Page 95 of The Tribes of Magic
“The Dark Woods?” I frowned. “That’s far away?”
“Indeed. I was hoping you could teleport us there, but I don’t think you’re up for that yet. It’s too big a jump. You need to increase your magic stamina by quite a bit before it’s safe for you to attempt a jump like that.”
“What about you? Can’t you teleport us there?”
“I have many talents, Red, but teleporting across large distances is not one of them. Maybe we could walk there…”
“How long will that take?”
“That depends. Have you learned any speed spells?”
“No. But maybe you could teach me one?”
He looked me up and down, frowning. “Uh, how about we don’t work on completely new spells right now, ok? Learning new spells is very taxing on your body, and your body looks taxed enough as it is. The next nosebleed will be much worse, maybe even so bad that even my healing magic won’t be able to stop it. Even worse, you might get internal bleeding.”
Internal bleeding. That didn’t sound like fun. And neither did another nosebleed.
“Ok, so we won’t try anynewspells right now,” I decided. “How long would it take us to get to this place where Harlyn is, assuming we’re moving at normal human speed?”
Conner considered my question. I could see his mind working, trying to come up with an answer. “Hmm. I guess about eight hours.”
“Eighthours? That’s nearly a whole work day there and back, and that’s not even taking into account the time we spend talking to him.”
“And getting past the Cursed Ones,” Conner added.
“Cursed Ones?”
“Oh, did I forget to mention Harlyn is hiding out there beyond the Fortress?”
Fantastic.
“How many Cursed Ones do you expect there to be?” I asked.
“Well, it is the Wilderness, so I’m guessing anything between none and a hundred or so.”
I flinched. “I’m guessing this is why you wanted me to come along?”
“You do repel the Cursed Ones nicely. Kind of like a reverse magnet of sorts. But, no, that’s not theonlyreason I rescued you from Altair’s boring Quest. You’re great fun, Red. At least when you remember to loosen up and let yourself actually have fun.”
“The last time I let myself loosen up and have fun with you, Conner, I caused an avalanche that buried both of us and Kato.”
Speaking of Kato…
“If this is so dangerous, maybe we should ask Kato to come along for backup?” I suggested.
Conner laughed. “Don’t ever let Kato hear you call him ‘backup’. He can’t stand being anything less than the main event.”
That wasn’t quite fair. Kato had let me take the lead on our spell in the Park yesterday.
Conner continued, oblivious to my inner monologue. “Actually, I did try to contact Kato. Unfortunately, he’s tied up being eye candy for the General right now.”
“I can’t believe the Summit isstillgoing on. It’s been days. How could it possibly take them so long to decide whether or not to admit Gaia to the Court? It’s not like the delegates haven’t all already made up their minds.”
“Yes, they probably have,” Conner agreed. “But the Summit is as much about the delegates showing off to one another as it is about voting on Gaia’s admission. It takes a veryspecialkind of supernatural to be on the Court.”
He saidspeciallike it was a swear word.
“In any case,” Conner continued. “Kato’s busy. Sorry to disappoint you, Red, but it’s just you and me today.” He gave meone of his usual charming smirks, but I wasn’t fooled. He looked a little stung.
