“Using the information from Bart’s trackers, Avie and I found my grandfather,” Elspeth pointed to a spot on the digitalmap. “He’s held on the site of a medicine wheel in Nebraska. It’s approximately three hundred miles from here as the phoenix flies. The Idaho and Arizona sites have high concentrations of dark energy, but no traces of a phoenix.”
“You got a lock on Grandfather?” Cinaed asked, his gaze never leaving the map. “He’s really there?”
“There was considerable magical interference, but we cut through it,” Elspeth said. “They tried to replicate his signature in the other two spots, but as you discovered, copies are flawed.”
“Let’s go then.” Cinaed stepped back from the table. “Who’s coming with me and Rod?”
Cinaed’s enthusiasm was understandable, but it was about to be tempered. “Sorry, but it isn’t that easy.” My gaze met Avie’s and she touched a button.
The map zoomed out to show a global view. Red dots appeared across the continents. All of them were outside major population centers.
“These are locations where we’ve detected dark magic accumulation in the past twenty-four hours,” Avie explained. “Blackstone’s plans include more than just these three medicine wheels.”
“These aren’t to bring down the ward. They’re for after the barrier is down,” Bart said, studying the display. “He spread them out hoping to draw our resources from the real threat.”
“That was our thinking.” Avie glanced across the table. “Which means we need to free Ailpein before he can destroy the Great Ward.”
“How does he have that many followers?” Leo asked. “The logistics of hiding that many dark mages is crazy-stupid.”
“Those sites need only one mage to activate them,” I said. “The spell could even be infused into an inanimate object.”
The implications settled over the room like a physical weight. If we didn’t save Ailpein, Blackstone had a detailed plan to enslave our entire world.
“We should focus our energy on saving Grandfather.” Cinaed moved closer to me, his shoulder brushing mine. “When can we leave?”
I thought concentrating our resources on finding Ailpein was the only logical course of action. Hearing Cinaed voice that thought changed my thinking. “It’s too simple.” I waited until the others looked up. “All three wheels are important, but we don’t have enough mages to attack all three at once.”
“That’s why I brought reinforcements,” a voice said from the hangar entrance.
Dad stood in the opening with Prince Malachy, a company of phoenix guards, and dozens of senior wizards. Grandpa and Grandma Hollen stood with Mom, my siblings, aunts, and uncles. Members of the Mage Council, and the Ocular Society, walked beside professors from Utrecht Academy, led by Aunt Gretchen. I spotted Dylan and Xavier among the academy professors.
“Dad?” Cinaed moved to greet his father. “How did you find us?”
“Chancellor Hollen kept the world informed,” Malachy said. “Now is not the time to sit back and hope. The king’s life isn’t the only one in danger.”
Searching the room, only Avie didn’t appear surprised. “You planned this?”
“Not all of it,” she said. “Dad and the Council decided where to allocate assets. We’ve sent teams to address those pockets of dark magic, but our strongest concentration of mages is here.”
After allowing time for everyone to greet the newcomers, Avie called for attention. Technically, Dad was in charge, but he deferred to me and Avie.
“Currently, a large contingent of elven mages is approaching the medicine wheel in Idaho,” Avie said, pointing to the northern circle. “They only need minor reinforcement. Aunt Gretchen, I’m sending you and Owen to assist. Take three more mages with you.”
Avie tapped the Arizona wheel. “I’ve sent three of our best teams south, but they need more resources.”
“Sally and I will take our Oculars and assist,” Grandma Hollen said. “Beornraed and most of the Council mages will join us.”
The two groups would be a formidable force. “Excellent,” I said. “The rest of us will head to Nebraska.”
I nodded to my sister, and she walked everyone through the plan we’d hammered out with the others. Ours was the largest group, but we had two missions: rescue Ailpein and stop Blackstone.
Cinaed fidgeted nervously next to me. I hadn’t had time to explain everything, but I could sense his frustration.“You and I are leading the group to save your grandfather.”I squeezed his hand.“Did you think I’d let anyone else take that job?”
“With our fathers here, I wasn’t sure,”he said, tightening his grip.“If we don’t free him in time….”
He didn’t need to finish the sentence.“Believe we will succeed.”
“Rod will lead the team to find Ailpein,” Avie said. “Dad and I will take the remaining mages to stop Blackstone.”
