“Oh my, both of your boys found their mates…how very lucky.” Opening the front door, Brady showed Oracle into the living room. “Please make yourself comfortable while I make us some tea.”
“Thank you, dear,” Oracle murmured, wandering over to the hand-carved bookcase holding Brady’s law books. Running her fingers over the old, cracked, leather spines, she found them to be well cared for, hoping it meant Brady hadn’t abandoned his past totally. Glancing around the rest of the room, she smiled at the warmth and coziness it exuded, reflecting its owner perfectly. Sinking down in a heavily padded armchair, Oracle’s eyes settled on a book sitting on the small side table next to her. Chuckling softly, she looked up when Brady reentered the room, pointing to the title,Talking and Listening to Your Plants. “So this is your secret to growing roses like those outside.”
Blushing, Brady set the tray down before settling into the sofa. “I can’t claim it’s the only reason, but they do seem to respond to me talking to them.” Pouring the tea into two cups, he remained silent, waiting for Oracle to speak. He wasn’t under any illusion that her visit was a social one and he was curious if Mystia was behind her suddenappearance. Taking a sip of his special rose petal blend, he watched for clues that could help him fend off another effort to recruit him.
“My, this is very good, dear,” Oracle said, setting her cup back on the tray. “Have you ever thought of selling tins of your rose petal tea?”
Mentally rolling his eyes at Oracle’s attempt to avoid the elephant in the room, he replied, “No, but thank you for the compliment. Now…why don’t you tell me what’s brought you to my tiny corner of the world…and I’m sure it wasn’t to give me business advice.”
“All right…I have a message from the Fates for you,” Oracle said.
Raising his eyebrows in surprise, Brady hadn’t expected that response. No, his thoughts ran more along the lines of Oracle reiterating the importance of Mystia’s request. But to now find out the Fates had sent their Oracle, put their conversation in a whole new context. “Please tell me.”
“If you agree to be counselor and advisor to Remy, the gods will grant you the gift of your choice.”
Stunned, Brady stared at Oracle, his mind finding it hard to comprehend the magnitude of what was being offered. Finally, doubting he’d understood correctly, he asked, “Any gift?”
Nodding, Oracle confirmed, “Any gift.”
“Even immortality?”
“Yes…any gift.”
Suddenly anger surged throughout him. “Do they know how dangerous an offer like that is?” Brady hissed.
“I assure you…they are aware.”
“Then why in tarnation are they doing it? And why me? How do they know I won’t use it for something nefarious?”
“Brady,” Oracle said, softly, “your soul is pure, making it impossible for you to do anything that would be evil. As to why they are offering it…they know the risks you will be taking if you agree to help. As to why they chose you…simple, you are impervious to magic, but you still are a witch. You know the magic laws forward and backward…something the Ruler is lacking.”
“Everyone on the Witches’ Governing Council knows I have no magic…nor credentials…so how do you expect them to listen to me?” asked Brady.
“Not having magic will aid you…as for credentials, the Ruler can give them to you, as you know. See, my dear, that is exactly why the Ruler needs you…otherwise, the council members will spin a web of lies that Remy will never find his way out of.”
Brady now understood what Mystia was trying to tell him. If the Ruler and the Mystic Guardian failed, everything would be lost in the mystic world. And who knew how that would affect the other paranormal worlds…well, actually, he did. It would eventually result in the death of every paranormal on earth…whether they were guilty or innocent…none would escape.
Can I turn my back on the fight that will happen whether or not I am there to help? Especially knowing the outcome if I refuse?The years he’d spent trying to right the wrongs the Council was doing to the less fortunate who were born as low level magic users…those years of frustration were burned into his heart. It was their young faces who haunted his dreams and followed him everywhere, even at times to his rose garden…the one place he’d created to find some peace.
Little did Oracle know the real reason he talked to his plants and, even now, he couldn’t give voice to it. It was easier to let her think he was an eccentric, useless warlock who believed it possible to converse with his girls. Living with his failure was hard, but could he live with himself if he turned his back on the young witches who were forcibly removed from the loving arms of their parents when there might be a chance to help them? And just like that, it all became so clear to him. As he gazed at his girls, who were nodding their approval in the warm breezes outside, Brady whispered, “Okay…I’ll do it.”
Chapter 42
Breathing a quiet sigh of relief, Oracle said, “Thank you, Brady. I…my family…and for that matter, our entire world, owes you a debt of gratitude.”
“Don’t...please don’t make me into some heroic figure because I’m not…I’m not doing it for anyone else but me. I failed once and for some strange reason the Fates have offered me another chance to see if I can get it right this time.”
“Brady, dear,” Oracle murmured, “I must respectfully disagree, but time is of the essence, so this is a discussion best left for another day.”
Narrowing his eyes as alarm bells sounded in his mind, Brady said, “Better tell me why I have the feeling I’m about to walk into a hurricane with nothing more than a broken umbrella.”
“Remy has already issued his first order which is not sitting well with certain members of the Governing Council,” Oracle said.
“Which was?” asked Brady.
“He demanded to know the names of all low level magic users forced to become ‘servants’…”
“Unbelievable…I could never get that…no matter how many times I petitioned the Council.”
