Possibly. The protection route went to the lower river rather than up to the Landing. But, there’s not much out there. Isn’t it protected forestland?”
“He was trying to cover up a problem with an environmental project,” Dae said slowly, squinting as she tried to dredge up memories. “That was why he came to Sylveren last year, to try to scam some grovetenders into helping him.”
“What does that have to do with the Coalition, though?” Eunny asked. “Why would they send class reports out to the middle of nowhere?”
Her words were met with shrugs.
“Maybe they’re hoping to scoop the school and bring a working version of the plant to market first?” Dae suggested.
“They’re sponsoring the elective. I’m pretty sure the school’s justiciars would?—”
“Worry about that after you have your own plant in hand,” Calya said. “Now, then. Presuming all this success is repeatable, what’s next?”
“If we can push a new generation of seeds, I’ll need to get them to Rhell right away if the Coalition is on the hunt,” Eunny said. “We’re talking greater good, here—think I should see if the university will help? They might call on the Sentinels to facilitate some safe passage.”
“There are HNE windrunners with the latest hull enhancements in port at Renstown,” Calya said. “I can arrange for one to be reassigned.”
“You will want to talk to the school eventually, or maybe even the Order,” Dae said, gaze going unfocused as she stared off in thought. “We’re looking at multiple cross-border dealings. Growing the plants in Rhell, infusing the leaves with healing magic in the Valley, and then transporting them back to Rhell… Caly?”
“Our riverboats can handle the Lower Sohn waterways,” Calya said. “That segment of the fleet is down, though, and lumber prices are terrible right now. If you’re talking premium speed enchantments, the wood required for that is niche.”
“A deal can be struck with the Rhellian government,” Ezzyn said. “There’s also the Restorers. This fits their mission statement perfectly.”
Calya was making notes on a fresh piece of paper as they talked. She glanced at Eunny. “You’re going to be busy, assuming this works.”
Eunny stared at the paper and Calya’s underlined groupings. Helm Naval Engineering. The Rhellian government. Potential funding from the Restorers of the Alliance. Partner work with the appropriate departments at Sylveren. Though she’d been thinking out loud for hours, Eunny hadn’t really processed the implications and what they would mean for her. She hadn’t thought beyond having to willfully use her magic. Which was significant, given her aversion, but it wasn’t the only substantial change. She’d have to shepherd the new seeds to Rhell. See them into the ground, maybe even help them grow. What if the plants’ transition to new caretakers didn’t go well and she had to stay in Rhell for a while? No more swinging by to help Auntie Yerina at the tearoom, at least not for a bit. She’d have to close Song’s Scrap. No point in getting the repair café fixed up only to be put on hiatus for an undetermined amount of time.
And Ollas, what of him? He had his teaching and a life here in Sylvan. Eunny knew herself well enough that asking for long-distance was asking for failure.
She took the vial of dried leaves from her pocket, reaching with a whisper of magic, just enough to feel the inherent thread of light humming in response to her nudge. To think that this had all started with a selfish wish to ease only her guilty mind. Now she was considering getting tied up with multiple nations and big-time organizations, all to best her mother. Well, and because it was the right thing to do. Both—it was both, and if Eunny derived more satisfaction from one than the other, who cared so long as good was served in the end.
“Yeah,” she said, voice faint. “Things are going to have to change around here.”
“I’ve got messages to send.” Calya stood. “The Coalition will have to pass through Renstown. I’ll see if I can stall them.”
“Carefully, Caly. If Wembly?—”
“Stop mothering me, Anadae.” Calya stuck her tongue out at her sister. “I was born for this.”
“Brat.” Dae hugged her, ignoring her feeble struggle.
Eunny met Calya’s eye. “I’ll owe you one.”
“Don’t I know it. One of these days, I’ll come to collect.”
Once the door had closed again, Eunny snagged a pastry from the neglected tea tray. She scooted her chair next to Dae’s, and they began compiling a list of next steps.
A gentle shake of her shoulder roused Eunny from sleep. She groaned, her neck and back protesting as she tried to straighten. There was a weight about her shoulders. A blanket. One she didn’t recognize.
Blinking heavy eyes, she peered around the darkened room. “What time is it?”
“Almost dawn.”
Eunny spun around. Tried to, anyway. She was too old for this shit, falling asleep anywhere that wasn’t a bed—she tweaked her back in the process and only made a partial turn before she abandoned the attempt and filled the air with a chorus of “fuck” through gritted teeth.
“Here.” A mug of fresh, steaming tea was placed in front of her.
She took a greedy sip, moaning in appreciation as a hint of lemon zipped across her tongue. She dipped her finger inside the mug, letting it kiss the surface as she called up a dot of light. Just a little something to ease some of the tightness from her muscles. The next sip helped, and by the third swallow, she felt vaguely human again. The small bit of magic wasn’t much, but it had come back to her, still second nature even if its potency was lacking.
