Page 79 of Evergreen Conservatory
“Maybe the stories are right, and the poisoning of my powers was irreversible.” I tried not to show her how much that idea disappointed me. I was headed to a magical botanical conservatory within days for a mission with the Root and Vine Society. A small but overly hopeful part of me had thought there was a chance we could unlock my powers before then. If we could, I would be much more of an asset on the mission.
Petra extended a hand toward the flower behind my ear again. “I wonder… You said it’s been in your family for generations?”
“Yes,” I said slowly, wondering where she was going with this.
“The poison used on you when you tried to charge the verdant shield latched onto your magical pathways, inhibiting your abilities. I wonder if something you have a strong connection to might be able to force the inhibitors off those pathways.”
I held up the flower. “You think this might be that connection?”
“It’s too risky to have you consume it without knowing what kind of plant it is. Do you mind if I take it with me? I can study it over my travels the next few weeks. If I can identify it, then we can attempt a concoction.”
“That sounds great,” I said. This was good news. Even though it meant I wouldn’t get access to my powers before the conservatory trip, there was still hope that my condition wasn’t permanent. “Is there any way for me to continue our research while you’re gone?”
“I have a feeling you’ll be busy enough without me assigning homework,” Petra said, beginning to put away the glass jars.
For a moment, I held my breath, wondering if she somehow knew about the mission we were planning.
But the fleeting concern passed as she asked, “Ready to walk back?”
“I think I’m going to stay out here for a bit,” I said, having an urge to draw for the first time in a while. With the empty grove in front of me, this felt like the perfect way to clear my head and mentally prepare for the mission to the tree conservatory.
“Very well then. You’ve been very resilient through all of this, Briar. Enjoy your break, and I’ll see you in a few weeks.”
“Have fun in Italy,” I said.
When she was gone, I turned to the variety of plants that made up the Perilous Grove, searching for the right vantage point to sit and sketch. I found an angle that felt right and took a seat on the log.
I considered everything I had been asked to do with Petra so far these few months. We were attempting something that had never been done before, at least not according to modern records, and there was a thrill in the testing and discovery. I mentally worked through the steps of creating an antidote as I sketched the view in front of me.
Study.
Assess.
Change.
Create.
These, I could do.
Chapter Forty-Eight
“Here she comes,” Hollis said, standing from where he’d been squatting to unfurl a fern leaf beside Callan’s truck.
“Awww, did you two wait for me?” I teased, knowing that had been the plan.
“Wouldn’t think of leaving you behind, B,” Hollis said.
“All right, let’s review the plan one more time, and then get this show on the road,” Callan said, reining us in. He turned to me. “Do you have the quill?”
I nodded and reached into my bag then carefully drew out the prop quill.
“What do you think? I used the pictures Callan gave me and tried to match the aging on the feather. I also used my tree affinity powers to make some magical adjustments to the oak gall ink we procured in case anyone thinks to check it for traces of magic.”
Hollis took the prop quill from me and nodded. “I’m impressed. To an untrained eye, there would be no reason to be suspicious of this.”
“And to a trained eye?” I asked, looking nervously between them.
Hollis was still eyeing the quill, a contemplative look on his face. “Do you feel that?”
