Page 115 of The Tree of Spirits
“I have no idea what you’re talking about, Kato. Ineverget into trouble.” Conner’s face was the epitome of innocence.
Kato’s laugh was more of a grunt. “Oh, no. Never.”
Conner winked at him. Then he disappeared.
Kato pivoted toward me. “You know, Conner and I get along much better when you’re around.”
“Wait,thatwas getting along?”
“Actually, yes,” he replied, his face wistful. “Lately, we haven’t been seeing eye to eye.”
“Since he left to join the Rebels?”
“It started before that. We just don’t seem to be on the same page anymore.”
“I think you’re both onexactlythe same page,” I told him. “You and Conner, you two are one and the same. You’re both good people who want to do the right thing. You just disagree on how to go about doing it. And that’s ok, you know? People are allowed to fight over the best way to do things. I sometimes even fight with myself about the best way to do things.”
“There’s a big difference between fighting with yourself and fighting with your best friend. It’s not like you can say something to yourself that you really end up regretting.”
I set my hand on his arm. “It sounds like you and Conner have a lot of issues to work out. And no better time than the present, right?”
“You’re right.” His voice shimmered barely above a whisper, like he hardly dared say the words. “Will you come with me?”
“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. This is between you and Conner.”
“It is,” Kato agreed. “But, like I said, the two of us get along better when you’re around. Somehow, you make us understand ourselves better, and that makes us understand each other better too.” He shook his head. “I’m not sure if I’m making any sense?”
“I think I get it,” I said with a smile. “And I’d be happy to be there with you both as you try to mend your friendship. But only if youbothwant me to.”
Kato snorted. “Oh, Conner willdefinitelywant you around for this. The problem is getting him to settle down and stop showing off long enough for us to have a serious conversation.”
“Maybe you don’t need to have a serious conversation, Kato. Or at least not one that’sonlyserious.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you two are looking to find a common ground, right? So maybe that means Conner needs to be a little more serious. And that you need to be a little less serious.”
Kato frowned. “I’m not sure that makes any sense.”
“Sure it does. You two agree on your goals but disagree on how to get there. So the sticking point in your friendship lies only in thehow.” I positioned my hands in front of me, spread wide apart. “If you each come just a little in the other’s direction,” I said, drawing my hands together, “you’ll meet in the middle.” I clapped them together. “See what I mean?”
Kato watched me for a while, so long that I was starting to get worried. Until he said, “You’re pretty wise.”
I grinned at him. “So that means you’ll do it?”
He looped his arm in mine. “Let’s go talk to Conner.”
CHAPTER 5
THE DEBATE
“Ithink Altair’s going to have to make a lot more of these,” Conner declared as he set his Mirror of Woe on my dining table.
It joined my mirror and Kato’s, together forming a trio of no-longer-enchanted artifacts. The battle at the Spirit Tree had drained them of the last of their magic. The glass surfaces reflected only what was in front of them now. Even the shiny metal frames looked duller.
“I’ll pass along your request,” Kato said. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if the Templars reinforce their next armor with magical defenses against the mirror’s spells.”
“Probably,” Conner agreed, handing Kato a cutting board.
