Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
“How is she?”
“She’s tough, but it’s going to take a few days for her to recover. Maybe as long as a week. Her friends think she’d like to convalesce at her aunt’s home in town,” Professor Sage said.
“Don’t you think we should monitor her here? She’s a valuable asset to the school,” Feathergrass said.
I tried not to roll my eyes as I came out of my stupor. Of course that was what Feathergrass cared about, not the well-being of one of his students who had just been poisoned.
“She may be more relaxed in a comfortable environment, away from all the commotion of the school,” Professor Sage insisted gently.
“Very well. I hope she can be back in classes next week.”
“I think that’s likely.”
Professor Sage’s wheelchair hummed as it rolled across the stone floor, and a second later, he was by my side. “Ah, you’re awake. How is your stomach?”
“It doesn’t feel like I’m being stabbed anymore, but it does feel like I have a horrible stomach flu.” I searched the room for a trash can in case my illness went in that direction.
“Do you know what you got into? Your friends mentioned you were collecting castor beans.”
“I was, but it’s all kind of a blur. I must have mixed some things I shouldn’t have. I can’t believe how careless I was.”
“These things happen, but you should know to always take extra care in the Perilous Grove. Your friends thought you might want to spend the week convalescing at home. Is that the case?”
When I nodded, he said, “I’ll pack you a bag of medicines to make you comfortable and some food that should help you get back to full health as soon as you’re ready for it.”
“Thanks, Professor Sage. I appreciate all your help.”
He nodded. “Just get better and take care of yourself. We want you back in classes soon. Take your time getting up. Callan Rhodes was here earlier. He’s trying to track down what caused your illness out in the Grove. He offered to drive you to your aunt’s home and quiz you further.”
I tried to force a look of puzzlement onto my face. “Okay. I guess that’s fine.”
About five minutes after Professor Sage left the room, Callan slipped inside.
More quickly than I could register, he was at my side, pressing a hand to my forehead.
“You’re warm. And clammy.” He cursed in the cute way only magical botanists could.
“I really wish we could have thought of another plan.”
“Just take me away, Dr. Rhodes.”
I said it jokingly, but Callan nodded and lifted me into his arms.
“Oh no. We don’t need everyone seeing me getting carried out like this. Maybe I can—” I tried putting weight on my feet but immediately saw black spots.
Callan’s arms were back underneath me in an instant. “Not when you’re about to faint. Don’t worry. Our friends made sure the central vein was clear. Hollis is doing a striptease in the teahouse.”
Despite my fevered state, I choked out a laugh. “What?”
“He covered his chest and arms with ferns and is magically removing them one by one. Apparently, some people like to see his abs. Your friend Coral was in the front row.”
I snorted. “All right, then. Sneak me out of here so Hollis can maintain his dignity and put his shirt back on.”
“With pleasure.” Callan pushed out of the apothecary room where I’d been recovering and—faster than I could have imagined—we were outside, darkness falling over us.
Callan settled me in the front seat of his truck so delicately that I might have been a newborn. I couldn’t melt over the attention too long, though. The fever was making it hard to focus on much of anything.
“Let’s get you off campus,” Callan said, shifting the truck into drive. Once we were through the gate, he pulled to a stop. “Okay, Briar. You have access to your powers again. Can you try to counteract some of the poison?”
I pushed myself to sit up straighter and let out a soft moan.
“Here, take this. I think you’re ready for a second dose of the brain fog reducer.” He held out a glass vial, and his face was so distressed that I took it and swallowed it in full, even though the idea of drinking anything sent my stomach turning.
As soon as his concoction kicked in, the fever reduced slightly, and I took a deep, calming breath and imagined I was at the cabin on Mt.
Shasta with Petra, developing counterpoisons and working on unlocking my powers.
I searched through my body for the source of the poison and wrapped my powers around it.
As I sliced through it, I let out a gasp, feeling its powers snap.
I sagged against the truck seat, devoid of energy.
“Briar.” Callan’s warm voice was reassuring. “Did it work? How do you feel?”
I nodded. “I think so. I don’t feel the effects of the poison anymore. I just feel… tired.”
“Here.” He was opening the bag from Professor Sage. “These are going to have extremely high levels of nourishment. Get some of that in you and see how you feel.”
I followed his instructions, remembering that in less than an hour, I had a flight to catch.
I ate while we drove, and twenty minutes later, we were nearing the Weed airport, with me checking my backpack for the tenth time, ensuring that the quill compass was safely within it.
“Professor Sage is a miracle worker,” I said. The food had perked me up within minutes. While I still wasn’t at full strength, I didn’t feel like I had been poisoned in the past hour either. “And so are you. That brain fog reducer worked like a charm.”
Callan reached over and ran the back of his hand from my forehead down the side of my face. “Fever’s gone. Your color’s back. Everything looks good.”
“Are you calling me pretty?” I teased.
A smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. “Always.”
Warmth kindled in my stomach. “I wish you could come with me.”
Callan took my hand and squeezed it. “Say the word, and I will.”
I shook my head reluctantly. “I still think this is the safest plan.”
We kept our hands entwined as Callan took the exit to the tiny, one-runway airport, savoring our last bit of time together. We had sworn off kissing and publicly dating for the time being, but neither of us could resist each other’s hands when no one else was around.
When we arrived at the airport, Nalin was already waiting.
I recalled my first nervous flight in the four-seater plane to the moss and tree conservatories. “Nalin’s a qualified pilot, right?”
“I wouldn’t be sending you with him if he wasn’t. We’ve trained together a bunch over the years. He is a top-tier pilot. And I came out and checked the plane this morning. Everything is good to go.”
Callan’s reassurance calmed my nerves—mostly. “Make some good trouble while we’re gone?” I asked.
Callan’s lips pulled up at one corner. “You know we will. If Feathergrass is busy with us, he won’t think to check up on how you’re convalescing. One last thing.” Callan reached into his pocket and removed a large leaf that was rolled and tied with a piece of twine.
“What’s that?”
“It’s from a fiddle-leaf fig. I’ve enchanted it for communication.”
I stared at the leaf. “Don’t tell me the leaf is going to start talking to me.”
Callan laughed. “I’m not aware of any Floracantus that can make a leaf do that.
We can write messages to each other on it, though.
Whatever I scrawl onto the matching leaf on my end will appear on your leaf and vice versa.
Cell service is nonexistent at the aquatics conservatory, so we can use this to keep in touch. ”
“That’s brilliant,” I said, nestling the leaf into my bag. “I’ll see you in a week.”
He took my hand and ran circles around the back of it with his thumb. The tender movement conveyed more than any words could. “Have fun being a tourist. And remember…” He leaned in closer. “I’m just a leaf message away.”