Page 80 of The Spell Caster

One of the robed Mountain Circle councilors on the dais stepped forward. “We understand the concern, but the counterpoint is that we are in the midst of a crisis situation and do not have time to work out a process with new members.” The witch brought her hands together in front of her. “I propose the solution of appointing two delegates from each of the refugee Circles’ former Councils until our spring election.”

“Your concern and a proposed solution are recorded,” a familiar voice called out.

A complicated reaction fizzled through me. Holly looked professional in a knee-length dress with a jacket, her hair styled in an elegant updo. With her experience doing administration for the Northern Sea Circle’s Council, she must have been a natural choice to help the Arcaenum.

The meeting dragged on through a dozen speakers—everything from a concern over dwindling funds for supplies from the outside to an idea for circlewrights to darken the sky as they had during the Northern Sea evacuation.

“Great idea,” muttered Costi behind me. “Mark exactly where the Circle is with a nice big black dot.”

“They have to know where we are already,” I said, voicing my fear.

My heart lifted when I saw the next speaker. “My name is Jenny Luna, formerly elected councilor, and my concern is that the Mountain Circle sold us out.”

Gasps and muttering erupted as Grey glowered at the caster. “And what evidence do you have of this? What’s our supposed motivation for cramming in thousands more witches than we can hold?” he demanded, breaking protocol.

A few laughs followed his response.

Luna crossed her arms over her chest and glared back. “We’re supposed to believe that every Circle in the eastern part of the continent was accidentally discovered at once except this one? Then all the survivors fled here, and no one followed them? Give me a break. Someone sold out our locations. I want to know what you paid for safety.”

“We won’t entertain this kind of nonsense,” Grey said with finality. “Have her removed.”

Removed? I didn’t understand what he was talking about until the two guardians stepped forward.

“The fuck?” Costi spat, and I saw what he’d been reacting to. One of the pair was Ewan—Datura’s assigned guardian and our roommate. His normal easy grin had been replaced with a nasty version that made me cold.

Luna backed away as Grey’s guardians advanced. “What? You can’t—”

On either side, they hooked under her shoulders and pushed her through the crush of stunned witches.

What is going on? The guardians didn’t drag witches out of public meetings. I looked up at Costi. His eyes were narrowed. He gave me a slight shake of the head.

“Next speaker, please,” Quince said to the absolutely silent chamber, gesturing at me. Grey’s eyes swung angrily toward me and pinned me.

My heart beat rapidly as nervousness washed through me. Would he have me thrown out too? Every eye trained itself on me.

“Just stick to the facts,” Costi said quietly. I could feel him behind me, supporting me.

In the crowd, I suddenly felt young and small. I wished I had a stool to stand on. I cleared my throat and tried to project my shaking voice. “I’m Layla Rosen, Mountain Circle delegate.” I still wasn’t sure what exactly I was the delegate for, so I didn’t clarify. “My concern is that our patrolling teams are under tree cover, making it impossible for spell casters to see into the sky, and if they cast, they risk causing a fire. I don’t have a proposal for a solution at this time.”

The councilors on the dais looked at each other. Hadn’t they known about this already?

Quince scratched his head. “I propose the solution of clearing a perimeter around the Circle.”

“Excuse me!” called a voice from the back. “I’m the forestry delegate. Please consider the extremely negative impact of clearing that much land.”

Quince let the interruption go. His forehead was shiny with sweat in the overhead lights, and exhaustion lined his face, deep circles blooming around his eyes.

Artemesia Rhodes got to her feet slowly, one of her fellow councilors assisting her. “I propose the alternative solution of forming a security advisory committee and allowing them full decision-making in these matters.” The elderly former guardian looked directly at me and Costi, and I swore her eyes held a glint of mischief. “Our current situation is far more dangerous and complicated than we are set up for. We are negligent in expecting Security Coordinator Daire to handle all of it without assistance.”

“Your concern and two proposed solutions are recorded,” Holly recited solemnly.

“Next speaker, please,” Quince said tiredly.

They were still at it when we finally ducked out hours later, with barely an hour for Costi to get ready before his evening patrol. It was amazing how quickly people could adjust to routines. An attack hadn’t come immediately, so the prospect seemed much more distant. We were getting on with our lives.

I’d missed a text from Calamus while we were in the meeting. He had found us a space to work the new circle spell the next day.

“Oh, I have another date with Calamus tomorrow,” I told Costi coyly as he made efficient work of his dinner, standing at the kitchen counter while I leaned against it.

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