King's Orders

This time around, the king waited for Felix to be healed before calling him and the others in front of the council.

Well, mostly healed. Only three days after the fight at Ernest’s mansion, Felix was far from full strength. Bandages were wrapped around the worst of his wounds, he felt nauseous when he moved too fast, and he was still taking pain medication for his various aches. The Ironwood Wand could have helped considerably, but it was still recalibrating from the battle.

Of the hundred or so Guardians at Ernest’s party, forty-five had been a part of the Second Uprising. No one was certain how many of the traitors had been killed, but ten had died on the Brightlands’ side. A small fraction of the roughly three hundred total active Guardians there had been before the party—approximately two hundred of which lived at the castle, Felix had learned—but a painful blow nonetheless.

The goal of the party had clearly been to wipe out a fourth of the Brightlands’ forces, between killing the loyal ones and the rest turning traitor. With the number of active Guardians down to about three hundred, it was hard to say their plan had been a complete failure.

Felix stopped in front of the doors to the throne room. Kendra, who’d accompanied him, nodded to the guards as they stepped aside to let the two in.

“Where are Mason and Arisa?” Felix asked as they entered.

“On their way,” Kendra replied. “Hana’s bringing Arisa, and I think Sebastian went to get Mason.”

King Atticus was already on his throne. Archer knelt in front of him, speaking too quietly for anyone else to hear. The remaining four council members stood in their positions on either side of the throne. Ernest’s two cousins—Eliza and the man the birthday party had been for, whose name slipped Felix’s mind—along with Abraham Caldwell and Michael Beck were gone. As far as Felix knew, Michael was the only one who’d died.

“Do you know what’s going to happen to Jack Caldwell?” Felix asked as he and Kendra sat down. Not only had Abraham run off with the Moonlit Army, but his wife had disappeared, too.

“He’ll remain here as a student.”

“They’re letting him stay? What if he’s on his parents’ side?”

“They can’t prove he was involved. And he seemed pretty upset when he found out what happened,” Kendra said. “But we’ll keep a close eye on him.”

Arisa, Hana, Mason, and Sebastian arrived in the minutes that followed. A few more Guardians came in behind them, the final one being a bandaged and limping Adrienne Farrow, walking with the help of a white cane.

King Atticus rose to his feet. Archer stood and moved to stand at his right.

“I am ending the probation of Felix Carver, Arisa Tamura, and Mason Briggs,” King Atticus announced.

That was it? No testimony? No debate among council members? Felix glanced at Archer, but he only wore his usual scowl.

“They still have special circumstances around their status as students, but it’s time they moved on to real missions and classes with their fellow Guardians-in-training,” the king continued. “Given recent events, it’s important that we all be prepared for challenges unlike any we’ve ever seen. The Moonlit Army’s goals are not much clearer than they were eight years ago, but it seems that Mirabelle Armitage may have an agenda beyond simply overthrowing the Brightlands and taking my throne. We need to be alert as we move forward with our usual missions.”

The king dismissed the meeting with nothing more of a wave of his hand before retreating to his office.

Felix, Arisa, and Mason exchanged confused glances. Felix jumped to his feet and started toward Archer, but Adrienne beat him there.

“The perimeter is secure as of this morning,” Adrienne told Archer. “No more poltergeists lingering around.”

“Good,” Archer replied.

“Hi, Adrienne,” Felix said as he reached them. “Glad to see you alive.”

“Thank you. I should be fully healed in a couple of weeks.” Adrienne gave him a faint smile. “I heard about the battle with Ernest. Very impressive, for kids your age.”

“Thank you for trusting us enough to send us.”

Adrienne adjusted her grip on her cane. “I’m just grateful it all worked out. Except for the ritual supplies. I’m afraid the poltergeists kept me busy long enough for someone to come and collect them.”

“And it’s still unclear why they were summoned in the first place,” Archer added. “There’s a chance our suspicions are correct, and they were to prevent backup from reaching Ernest’s. But we’re still not completely positive whether he would have started a fight if you three hadn’t shown up.”

“You think whoever summoned them is still here at the castle?” Felix asked.

“Possibly. A lot of traitors left us, but it’s more than likely that a few spies have decided to hang around.”

