“Ha, hard to curse at me with a mouthful. Next time you get the urge to fill your mouth come and get me. I’ve got just the thing.” That earned me a chest slap. “Be nice or I won’t make any more of your favorites.”
But the girls love them too.
“That is not playing fair.” Ronan batted his lashes. “So not fair. Let’s get ready and head over to Ionus’.” I carried him up to his dressing room, then let Upalo and Canyon know it was time.
“Welcome, welcome,” Ionus’ booming voice filled the room as we stepped inside. “A moment, please, Upalo, if I may?”
“Of course.” I stayed close by, as did our other brothers, waiting to hear what Ionus would ask. Ronan had wobbled off, following the scent of dinner.
“In your travels, did you come across any clans in slumber?”
“No, we haven’t, but that would explain a lot.”
“How so?”
“When we left many of our own had already disappeared. Sadly, we just assumed they’d perished. But now that you mention this I wonder if the elders and the mages who hadn’t been controlled by Daigle went into some sort of hiding. They’d be well protected, I’d assume, and thus untraceable.”
“Exactly. Quint, keep your eyes and ears open and approach with caution. Only use the cloaking as needed so you don’t drain your energy. If we didn’t need Raven here, I’d send her with you.”
“Send me where, exactly, Ionus?” The priestess herself mused.
“Raven, right on time, as usual. There’s a bit of concern for those on the mission to the Smoky Mountains. Some may be in slumber under heavy spells.” Between Ionus and Raven, they’d figure this out.
“I’ve trained Carver on the proper spell for removing the leeches and have the utmost faith in his gifts. I believe he’d be able to disable them,” Raven assured us.
“Would he be able to leave tonight? Quint can transport him.”
“He would and he could also administer the cloaking spells without draining his own energy, freeing the dragons from having to do so. Let me reach out to him.” Raven’s eyes turned a frosty white as she spoke to Carver. “He’ll be here…” knock, knock. “Now. Ah, right on time, Carver. I’m pleased with how well your teleportation spell is working.”
“Thank you, High Priestess. How may I be of service, Ionus?”
Baird, Angus and Elgin joined us as we filled Carver in on the mission. “Wait, teleportation?” Just clicked.
“Yes, it’s an old spell the Goddess sent to me that I tweaked a bit,” she winked.
“Can Carver transport others with it?”
“Hmm, great question. Let’s test that theory. Carver, take Odem and I’ll take Ionus. Let’s aim for Odem’s living room.” Carver nodded. “Begin.” Their eyes glazed over as they silently recited the incantation. An odd sensation shot through me and moments later the four of us were in my living room. “I guess we have our answer. Now to try it with more than one. Everyone, clasp hands. Carver, since you’ll be traveling with them I’d like for you to be the only one calling upon the elements to transportthe four of us back to the exact spot where we stood in Ionus home.”
Seconds later, it was like we’d never left. Everyone at Ionus’ house was in the same spots staring at us.
“Gentlemen, I believe we have our answer.”
“Perfect, then we won’t have to fly,” Quint said.
“Canyon, do you know of a safe space in the mountains you can visualize?” Raven asked him.
“I do.”
“Carver, use your vision transference spell and take both of you there then return.”
Carver touched Canyon’s temples and seconds later they disappeared. “Well, that worked, now to see if they…” there they were. “Return.”
“Now that Carver has been there it’s easier for him to transport the four of you tonight. Well done, Carver. The Goddess truly blessed you,” Raven praised him.
“Thank you, High Priestess.”
Fingers crossed they weren’t walking, or in this case, transporting, into a trap.
