“Interesting,” Wyatt said. “And who would own this botanical garden?”
“It would be a nonprofit. Evergreen Academy could start it with a donation, then it could run off an endowment plus volunteers. The volunteers could be a mix of locals in Weed and students from the academy. It could be part of the service work we do on the equinoxes or an optional service rotation for students. If the model works, botanists could form similar partnerships with their local communities around the country.”
“And if Evergreen Academy doesn’t provide the seed funds?”
“Then we’ll find another way,” I said, confident. “If we have a handful of magical botanists involved in cultivating the plants, then the major hurdle will be acquiring a location.”
“And do you see the DBI playing a role in this?”
“The board is trying to take control of public spaces from humans and give it to magical botanists. But a project like this could show them the value of getting humansmoreinvolvedwith plants, not less. You all could study the impacts. Run influence campaigns. Do whatever it is you do. But if your agency’s mission is to protect plants for future generations, then I don’t see how a project like this wouldn’t align with that.”
Wyatt studied me for a moment, and I took a deep breath. I had dumped a lot on him without intending to, but I didn’t regret it. I had meant every word.
“Done,” Wyatt said after a long pause.
“Done?” I blinked. “Which part?”
“All of it. The DBI will provide the seed money. We’ll help acquire the land in town. In return, you and other students here get it off the ground this term. I want the gardens open to the public by midsummer. This is a pilot project, like you said, so make it a good one.”
My mouth fell open, and I rushed to close it, but it was hard to hide my astonishment. “Just like that?”
“When the DBI sees a good idea, they like to move quickly. Start researching locations and send me a few options by the end of the week. Don’t make me regret this, Briar.”
I beamed, and for a moment, I thought about hugging him but thought better of it and simply nodded. “Thank you, Wyatt. I won’t let you down.”
He grunted and nodded. “Good. Now get going. You’ve got plenty of work to do.”
I turned and fled the swirling wind circle as soon as Wyatt dropped it. With a smile on my face, I went back to the academy, eager to tell Callan that his brother continued to surprise us.
Chapter Fifty-Two
“I’m going to try one more time,” I said, raising my hands.
Callan and I were in the Evergreen Conservatory a few days after my meeting with Wyatt. For the past thirty minutes, I had been trying to create a version of the verdant shield that wouldn’t evaporate.
“Terram protege,” I said, focusing as hard as I could on all the plants in the area. A tiny shimmering dome formed around us. But a few moments later, it dissolved, as I had come to expect. Every attempt had the same result.
“I can’t seem to make it stick. If I can’t do it here, how am I going to manage to cast one that goes around the entire academy?”
Callan looked contemplative. “That dome was larger than the last one. Maybe the practice is working. Plus, you’ll be inside the charging circle, and you’ll have the Dandelion of Desire to boost your powers.”
I sighed but nodded. “I hope you’re right. I’ll keep practicing. I have my first field study with Wyatt tomorrow. Should I see if he has any ideas?”
“Couldn’t hurt,” Callan said.
He used his powers to dust the soil and remove any sign of our being there, then we walked to our tree house. “Can you ask him about Professor East? I’d like to know when we can talk to him. He might know more about the shield than most, having been the director here.”
“I’ll ask. Do you think I should tell Wyatt the last part of our spring equinox plans? How I’m getting into the charging circle?” I was curious to hear his response.
I knew Callan still didn’t fully trust Wyatt, but I had seen the way Wyatt looked at his brother, with affection and protective instincts. I didn’t think he could do anything to harm Callan, and by extension, he wouldn’t do anything to harm me. Wyatt might even truly be trying to help by saving me from whatever Feathergrass might have had in store for me by overseeing my new field studies assignment.
And it was possible that Wyatt could prove to be an asset to the Root and Vine Society. Having a DBI agent in the areacouldbe helpful with what we had planned for the spring equinox.
Callan contemplated it for a moment. “What are your instincts telling you?”
“I think he should know. He and the DBI kept us in the dark this year, with the shield and Alex and all of that, but if you see it from their perspective, why would they tell college students their plans? Wyatt is the only one who has sharedanything with us. Maybe if he’s present when we reset the shield, he could help us somehow.”
“That’s true. As long as he doesn’t have another angle.”