“They’re like flies,” Adrienne said with a wave of her hand. “Pests. But I’ll catch them eventually.” She nodded goodbye to Archer and left to join a group of Guardians gathered nearby in hushed conversation.

“So, that’s it?” Felix asked. “We’re all off probation?”

Archer lifted an eyebrow. “That is what the king said, isn’t it?”

“But Arisa’s still cursed, and Mason’s still a demon, and I’m…” Felix glanced around and lowered his voice. “What about Gideon?”

“Gideon fought his way to the surface when you were weak and injured,” Archer said. “And you haven’t heard a word from him since the battle.” His eyes narrowed. “Correct?”

Felix nodded quickly. “I talked to my family this morning. They were able to keep him under control until I had the strength to try forcing him back into unconsciousness myself. We’re pretty sure it worked.”

Arisa and Mason joined them. Sebastian, Hana, and Kendra followed close behind.

“So, Archer,” Sebastian said. “How much of this probation decision was your idea, and how much was the king’s?” His question was completely serious, with no hint of the snark he usually liked to throw Archer’s way.

“That’s between me and the king,” Archer said.

“What if Gideon comes back?” Felix persisted.

“Then you’ll fight him back down.” Archer swept his gaze over Felix, Mason, and Arisa. “After what I saw at Ernest’s, I believe you three are capable of managing the burdens you’re bearing.” His expression managed to harden even further. “Of course, if Felix were overtaken by Gideon, if Arisa succumbed to her curse, if Mason turned into a monster…I would do whatever it takes to protect the Brightlands.”

“Wow, what a nice thing to say,” Sebastian said. He clapped his hands together. “On that happy note, Archer, you said you had something you wanted to discuss with the six of us?”

“Yes. Kendra, since you’re the most proficient, can you relay this to Hana for me? I have to talk fast.”

“Ready when you are,” Kendra told him.

“Keep watch for any eavesdroppers, too.”

Kendra nodded.

“There are questions we have to answer regarding the events that led up to the battle,” Archer said. “To begin with, I’d like to know how Ernest assembled so many demons. They’re supposed to be rare.”

“The only time I’ve heard of anywhere near that many demons working together was when the old Brightlands were attacked,” Sebastian said.

“It’s concerning.” Archer sighed. “Additionally, we only saw Ernest command werewolves, demons, and some spirits. I want to know if he succeeded at recruiting anything else for the Moonlit Army. And how.”

“And you’re, what, putting us in charge of finding all this out?” Arisa asked.

“In charge? Heavens no. I’m asking you to help me in any way you can,” Archer replied. “Every Guardian is going to be on the lookout for information on the Moonlit Army, but you’re the only ones I feel remotely confident placing my trust in.” He lifted his gaze and swept it across the room behind them. “I certainly wouldn’t put children in charge of doing anything dangerous. However, you are resourceful, and we could use your minds.”

“We’re teenagers, not children,” Mason muttered.

Archer ignored the comment. “For instance, Mason, I’d like you to perform that unmasking spell at potential monster sites. Ernest still could have some death traps waiting for us.”

“Sure,” Mason said. “Should be easy now, with the Ironwood Wand.”

Felix glanced at him. “I thought you were ditching us once you got it back.”

“And let you all get yourselves killed?” Mason scoffed. “Besides, it’s my responsibility to undo all of the damage Ernest did with the wand.” His eyes lowered to the floor as he added, “And your library’s cool.”

“Good. We’ll be stronger with you on our side,” Archer said.

Kendra chuckled and lifted an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you’re bringing Sebastian into this little club.” She signed as she spoke.

“I’m offended, but I agree with you,” Sebastian said.

“Yes.” Archer’s gaze flickered to Sebastian. “Let’s hope I don’t regret it.”

“So, we’re like a team now?” Felix asked.

Arisa lit up. “Can we come up with a team name?”

“That’s not necessary,” Archer said.

“Too late. I’m coming up with a name.”

“I’m happy to help,” Sebastian said, folding his arms. “But isn’t this what the council is for?”

“We just lost half the council,” Archer said. “I’m being cautious.”

“Sure.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing.” Sebastian dropped his arms to his sides and smirked. “Now, do you have anything else to say, King’s Hand, or can I go get food?”

