“Could be because she has the right genetics,” Evans said, pointing at Kirsten. “Her cousin is a dragonrider, so they share some of the same DNA.” 

Anders shook his head, “I don’t think it works like that. A dragon can choose to bond with anyone, regardless of their family history.”   

“It could be because you had the pink sapphire and that one responded to you while you were wearing it?” Thomas said.  

“Or the goblin venom changed your chemical make-up and made your body more in tune with magic? Like Anders said, the goblin is a magical being, it could have imparted some of itself into you?” Evans suggested, speaking to Kirsten.  

“But that can’t be the reason,” Kirsten said looking back at Evans. “Because I used the crystal before I was bitten as well. Maybe Thomas was right and it’s the sapphire I found in our mother’s things that acts as the conduit. I did have both on me each time I used the crystal’s power.”  

“You don’t have it on you now,” Anders said to Kirsten. “Pick up one of the crystals and try to light that branch on fire.” 

She looked at the lowest branch on the tree Anders was pointing at, then glanced at Thomas. Thomas nodded and her face tightened. Kirsten stepped forward and reached down to carefully grasp the blue-hued crystal from among the dead leaves matting the forest floor. As she gripped the crystal tightly, it began to glow more brightly in her palm. A half a breath later the entire tree Anders had been pointing at went up in flames. Kirsten jumped back in alarm. 

Anders extinguished the tree with his magic and grinned. Facing Kirsten, he said, “Good! That’s a great start. And now we know that it wasn’t the poudrettite crystal that allowed you to wield this crystal’s magic.” He looked to the others and asked, “Who’s next?” 

After a moment’s hesitation, Max stepped forward. He bent down and grabbed a second crystal from the ground. Rolling it in his palm, he eyed Anders. Anders nodded, showing Max he was there to support him. While Max readied himself to use the crystal, Anders wondered why it didn’t work for Britt and why it did for Kirsten? He hoped Max would get it on his first try so Anders wouldn’t have to try to explain something he knew little about. When he’d used the crystals’ powers before, it was just as Kirsten explained. It just worked when he tried; he honestly didn’t know why. Zorna had told him about the ancient language, and though that was helpful in using magic, he didn’t know it well enough to teach.  

That’s what I’m here for, Tarron’s voice said into his thoughts.  

I wish you’d give me more warning before doing that, Anders thought. Let’s just wait and see how he does. 

Max held the crystal in his hand, pointing it at the tree Kirsten had scorched. It flashed, a bright light emitting from his palm, then went dull again in an instant. The tree remained charred from Kirsten’s attempt, unchanged by Max. Max grunted and flexed in frustration. He continued to strain, holding the crystal out in front of him. A dim light shown in his palm, much weaker than during his first attempt, but it held, not getting brighter or dimmer. 

“Max,” Anders said, reaching out after a minute of no change. 

Max exhaled and sank back fatigued. “I’m sorry, Anders. It doesn’t work for me,” Max said.  

“But it does work. I saw it flash bright for a moment on your first try.”  

“You saw that, too?” he asked sounding surprised.  

Anders nodded.  

“I thought I was imagining it.”  

"Who else saw the bright flash the first time he tried?” Anders asked, looking around at the group.  

 “I saw it,” Kirsten said with a smile. 

Thomas nodded, as did Evans and Sanka.  

“You can do this, Max. Just focus and believe,” Anders said. “Withdraw into your mind’s eye and focus on channeling the crystal’s source.” As Anders spoke, he withdrew his consciousness into the recesses of his mind. Suddenly he was interrupted by Zahara’s touch. He could feel she’d sensed something. Looking to her, he saw her sitting up at attention. His heart dropped and he feared the worst, What is it Zahara? 

It’s Raffa and Maija, she said. They’re nearly here. 

Anders felt a wave of relief.  

I feel a third presence with them, she added. 

Anders paused. He instantly sent his mind searching for them. Probing the area as far as he could reach. Anders felt Maija’s distant mind and the firm thoughts of her dragon. Zahara was right, another person was with them, yet Anders couldn’t tell who or what it was from such a distance. Something about the presence was familiar, but at the same time muted and disguised.  

Suddenly a bright flash exploded near Anders’ face. He leapt back just in time, forced back into the present. He nearly responded with a deflection spell, but then realized that Max had finally tapped into the crystal’s power. Anders followed Max’s shocked gaze to see a smoldering tree branch. “Excellent!” Anders said, slapping him on the shoulder.  

Max stood in awe, staring at the crystal in his hand. 

“Now if you’ll excuse me. I must greet Maija and Raffa on their return.” 

“They’re back?” Kirsten gasped. 

Anders nodded, “Keep practicing, all of you. Just don’t point the crystals at one another and you’ll be fine. I’ll be back soon.” 

*** 

“Return to the elven city at once,” Merglan growled into the glass of his mirror. 

“Shouldn’t we go after the ships? They won’t be more than several days’ ride from here,” the rider asked. 

“It’s more effort than it’s worth,” Merglan said. “We’ve wasted too much time on the crystals already. I need you here to command while I complete the processes. I’m close to the true source.” 

“You want me to command?” 

“A small force, yes.”  

“What’s the task?” 

“Another rider,” Merglan said. “That Northland witch destroyed the barrier before I killed her.” 

“Will they be a threat?”  

“I’m not sure,” Merglan said. “My demon spotted them in the mountains. So far, they seem to be observing, but we can’t have them taking sides.” 

“We’re on our way back now.”  

Merglan placed the mirror glass down on the table and walked to the edge of the treehouse’s flat decking. He looked out over the elves’ capital city. Looking at the wreckage left in the wake of his takeover, he peered down at the building where the prison had been, now flattened. Connecting his mind with Killdoor, he said, Go to the released prisoners. I have a job for them. We need to make sure the humans in the Plains don’t join the fighting. 

He felt his dragon’s obedience and then saw Killdoor fly out away from the nearby cliff wall. Merglan focused on the hole he had bored into the center of the tree, revealing access to the magic at its core. He thrust his hand inside, feeling the overwhelming power of the true source of magic. He grabbed at it, finding it in his grip. Now, let me bend you to my will, he said, feeling it resist. He refused to let go. He had magic’s true source in his hands, and he would control it, no matter the cost. 

Chapter 82

Maija’s Return

Anders ran from the grove of trees outside Brookside, Kirsten and Max’s shouts becoming muffled as he focused on contacting Maija. Touching on her and Raffa’s minds he felt their barriers and thought to Zahara, Why are their walls up?  

Maybe they encountered more of Merglan’s monsters nearby? she answered.  

Let’s fly, he said and in three strides he’d used a pulse of magic to power himself up onto Zahara’s back. Anders held onto the back end of her saddle and crouched as she broke free of the forest canopy. Spitting brown leaves that had managed to cling to their thinning branches, Anders pulled himself into the saddle and felt its magnetic seat lock him in. Make a pass over Rune’s place. I’ll fill Bo in so he doesn’t call out a false alarm if he mistakes us or Raffa for the enemy.  

Zahara glided over the rooftops and circled in low around Rune’s two-story medical practice. Anders jumped from her back, landing firmly on the roof where he’d left Bo. Striding up to the peak where Max’s younger brother had been leaning against the brick chimney, Anders paused when he found a broad-shouldered man with a salt-and-pepper beard in Bo’s place.