Then there was a ripple across the ground, as if we were experiencing an earthquake. Distantly, I heard Callan and Hollis gasp, and I forced myself to shut that out and focus entirely on maintaining the connection. If my senses were correct, the old verdant shield had just dissolved.
Finally, a bubble of clear shimmering air formed around me. It spread around the charging circle then enveloped Callan and Hollis, and soon, it was to the tree line and extended completely out of sight.
I held and held, using every drop of magic within me, until I began to feel resistance. Then at last, I pulled my hand back and toppled into a half-seated position, exhausted.
With effort, I swept my gaze to the charging circle. Each of the stones that composed it had split open and partially disintegrated, replaced with nine blooming plants, one for each affinity.
I laid my pulsing head against the earth as my body went numb. My vision narrowed, and everything faded to darkness.
Chapter Sixty-Two
Iawoke to the feeling of my head being cradled, and when I opened my eyes, Eli was examining my face. I was disoriented, and I tried to look around.Where am I? What is Eli doing here?
Then a warm hand slipped into mine, and Callan’s face appeared in my vision. “Briar,” he said, his voice so tender that I wanted to ask what was wrong.
“She’s awake,” Eli said. I felt a touch on my wrist. “And her pulse is coming back to normal.” Eli directed his next words to me. “I’m going to sit you up.”
He assisted me into a seated position then pressed a wafer into my hand. “Eat this.”
I didn’t protest—the wafers had helped me in the past—and chewed the soft cracker-like substance. Within seconds, my head began to clear, and the evening’s events came rushing back. “Did it work?” I asked.
Callan smiled, still holding my hand. “By all appearances, yes. How do you feel?”
“A little groggy, but the wafer is doing its job.”
“I think you’ll recover quickly,” Eli said, still checking my vitals. “When Callan and I had incidents with the shield, we were actively going against the restrictions in place. You blew those old restrictions out of the soil. I think your reaction was your body’s response to using so much power at once. But color is returning to your face, so I don’t think the effects will be long-lasting.”
“That’s good news,” I said, beginning to stand.
Callan used both hands to help pull me up. I smoothed the tulle fabric of my skirt.
“You sure you don’t want to go lie down?” Callan asked.
“And miss out on the rest of the fun tonight?” I teased. “Never.” Since my main piece of the mission was done and my energy was coming back, I was strangely exhilarated.
Callan shook his head, smiling ruefully. “Eli, do you think she’s clear to walk?”
Eli gave me another wafer, forced me to drink a few swigs of a special tea blend from a travel thermos he had packed, then nodded. “I think she’s good to go. Nice work tonight, Briar. That was impressive.”
“Thanks. Was there an earthquake?” I couldn’t tell if I had dreamed that bit or not.
“I think that was a ripple effect of the old shield being removed. We’ll have to take that and the nine blooming plants replacing the stones as confirmation that it worked,” Callan replied.
“Do we know how the distraction went with Feathergrass? Did he have contact with the jewelweed?”
“Not sure,” Callan said. “But it’s time we found out.”
We ran past the academy building just in time to see Feathergrass running out of it. Professor Sage was calling after him. “I need to put some more salve on that jewelweed rash!”
“You!” Feathergrass yelled, pointing as he spotted me. “What is going on?”
“Having a little trouble with an allergy?” Hollis called, drawing Feathergrass’s attention away from me.
I took the opportunity to join my friends in the meadow by the pond, where festivities had come to a halt. Botanists were gathered in the well-lit area, looking around as if preparing for an attack. A few students crouched under the cocktail tables.
“It’s all right!” Callan called, and all heads turned to him. He was standing under the massive jacaranda tree, and I could practically feel the power rippling through him. The leaves of the tree stood upright, then dozens of them tore away and floated around Callan, demanding attention. “It wasn’t an earthquake.”
“Then what happened?” several voices called.
