Nevah stepped back then forward, but it was as if an unseen wall were keeping her out. “I only have a trailing affinity for defensives. I don’t think I’m allowed in.”
My heart sank, but I nodded. We should have seen itcoming. “Why don’t you go back to the boat with Kai and Nalin and tell them everything’s okay? They’re probably getting worried.”
Indecision flashed across Nevah’s face. I knew she didn’t want to leave me, but waiting alone by the gate wasn’t an appealing option either. And we didn’t want Kai or Nalin to try to come after us through the water hemlock. “Okay, but we’ll wait at the boat, and if you’re not back in an hour, I’ll return. Are you sure you’ll be okay? Can you send a message in the leaves if you need help?”
I nodded, every part of my body feeling alive despite the lack of access to my powers. I was humming with determination. I checked the quill and found that the distance indicator was showing one hundred feet. “This is the place, Nevah. I’ll be okay. I’ll meet you by the water hemlock when I’m done here.”
Nevah’s face was tense, but she nodded. “You got this, B.”
As I walked along the shaded path, I took in the assortment of plant life lining the ground and the trees on both sides and overhead. Belladonna, wolfsbane, carrion plants, black bat’s flower, and doll’s eye surrounded me. Japanese blood grass and tangles of strangleweed were under my feet.
The path continued to be lit by glowing moonflowers until it came to an end by the water, and a green rowboat sat there, devoid of any oars. Snowy flew from my finger to the boat, and I climbed inside.
“Oof!” I exclaimed as the boat began to move, and I had to steady myself to keep from tipping over the side. The grasses in the shallow water below must be tugging it forward.
As we got farther into the water, the ambient light increased. Moonflowers and floating lantern-like lotuses illuminatedthe swamp all around me. Once my eyes adjusted, I began to take in my surroundings, and I inhaled sharply.
A miniature living city was in the swamp, with boats that were so covered in camouflaged plant life that they appeared to be part of the land. Dim lanterns hung from each boat, and huts of various shapes and sizes littered tiny islands.
My gaze went to the largest floating hut a few hundred feet away. That was when I noticed someone coming toward me on a standing paddleboard-style raft. It was covered in moss, and the person was rowing with a tall paddle, dipping it into the water on either side of the raft.
Like the floating dwelling spaces around us, the person practically blended into the environment, a living camouflage. Everything in the area was of a similar brown, gray, and green color palette.
My stomach clenched as the raft drew closer. I had no way to steer the boat that had drawn me there, and it seemed to be delivering me straight to the stranger. Was I about to be greeted as a guest or as an invader? I slid the quill under my thigh, hoping to obscure it from view without crushing it.
“May I help you?” the person called, and finally, their face came into view as the man lifted a lamp into the air.
My brain rapidly searched for a response that would make sense without revealing my true motives. I had been so focused on following the quill that I hadn’t planned what I would say or do if I encountered other magical botanists.
“I’m a magical botanist with a defensive affinity, and I was hoping to look around the conservatory,” I finally said, keeping things as close to the truth as possible.
“Well, you wouldn’t have gotten in here if you didn’t have adefensive affinity, so that part is true. Though something is off about your powers.” He studied me for several moments, and I tried not to squirm, the quill feeling like a spotlight that was going to give me away as it rested under my thigh. I hoped he was just sensing my lack of access to my powers. “Come with me,” he said.
“Where are we going?” I asked as my boat began to follow the raft toward the largest hut.
“I’m going to introduce you to the curator of the defensive plants conservatory.”
Chapter Twenty-One
My boat followed the guide all the way to the tiny island that housed the largest hut. When we got close to it, I realized the island was composed of tightly clustered water plants, not earth. The hut was swaying slightly as the plants drifted in place.
“One moment, please.” My guide disappeared inside the hut, and I climbed from my boat to step onto one of the green floating lily pads. Amazingly, it felt solid under my feet. Snowy followed me then rested on my shoulder.
After a minute or two, a handful of people came out the door, ran their eyes over me, then got onto their own paddleboards and boats and took off toward other huts.
“She’s ready for you,” my guide said, pulling back a curtain of moss to make room for me.
I passed through the curtain and stepped back in surprise when I entered the room. I could tell it was the largest hut from the outside, but the exterior belied how spacious it was inside.Certainly, a trick of defensive plant magic was at work. The room was at least the size of a large pub, with a circular bar-style counter in the center and smaller gathering areas surrounding it. The space was empty, except for one woman sitting in a tall-backed chair. Were the other magical botanists asked to clear the space for us?
The woman turned, and I let out a gasp. “Petra?”
She smiled and rose, coming over to give me a warm hug. “Briar. It’s a delightful surprise to see you here, though perhaps not entirely unexpected.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were in Italy for the winter.”
“I have much to tell you, Briar. Are you hungry?”
With a gentle flap of its wings, the moth rose from my shoulder and went to land on Petra’s.
