Norya Dowel, his assistant and an Elite Witch, hurried over, nearly tripping over the hem of her black witch’s skirt, and hastily bowed, throwing a nervous smile toward Mother and me. She seemed more interested in staring down at the stone pathway leading up to the hall than meeting our eyes. “G-Grand Master, sir, the meeting’s about to start—we mustn’t waste any time. The whole realm’s worrying over our preparations for the Culling.”
A chilling breeze whipped my dress, and I shivered. Mother stiffened. “Respectfully, Hayato, that is all the more reason for me to be assigned to the Culling.”
“I thought you preferred being at the queen’s beck and call,” Grottel sniffed. I didn’t know what he was smelling, but I caught a whiff of sour jealousy reeking from his scowling face. Queen Alliana and Mother had become close friends, back when the queen was only a village girl. She and Mother had banded together to rescue the villages in the farmlands from a particularly furious four-headed nightdragon that had risen out of the abyss at the Constancia border and broken through the protections. Together, Mother and Queen Alliana had saved the realm’s precious crops from burning down.
Grottel, on the other hand, had been on the team responsible for the break in the border that had suffered heavy losses. It seemed he’d never forget that. Especially since Mother had been the one to swoop in to rescue him.
“I can respond to the queen’s requests and investigate the Culling,” Mother replied. “Have me and Eva work on it. We’ll solve it.”
I gulped. We would?
“The queen put me in charge of the investigation on the Culling. And you’re not planning on going against Queen Alliana, are you, Nela?” At Mother’s pained silence, Grottel smirked. He spun on his heel, his black tunic snapping in the wind. “Well. I have duties to attend to. Such as meetings that don’t require the magicless.”
As he blew past, his disdainful eyes flicked toward me, finally, but they were as icy-cold as the Torido Rivers. A deep shudder ran down my spine. Had he—I glanced over at Norya, who was shifting her weight from foot to foot by the entrance—had he somehow changed the Novice list and removed me from it?
“And do your duties include researching the rumors that rogue magic is at work?” Mother called after him. “Possibly even blood magic?”
“Rogue magic like that does not exist anymore.” Grottel slammed the door shut, rattling the glass panes.
“It was worth a shot,” Mother said, shooting me a wry smile. Then her eyes widened, and she turned to Grottel’s assistant. “Curses, I meant to ask—Norya, might you know why Eva wasn’t listed—”
A loud, solemn bell clanged over the rush of the twin rivers. I jolted, prickles running along my skin.
“The final bell! I’m terribly sorry, but I must go.” Norya smiled nervously as she yanked at the iron knob. “Oh, drat, he’s sealed it!” Grottel’s assistant jabbed her wand at the door. “Let me in, so this meeting can begin.” The tip of her wand flashed a faint yellow, and the hinges creaked wearily as she scurried inside.
I stared at the wide-open doorway. In the stone hallway leading to the meeting room, witches and wizards chatted with one another, all outfitted in sleek black with hints of colors showing their ranks. They turned to me with curiosity, studying my knapsack and broomstick slung over my shoulder. Some of Mother’s friends waved, beckoning us in, and my heart thumped strangely in my chest. I would have my place within the Council, finally.
“I’m sure that oversight with Kaya’s list won’t be an issue, but we can check with Grottel after the meeting so it won’t happen to anyone else in the future.” A smile lit up Mother’s warm eyes. “Ready?”
Once I went inside, I’d get my ticket and my Novice Witch quest would start.
My heartbeat pounded in my ears, but I grinned back. “I’ve been waiting for this all my life.”
From the moment I entered those doors, I’d have to fight all I could to keep my powers. Because not completing my quest meant something so bone-chillingly awful that I had spent all twelve years of my life trying desperately to avoid it.
CHAPTER 3
THE TICKET
This endless meeting was going to be the start of the best adventure of my life. I was sure of it. If only Grottel would finish droning on about his so-called attempts to investigate the Culling and read out the Novice announcement.
Beyond the ceiling-to-floor windows that framed Grottel’s greasy head, the twin rivers roared past, toward the rest of Okayama City. By the magic of a trio of Elites, the glass stayed pristine and untouched by the drizzle, and I watched the water foam and froth as it sped on its own journey. I bounced my toes, jostling my knapsack, and The Guide for Questing Witches and Wizards slid out. I dove to catch the book before it hit the stone floor and smoothed out the corners, dog-eared from being read cover-to-cover countless times.
“He should be announcing it any moment now,” Mother whispered from the seat next to mine.
“Next,” he sniffed, as if he’d heard Mother, but was reluctant to agree with her. “Promotions.”
I perked up. This was it. This was my chance to fulfill the Council’s mission: Do good. I stared at the wobble in Grottel’s chin, waiting for him to speak the magic words.
“Conroy Nytta is now eligible for his Novice Wizard quest.”
The crowd roused up a big cheer, echoing against the tall glass windows. I slumped down. Of course darned Conroy, the only other twelve-year-old wizard in the realm, would be announced first.
Norya charmed a piece of paper in a flash of golden light, and Grottel rearranged the greasy clump of hair barely covering his bald spot as Conroy sauntered up. As Grottel handed over the ticket, he leaned down to Conroy’s ear, sharing something, and they both smirked. Conroy passed by, raising an eyebrow at me before throwing my mother a bright, cheery smile and waving his golden ticket. “Thank you for your help, Grand Master Evergreen!”
I raised my chin. I didn’t know why Conroy had to show off; I’d be getting mine next. I scooted to the edge of my seat, clutching the tome to my chest, ready to hurry to the podium to accept my ticket as soon as Grottel called my name.
Grand Master Grottel’s beady eyes scanned his scroll. After the longest second in all of eternity, he cleared his throat.
I leaned forward in anticipation.
“I will send out invitations to celebrate Conroy’s Novice ceremony, in one moon.” He rolled his scroll back up. “That is all. Meeting adjourned.”
I froze, my body turning still as a statue.
Mother sucked in a hiss. “Hayato, no—”
My heart pounded as the room spun around me. This was worse than falling asleep from casting one too many spells. It was like I’d plunged straight into my darkest nightmare. He couldn’t possibly mean…
Chairs scraped the floor as witches and wizards started gathering their things, picking up their broomsticks, and heading out the door.
I gasped for air. “But…” I turned to Mother. Even her normally rosy cheeks were ashen.
My mother shook her head in disbelief. “It’s just an oversight, it has to be.” She raised her voice. “Hayato!”