I experienced a strange mixture of thrill and disappointment. Some kind of shield had been created, but it was tiny. I had been hoping to create one around the entire conservatory. Instead, it was only a few feet in diameter.
“Are either of you seeing that?” I asked.
“Seeing what?” Callan looked around.
“There’s a shimmering—” The shield dissolved. “Never mind. It’s gone.”
“What did you see?” Meadow asked, and I explained.
“So it seems like it only lasted a few seconds,” I said, trying not to let my disappointment ring too loudly in my voice.
“But you did create something,” Callan said. “Maybe it requires some practice.”
I frowned, unsettled by that answer. “None of the other Floracantus I created required practice.”
Meadow was sending moss up and down her arm, as if using that to help her sort her thoughts. “It is strange. It seems the components are there, but it’s not quite strong enough.”
“Maybe Callan’s right. I’ll just have to keep practicing.”
We cleaned up and headed back to the academy.
As we went through the flower garden, Yasmin rushed up to us. “Feathergrass is looking for you, B.”
“What is it this time?” I wasn’t in the mood for anotherinterrogation. Then dread pooled in my stomach. “You don’t think he knows what we were up to, do you?”
Yasmin’s brow furrowed. “We’ve been careful.”
“Want me to listen in through the scouting vines in his office?” Callan asked.
“Yes, please,” I said, relaxing at the thought that I wouldn’t have to try to relay back whatever Feathergrass said word for word.
“Can I come?” Yasmin asked him. “I’ve always wanted to see how the listening side of those worked.”
“Sure,” Callan said.
They both wished me luck, and I walked up the stairs to meet Feathergrass.
When I was admitted to Feathergrass’s office, he picked up the conversation as if we had never left off. “I’ve found you a new field studies assignment. You were lucky that someone in a very prestigious position recently became available and volunteered to take you on.”
I relaxed slightly. He wasn’t on to us. “What kind of study is it?” I asked, equal parts cautious and curious.
“Like your previous one in defensives, it is classified. Your new advisor has a trailing affinity for defensives, but they have a broad variety of experiences that we hope will complement your skill set.”
I glanced out the window, which was cracked open, inhaling the sweet spring air and the fragrance from the flower gardens below, letting it calm my nervous system as I wondered what Feathergrass had planned for me.
I told myself it was only for two weeks, then I could get outof it if I wanted to.
Feathergrass signaled toward the door. When it opened and I saw who stepped inside, I had to sit on my hands to hide my surprise—and recognition.
“Briar, this is Wyatt Rhodes. He works with the Department of Botanical Intelligence.”
Chapter Fifty-One
It took me a moment to recover from the shock of seeing Callan’s brother in Feathergrass’s office under official circumstances, but I pulled my face into an expression of polite interest. “Hello,” I said, rising to shake Wyatt’s hand.
When Wyatt took it and said, “Nice to meet you,” he confirmed what I’d suspected. Feathergrass didn’t know we had already met.
“Mr. Rhodes will work with you to ensure that your training meets the expectations of our society,” Feathergrass said. “I’m afraid that without having the identity of your prior field studies instructor, we have to assume your field study sessions have been unconventional up to this point.”
