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The two of us pushed through the trees and saplings and bushes, following the murmurs of voices. I started to smell woodsmoke and caught of flash of movement. I grabbed Fera’s arm and mimed for silence. We glanced at each other and knelt down, I hiding behind a leafy fern, Fera behind some rocks and a bush.
I focused on the clearing that I hadn’t known existed in this stretch of trees. A small camp had been set up; fabric tents, a couple packs, a smoking fire pit, and about half a dozen people. They were all adults, and seemed to be holding some sort of conference.
“Who do you think they are?” Fera whispered to me.
I pointed to the side of one of the tents. “I think that’s the insignia for the Wind Tribe.”
One of the people moved, giving us a glimpse of a man’s face. Fera gripped my arm. “That’s that suspicious guy!”
I nodded, troubled. Something about all of this made the hairs on the back of my neck prickle. They were gesturing a lot, and their voices were rising. “I told you!” the sketchy man was saying, “That’s all there is – I saw them knock the inkpot over. I checked several times. They never made another copy.”
“He did steal it!” Fera hissed.
I motioned for her to be quiet. Someone made an annoyed sound. “Just perfect, and now they’re gone. Jessica, what are the chances you can –”
“The process is delicate,” a woman said. “The enchantment we stole wasn’t meant to be used by a non-water elementalist. I need to do more research before I attempt it, else we might lose the whole thing. And I will not allow that to happen.”
“Great,” a man said, “after three years, we finally get a chance at the power we deserve, and it’s being ruined by a couple of foolish girls.”
“Patience,” said the woman. “We haven’t failed yet. And you would do well to remember that those girls – foolish and half-grown as they may be – managed to find the scroll in the first place. We wouldn’t have this chance without them. You are sure they noticed nothing?”
“Positive.”
“Good.” The man sounded relived. “At least we won’t have to contend with annoying brats. They’re unlikely to understand what they have. The key to unlimited power, in the hands of children!”
Fera and I looked at each other. Had all that flowery stuff in the scrolls actually meant what it said? She mimed the scroll and a question with her hands. I motioned to the pack I was wearing. I hadn’t wanted to leave it in the house. The Water Tribe was said to have phenomenal resources; I’d been hoping to study it.
“It’s not unlimited power yet,” the woman snapped. “Until we find all four of the scattered and missing pieces, the Crystal will not be complete. All we have is what Sir Garrett found, nothing more. This was just down to luck. It will do little to speed up our oncoming conquest. A start, that is all.”
“A start is all we need,” someone corrected.
“I can return,” that man suggested. “Say I forgot something, try to ask after it a little more.”
“No.” The woman’s voice was sharp. “The parents aren’t idiots. They’ll know something is wrong if you turn up now with awkward questions. And with the new treaty being put forth to the Council today – the Dublay’s are well connected. They could put things together. A little more time and I will have a solution to our minor problem. In the meantime, start on the clues we have. Finding this shard is the first step to reassembling the Crystal.”
Fera nudged me. “Father received a messenger bird this morning – do you think it had anything to do with air elementalists and a treaty?”
“Maybe.” My heart was doing a wild, nervous dance. “Fera . . . that scroll talked about incredible power. If it’s real – If they go looking for it and – and use it . . . then we’re the ones who – who –”
“Let them . . .” She swallowed. “We’ve got to warn everyone!”
I nodded. “We also need to get their copy.”
“How? We can’t stand up and ask for it back.”
“We steal it.”
Fera looked at me. “This isn’t like you.”
If I could think of a better alternative, I would’ve suggested it. “Well then, you come up with a plan! Why do I have to think of something? Pull your weight for once!”
She gaped furiously, and then shoved me. I shoved her back. Fera flattened a bush.
Silence fell and we froze. I looked over at the encampment. “Oh, hello.”
“Sorry,” Fera said, picking herself up. “But do you happen to know the directions to the tribes?”
The looks on their faces said they didn’t believe we were lost. “No? You know what . . . I’m sure we can figure it out. Come on Fera.” I grabbed her hand, turned, and ran.
Hand in hand we raced down the road to home. Our footsteps seemed ominously loud, or was that another set behind us? No – the drive was empty. We skipped steps, whipped around the corners and halls that we knew so well.
I forced myself through those last few strides and burst inside the study, gasping.
Our parents and the steward jumped. “Girls – what on earth –”
“No time,” I gasped, cutting mother off. “The message this morning – Wind Tribe – a – an odd treaty or something – right?” Judging from the expression they exchanged, that was right on the money.
“Found – camp – not far away,” Fera panted. “Man, I feel out of shape. Anyways. Wind Tribe – they have this scroll me and Mira found –”
“It leads to part of something called the . . . the . . . some sort of crystal. It – it does something – they were talking about ultimate power –”
“And using it for conquest! They’re looking for it right now. We’ve got to stop them!”
Our parents looked at each other and their faces softened. “Girls,” our mother said, “We know separating is scary. If you don’t feel comfortable leaving for a year with the Tribes, just tell us.”
“I’m sure we can figure some alternative out,” our father continued. “There’s no need to make up an elaborate story.”
Fera gaped. “Elaborate story! We’re not making this up!”
“You know we find stuff in the tunnels all the time! I made a copy but it was stolen and now they’re going all crazy! Whatever their leader has done just proves this! Right?!”
Our mother turned her steely gaze on us. “Girls.” She folded her arms and tapped her foot impatiently. “Just because some elements make sense, doesn’t mean you can come up with a story and blame an entire Tribe of something to get your way.”
“It’s not a story!” I stressed. “What about the message – we did not eavesdrop, if that’s what you’re thinking! The scroll’s in my bag! We can prove it!”
Fera’s eyes grew round. “What if they can’t read it? Mira –”
“Just because you can’t read it doesn’t mean –”
Mother heaved a sigh and walked over to us. “How about you two go and relax and we’ll talk this over later as a family, all right?” Even with me and Fera protesting, she herded us out of the study and shut the door.
I stood there in the hallway, frozen.
“They didn’t believe us,” Fera managed.
I nodded numbly. I felt like I’d been punched in the gut. My own parents thought this was a made-up story. And out there, right now, the Wind Tribe was planning to find that shard and then . . .
I turned to Fera. “We have to do it.”
She tilted her head and squinted at me. “What?”
I swallowed. “We have to do it first. Find the piece. They said they need four pieces – if we get this one and – and destroy it or hide it, then everything’s fixed. You heard what that woman said, she needs time before she can get the other half of the clues. That means, right now, we have the advantage.”
Fera nodded slowly and locked her eyes with mine. “This is all happening now because we found the clues. So we’re going to undo it.”
I nodded, trying not to shake. I unslung my pack and took out the scroll, gripping it tightly in my hand. “Ready?” I asked her, hating the quiver in my voice. Fera gave me one, confident nod. We had to do this.