“Good find,” Callan nodded appreciatively. “Those are valuable connections to know about.”
Nalin from aquatics shared next. “I took some of our most sensitive research from the greenhouse research labs. I thought it could be used as leverage, at least.”
Laurus lifted a slim book from inside his coat. “Recipes for Deception. It’s an old book, and we’re not really supposed to use it. It contains herbal recipes that can alter someone’s response times, among other things.”
“Devious,” Callan said. “I like it.”
“I also selected a book.” Meadow pulled a much larger tome from her bag. “The collected histories of the founders.”
Kaito’s eyes widened. “Where did you get that?”
Meadow’s voice was even as she said, “Professor East’s office.”
We all whistled appreciatively.
“Nice work,” Kaito said. “Callan and I also wanted to contribute. I collected our contracts with local businesses.”
Callan looked at me as if assessing whether I wanted to go next. When I shrugged, he walked to a dark portion of the cave and returned with a collection of small nursery pots with green sprouts growing from the soil. “Scouting vine seedlings. I think we should be prepared to set up our own countersurveillance.”
That garnered a round of “Hear! Hear!”
All eyes turned to me. “Okay, I don’t have anything physical to share, but I do have a location that could be useful.”
“Location?” Kaito asked.
“There’s another petal portal on campus.”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
At my revelation about the petal portal, there were a few murmured gasps and plenty of eager faces as the questions rained down.
“A second one?” Nalin asked. “Does that mean there could be more?”
“How do you know? Did you go over it?” Laurus asked.
I answered each of their questions until Callan reeled the conversation in.
“That was an excellent find, Briar. I take it you didn’t stumble upon the portal by accident?” he asked.
I shook my head. “Aurielle, one of the fern affinities, has been leading a cartography club this year. They are the ones who found it.”
“Will she update you if she finds any others?” Callan asked.
“Yes,” I said, certain that wouldn’t be a problem.
“Okay, a successful initiation all around. Each of you produced items that could help our cause in some way. Very nice work.” He nodded to Kaito.
Kaito surveyed the cave. “Congratulations, you are all officially members of the Root and Vine Society. We will work as a team todetermine how to use the materials we have gathered as well as to share intelligence. We will also each be expected to research theVanished Compendium.” Kaito paced around the cavern, looking from face to face. “In this society, we consider it part of our mission to protect the academy from corruption and undue influence. If signs continue to point in that direction, we may up our efforts to support the school.”
“I’m all for that, but do you really think the nine of us, and the items we gathered, can do anything against the Board of Regents?” Ravenna asked.
“Never underestimate the power of a small but dedicated coalition,” Callan said, standing with his arms behind his back like a soldier at parade rest. “Each of us has unique gifts and influence that might be exactly what this group needs, if we’re willing to use them when the time comes.”
The fragrance of the floral varieties hanging overhead was the only thing keeping me slightly calm. The school’s protective force was forming right in front of my eyes. And with Callan leading it, how could we fail? I still didn’t know how deep the threat to our school truly ran, but I wasn’t going to let grass grow under my feet if things got worse.
“Now, for the ritual that all members have taken part in since the dawn of the Root and Vine Society.” Kaito waved to the abundant plant life around us. “Add your plant signature to the Evergreen Conservatory.”
I studied the walls more closely, as Hollis had been doing before, seeing the plants dangling from them in a whole new light. While the flashier plants like wisteria dominated the scene, there were hundreds of species embedded into the walls of the cave, creating a tapestry of life.