“Go,” Archer told him with a sigh.

Kendra and Hana left after Sebastian. Mason and Arisa walked away, too, but Felix hung back. He had one last question.

“Did you fight Hugo during the battle?” he asked.

“I only saw him briefly before he ran off,” Archer replied. “Did you fight him?”

“Yeah. He sent those stuffed animals after me for a few minutes.” Felix hesitated. “I think he wants revenge on you or something. Those scars you gave him looked pretty bad.”

“He deserved worse than that.”

“What did he do?”

Archer didn’t respond.

“Ah, sorry, never mind.” Felix rubbed the back of his neck. “Thanks again.”

“For what?”

“For saving our lives. And not killing me, I guess.” Felix took a step back. “Hopefully you made the right choice.”

“I think I did.” Archer stared at him for a long moment. “But only time will tell.”

When Felix stepped out of the throne room, Sebastian was waiting, leaning against the wall by the doors. He flipped a quarter into the air. “How precise would you say you are with the psychometry thing?” he asked as he caught it.

Felix blinked. “Huh?”

“Well, you’ve been able to find big events in an object’s history. Important stuff you’re looking for.” Sebastian flipped the coin again. “But say you wanted to find something that happened at a certain time. Could you do that?”

Felix watched it spin and land in Sebastian’s palm. “Uh, I haven’t tried. But probably?”

Sebastian tossed the coin to him. Felix barely caught it. “Morning after the battle at Ernest’s,” Sebastian said. “Around eight a.m.” He stepped away from the wall and walked away.

Felix hurried to his room. When he arrived, he set the quarter on his desk and opened one of the drawers. He sifted through the junk the drawer had accumulated until he found Gideon’s necklace that he’d hidden away. He laid the necklace out next to the quarter.

He stared at them, mind racing, for a couple of minutes before picking up the quarter and closing his eyes. He slid into the object’s memory.

Sebastian walked by, the only person in the void besides Felix. This was today, at the council meeting. Felix pushed back along the timeline.

“Need some help?” Dad asked as he formed at Felix’s side.

“Uh, yeah,” Felix replied. “How do I get to a specific time? I can feel the pull of certain events, but I don’t know when they take place.”

“That’s hard. It will get easier with practice, though.” Dad thought for a moment. “Think about where you were at the time. What were you doing? How far away does it feel?”

Felix frowned. The morning after the battle, he’d slept in until noon. Maybe that would be close enough to push along the timeline to whatever event Sebastian wanted him to see.

The void shifted around Felix. Walls rose and fell. Sebastian disappeared and reappeared and disappeared again.

Archer became visible, standing on a balcony that ordinarily overlooked the central courtyard. But in here, there was nothing below him but darkness. Sebastian slid the quarter into his pocket and approached him.

“How’s Adrienne doing?” Sebastian asked as he rested his hands on the railing next to Archer.

“Fine. Still recovering,” Archer answered. “Until she’s back on her feet, we have extra Guardians assigned to the tunnels.”

“Why do you think she encouraged the kids to go? She could have come alone.” Sebastian tapped his fingers against the railing. “Or found some other way to warn us, if she really was too injured.”

Archer scowled. “I don’t know.”

Sebastian glanced back over his shoulder. “You think they left a few spies behind?”

“Are you trying to imply that Adrienne—?”

“No,” Sebastian cut him off and turned his gaze to the side of Archer’s face. “I’m just trying to put together the pieces. A lot happened.”

Archer stayed quiet.

“If we can’t trust each other,” Sebastian said. “I don’t think we’re going to win this.”

After a long moment, Archer asked, “Do you mean the Guardians, or the two of us, specifically?”

When Sebastian didn’t answer right away, Archer met his eyes. “If you really mean that, you have to find some way to get over what happened.”

Sebastian let out a cold laugh. “What you did to me, you mean?” He stepped back from the railing and turned around.

Felix frowned.

“Wait.” Archer turned away from the railing. “I asked Adrienne about the kids, and why she sent them to the party.”

“Oh.” Sebastian paused. “Why didn’t you tell me that a minute ago?”

