Cornus Clover.
Here. In this time.
It was impossible—yet so was traveling two hundred years into the past, and here they were, and here Clover was, and none of it made sense. Baz caught Kai’s gaze as Clover turned from them and kept on with his speech. Kai’s mouth hung agape in what had to be a mirror of Baz’s own bewildered expression.
“Did you realize—”
“No.” Kai swore under his breath, the hint of a chuckle in his voice. “This can’t be real.”
A student next to Kai shushed him, drawing their attention back to Clover.
“… the heinous brutalities that those who suffer the Unhallowed Seal are subjected to,” Clover was saying. “And now, some Institutes have started employing Purifiers to try to expel the evil from those who have Collapsed.”
“As they should,” a loud voice boomed.
Everyone turned toward the disturbance. Wulfrid and his two friends from last night stood at the door, their faces etched in disdain.
Clover seemed undisturbed by their interruption, clasping his hands smoothly behind his back. “Care to share why you think so?” he asked conversationally. “Go on. I’m sure we’re all very curious to hear a Purifier’s perspective on the matter.”
“All Eclipse-born are corrupt,” Wulfrid said with righteous fury, “and those who Collapse are even more so, because they have succumbed to the Shadow’s dark, sacrilegious curse. It is as the Tidelore faith says: Eclipse-born carry the stain of the Shadow who brought the Tides to their doom. They are ruination, a plague upon our world, and you are no better by associating with them.”
Tidelore. Baz had read all about it when he was helping Professor Selandyn with her research on the Tides and the Shadow. Those of the Tidelore faith believed in the myth that portrayed the Tides as good and the Shadow as evil—a faith that was no longer prevalent in Baz’s time, even if the general sentiment of it remained. From the sounds of it, it was still relevant here.
“So it is religion that shapes your perspective,” Clover said, nodding his head sagely.
He sounded as calm and assured as if he were debating whether the sky outside was blue. As he spoke, Baz was reminded of what Jae always thought of Clover, that he was a fervent criticizer of these religious zealots. Jae would be pleased to know they’d been right.
“Surely you must know that Tidelore is only that:lore,” Clover continued. “Like any myth or fable, it is told in a myriad of ways and paints the Shadow in different lights depending on who does the telling. Those of the Constellation Isles believe the Shadow to be on equal footing with the Tides. Heroes, both. You’d be hard-pressed to find a Luaguan who agrees with the sanctioning of these Purifyingexorcisms, for lack of a better term.”
“What do I care what Luaguans think?” Wulfrid spat. “Faithless heathens, just like you. Spewing your criticism of our faith and siding with these Shadow-stained abominations.” He eyed Thames and Polina at that, then Baz and Kai. He glowered at Kai, clearly still angry that their last encounter saw Kai having the last word. “The world would be better off if you all went back to the Deep where you belong.”
The cruel malice in his remark had Kai tensing. Before a fight could ensue, Clover smoothly stepped in.
“That’s enough,” he said in that unaffected voice. “I suggest you take your leave now, friend.”
Wulfrid went rod straight, face still red with indignant fury, but he did not challenge Clover’s suggestion. Instead, he immediately left, leaving his two friends to give each other a puzzled look before following him.
It was almost as if Wulfrid had been commanded to leave against his will. Which would be impossible…
If Clover were not a Tidecaller.
Baz and Kai exchanged a knowing look as people around them began to whisper among themselves. No one seemed to suspect what just happened—that Clover might very well have usedGlamourmagic to get Wulfrid to leave. Clover himself didn’t seem fazed by the situation. He simply righted his waistcoat and waited for silence. When he had everyone’s attention again, he swept a hand toward the door.
“Thisis what we’re fighting against. People who hide behind their Tidelore faith, thinking themselves justified in their hatred of Eclipse-born. If people like him had their way, no progress, however small, would have been made at all. This is why the fight for Eclipse-born justice does not concern Eclipse-born alone butallof us.” He gestured to the back of the room. “Please, sign our petition to have Purifying practices against Eclipse-born banned from the Institutes. Your voice is needed in this fight. Thank you.”
As students started moving toward the designated table, Clover sidled up to Cordie. He squeezed her elbow in greeting, a twinge of concern visible beneath his courteous mask. “He’s getting bolder.”
“You shouldn’t have confronted him like that,” Cordie whispered. “Wulfrid’s family is well-connected within the Tidelore faith. They could destroy everything we’re working toward.”
“They won’t.” Clover turned his gaze on Baz and Kai with a smile. “Where are my manners—you must be our guests of honor. My sister’s told me all about the two drenched Eclipse-born she had the pleasure of meeting last night. I’m glad you could join us.” He extended a hand to Baz. “Cornelius Clover.”
Reality sank in as Baz looked between Clover and Cordie—hissister!
And here Baz was shaking his favorite author’s hand, the very same hand that’d put pen to paper to create the fantasy world of his dreams, the characters he’d called friends all his life, the story that had spoken to his soul from its very first line. Cornus Clover, whose personal journal and the lost epilogue he would one day become famous for were tucked into Baz’s breast pocket, waterlogged and all but ruined until he deemed it safe to fix them with his time magic.
Impossible. All of it.
“N-Nice to meet you,” Baz stammered. “I’m Brysden. Baz—Baz Brysden.” Unsure of how to address this legend come to life—whosefancy clothes he waswearing, he realized with no short amount of embarrassment—he awkwardly added, “Uh, sir.”
