“A mimic?” King asked.
Gran nodded.
He hummed. “Well, there’s more that I haven’t had the chance to talk to you about yet.”
“More what?” Jetty asked, a crease appearing between his eyebrows. Those two usually shared all of their secrets like Sky and I did, so he looked less than pleased.
“So, uh, Malcolm, my boss,” King said for those who didn’t know. “He’s been training me to be a Lorewarden.”
Elyse gasped, and Gran started blinking rapidly, like she was trying to get something out of her eye. She shook her head. “NotaLorewarden, my little prince.” She sniffed. “TheLorewarden. There are many different positions that hold space and guard our world, butTheLorewarden is very important, and there is only ever one Vault.”
“So did you know, Gran?” he asked. “Did you know Malcolm was planning on training me?”
She shook her head. “I never had to interact with the Lorewarden before. I knew of the position, of course, but generally the Lorewarden’s identity is kept hidden for their protection.” The last part came out in a worried tone.
King hummed. “Yeah, Malcolm said I could tell my family because you’re all involved in all this.” He gestured in the air, encapsulating all of what we’d learned.
“Don’t worry, Kingston. We’ll keep your secret,” Elyse said.
“So have you heard of the Lorewarden before, Elyse?” I asked, curious about how much she knew of all of these latest revelations.
“I’d heard the rumors through my travels.”
Marc nodded. “Once, when my Mrs. was trying to help someone cross over, they didn’t want to leave because they couldn’t find their Grimoire.”
Elyse leaned into her husband. “Oh, yes. That poor man. He talked at me for days, so disappointed that I didn’t know how to make sure that someone in his family didn’t get it. Or that I couldn’t find out if they already had it.”
Marc kissed the top of her head. “That was the first time you had a goddess visit you.”
“What?” Chance gasped. “Mom, you’ve met a goddess?”
“I met her the same way I’ve always interacted with ghosts until you. She was nothing but a voice in my ear, but I felt her…everywhere. Like, perhaps she was a deity. And she told me to let him know that he could move on to his next place if he was ready to go. Their family Grimoire had been called back to the care of the Lorewarden as soon as he’d passed. That’s why he couldn’t find it. She’d seen what he knew and protected their family line from evil.”
“Wow,” Chance said, looking at his mom with awe.
Even Rosie looked impressed. “I told you your mom was stronger than she gave herself credit for, Chance.”
Elyse’s cheeks went pink. To take the attention off her, I asked King, “So do you think you can find information on dealing with mimics in The Vault?”
“The Vault?” Ego asked. “I’m still confused.”
Booker held up one hand. “Me, too. I still don’t get what a Lorewarden is.”
King went into more detail, and I paid careful attention, too, in case I’d missed something before. “So yeah,” he concluded. “I’m sure I can find information to help us.”
Gran cleared her throat. “I’m sure the access you have as Lorewarden will serve you well, but this might help you, too.”
“Duchess, bring our stories to me,” she said softly, like she wasn’t speaking to us, but to her psychopomp. Instantly, Duchess, curled up on a large Tome, appeared with a puff of smoke on the blank space on the table in front of Gran. She stroked a hand down her cat’s back. “Thank you.”
Duchess stood up daintily, stretched, then meowed when Patchy started dancing on the floor, yapping for her attention. Duchess jumped down off the table, heading for another room, with my pup on her heels. Gran’s gaze followed them, amused.
“I have a feeling your Patchy is going to give my girl a run for her money.” Then she smoothed her hand over the book. “There are many things about dreamwalking not recorded in the pages of my Grimoire, but those parts related to magic can be found here. And a mimic must be released with magic.”
I stared with reverence at the Tome on the table. I knew it was hers, that it was personal, and I felt so thankful that we had her here, on our side. My curious mind wanted to comb through the pages and learn all its secrets and mysteries, but I’d welcome whatever she shared without being greedy for more.
“So you really think that you can help me escape this…this mimic?” Booker asked, sounding scared to hope.
Gran nodded, tapping her index finger on her Grimoire. “I know we can, baby.” Then she folded her hands over the top of it and leaned in. “Now tell us your story.”