“I was still thinking it over,” Archer replied. “Adrienne said that she had a meeting with a king a few days earlier. The topic of the three came up.” He hesitated. “The king mentioned that he was impressed with how they’d fared on their field trips, despite the way the tables turned on them.”

“And?”

“I don’t know. Maybe that pushed Adrienne to trust that they could handle Ernest.”

“I think there’s something else.”

Archer was quiet for a long moment. “The king told me that he suspected the werewolves at Cold Creek were related to the Supermoon Wolves when he sent you.”

Something flickered across Sebastian’s face. Confusion? Anger? “He didn’t tell me that.”

“He wasn’t certain,” Archer said.

“He could have warned me.”

“Regardless, he was impressed with the three of them.”

Sebastian stared for a long moment. “You’re saying that you think the king wanted the kids at Ernest’s.”

“I’m saying it’s a possibility.”

“You must think he had a good reason, then.”

Archer didn’t answer. He turned around. His hands moved to the railing.

“If you think it’s because he wanted them to get killed, then I disagree,” Archer said after a moment. “If he wanted them dead, he could have ordered them executed.”

“I’m not arguing there,” Sebastian said.

“We have to tread very carefully.” Archer’s eyes closed. “Everyone thinks they know what’s best for the Brightlands.”

“But it’s easy to get caught up fighting each other instead of monsters.” Sebastian’s gaze flickered to something in the distance. “And more and more Guardians are leaving active duty.”

“But most of those who remain have still sworn their loyalty to the king.”

“Including you?”

“Of course.” Archer’s hands tightened around the railing’s edge.

Under his breath, Sebastian muttered, “That’s what I’m afraid of.”

Sebastian, Archer, and the balcony faded into the black. Felix returned to his body standing next to his desk.

“Why would Sebastian show me that?” Felix asked, staring at the quarter in his hand. “It sounds like he…” Sebastian wouldn’t actually turn on the king, would he? He was clearly opposed to whatever Mira had planned with the Moonlit Army, but he didn’t exactly seem eager to follow the king’s orders, either.

You brought Gideon’s necklace out, Dad noted.

Felix sat the quarter down and reached out a hand to gingerly touch the necklace. “Dad, it has to be full of memories involving the Moonlit Army. Maybe I could learn something that could help us defeat them.”

You’re right, Dad said. But you need to be careful. It’s easy to get lost in memories. Especially painful ones.

“I’ll start slow.” Felix’s hand moved to brush the fang. Like when he’d touched Archer’s sword, he was hit with flashes. The same woman with silver hair that he’d seen in Archer’s sword. The view of his house from the rose bushes. A raccoon darting across his driveway, growing taller, taking on the form of a man—

Felix yanked his hand back. He grimaced. “I don’t want to be scared of him,” he said. “I know I can control him, but I also have to accept that he’s here.”

Dad was quiet for a moment. You think you can use his ability without him taking control.

“Maybe,” Felix said quietly. “Do you?”

I don’t know. Dad was far from confident. That should have been enough to deter Felix. But…

“I know May was able to hold her ability back from me, so Gideon must be able to do the same. But I might be able to take it back on my own.” Felix’s hand wrapped around the necklace’s chain. He lifted it into the air. “And I was able to fight back when he tried to possess me. Maybe, with enough practice, I could have complete control over his ability and his soul.”

Just trying will be dangerous.

“I know.”

There was a beat of silence.

Felix, you know my journal? Dad asked.

Felix nodded. He pulled open the top drawer of the desk. He’d given the book an occasional glance to try and decipher the text, to no avail. Dad had never offered any help, and Felix had gotten too wrapped up in training to give it much thought.

I think it’s time you took a closer look at it.

Felix frowned. “But I can’t read it.”

You don’t need to be able to read it. Everything I wrote is just notes and dates, Dad said. The real story is in its memory.

Before Felix could think much about what that meant, there was a knock at his door.

We’ll talk later, Dad said. His presence vanished.

Felix opened the door to find Mason and Arisa waiting on the other side.

“We’re celebrating our freedom from probation,” Arisa said. “I convinced Hana and Kendra to take us to the beach.”

“We’re going to go steal food from the kitchen to take with us,” Mason added. “You in?”

Felix grinned. “Of course I’m in.”

Magic could wait.