“I would have heard it. I was close. I was almost to him when it happened.”
“We’ll set up a search as soon as the storm has cleared,” said Dean Whittaker. “I can’t risk anyone else until then.”
“It sounds like it’s slowing down out there,” said Weyland. “Maybe we could take a look around—”
“Absolutely not,” said Lady Sibba. “This is the eye of the storm. We’re only halfway through.”
“As soon as the storm clears,” repeated Rinka. “Okay, Ceri? If he’s here, we’ll find him.”
Ceri saw Alison and Keir exchange a look. “What?” she asked them.
“Nothing,” said Alison. “Just that if it’s like what happened to us in the spring, it may not be easy to find him. Or to get him back.”
“I think it’s likely very similar to what happened to you in the spring,” said Idris. “He took two other cursed objects from my storage in addition to his own. One is a ring that makes nightmares into a reality.”
“That doesn’t sound ideal,” said Alison. “What’s the other?”
“A watch, but I’m not sure of its power,” said Idris. “I’ve taken it out a few times to examine it. I could feel the magic on it, but it had no discernible effect. I’m not sure why he took it.”
“His magimeter,” said Ceri. “It would have read high on it. That’s why he’s taken it.”
Ceri was surprised Leo had taken things that weren’t his, but she was sure that he was only borrowing them. He probably thought Idris wouldn’t even know they were gone.
“You didn’t see anything on the ground near him? None of the objects?”
“Nothing,” lied Ceri, once again omitting the notebook. “But it was dark and pouring with rain. The wind was so strong I could barely walk.”
“We’ll check in the morning,” said Idris. “Did the lightning strike happen just before you went inside?”
“Yes,” said Ceri.
“The things that happened to the rest of us tonight. If it’s like Ceri said, that may be over, at least,” said Idris.
“Are you sure?” asked Alison. “I don’t sense anything here, but I’m so drained of magic, I’m not sure I would.”
“No, I’m definitely not sure. Dean Whittaker, while we discuss the other goings on tonight, would you find us anyone in the room who feels comfortable practicing magic? Witches or sorcerers or healers. Any magic practitioners of any kind. There may be a threat to the school, but none of us are in any condition to help.”
Dean Whittaker rose awkwardly, making his chair squeak on the wooden floor. “Of course. A threat, you say? You know what? Don’t tell me yet. Let me go find some help first.”
Dean Whittaker looked shaken, to say the least.
“I’ll go with him,” said Professor Marin.
“Some tea would be nice, too,” said Idris.
Ceri rolled her eyes.
“Now then,” said Idris. “Who wants to go first?”
After hearing all the horrible stories about what Idris and his friends had been through that evening to find her, Ceri felt even worse about everything.
“I can’t believe I was so foolish,” whispered Ceri to Ana when they lay down on their makeshift beds later that night. “I should have just told them where I was going. Maybe if Idris was there, he could have stopped Leo.”
This was a big admission for Ceri and something she never would have told Idris himself. But she trusted Ana to keep her secrets.
“I can’t believe all of that stuff happened here,” said Ana. “I know I have a bit of magic in me on my dad’s side at least. Would you be willing to teach me some? Once we find Leo, of course.”
Ceri liked that Ana was certain they’d find Leo. Everyone was, in fact. Listening to the rain beat against the roof and the boarded-up windows, she just hoped that wherever he was, he was safe.
