Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
My boat followed the guide all the way to the tiny island that housed the largest hut. When we got close to it, I realized the island was composed of tightly clustered water plants, not earth. The hut was swaying slightly as the plants drifted in place.
“One moment, please.” My guide disappeared inside the hut, and I climbed from my boat to step onto one of the green floating lily pads. Amazingly, it felt solid under my feet. Snowy followed me then rested on my shoulder.
After a minute or two, a handful of people came out the door, ran their eyes over me, then got onto their own paddleboards and boats and took off toward other huts.
“She’s ready for you,” my guide said, pulling back a curtain of moss to make room for me.
I passed through the curtain and stepped back in surprise when I entered the room.
I could tell it was the largest hut from the outside, but the exterior belied how spacious it was inside.
Certainly, a trick of defensive plant magic was at work.
The room was at least the size of a large pub, with a circular bar-style counter in the center and smaller gathering areas surrounding it.
The space was empty, except for one woman sitting in a tall-backed chair.
Were the other magical botanists asked to clear the space for us?
The woman turned, and I let out a gasp. “Petra?”
She smiled and rose, coming over to give me a warm hug. “Briar. It’s a delightful surprise to see you here, though perhaps not entirely unexpected.”
“What are you doing here? I thought you were in Italy for the winter.”
“I have much to tell you, Briar. Are you hungry?”
With a gentle flap of its wings, the moth rose from my shoulder and went to land on Petra’s.
“I see you brought Leucie back unharmed,” Petra said, signaling for me to take a seat across from her.
I slid onto the seat, eager for answers. “I don’t understand. Do you work here?”
Petra nodded. “I’m the curator of the defensives conservatory.”
“You are?” I asked, unable to form any words more eloquent. “And you have been this whole time we’ve been working together?”
Petra nodded again. “Much like you, I learned about my magical botanist abilities a bit later than most. I was studying art at university in Italy, and one day while researching, I came across a book that felt warm in my hands.”
My eyes widened. “That’s how your powers were activated? Are you a descendant of da Vinci?”
“Yes, though from a different one of his siblings’ lines than you.”
“Does this mean you have all the lead affinities?”
Petra shook her head. “You’re the only one I’ve met who can claim that trait, Briar. My defensive powers are very strong, and I have a number of trailing affinities, but for whatever reason, the traits of our ancestors that were diluted in most of us popped up again in you.”
“So, if you’re from Italy and learned about your powers there, how did you come to work here?”
“After college, I was part of a traveling art exhibit. We had a few stops in the United States, including one in San Francisco. It was around that time that I received a message from your mother.”
I nearly slid off my seat, the world seeming to freeze. “My mom? You knew her?”
“Sadly, we never had the chance to meet. She reached out through a DNA website we had both used after she saw we were distantly related. When she learned I was in California, she invited me to your area.”
I couldn’t process anything except Petra’s voice. I was imagining my mom planning a meeting with one of her distant relatives. Aunt Vera had told me my mom had done a DNA project in college.
“I traveled up to Mt. Shasta. She recommended we meet for a picnic lunch up on the mountain.”
“It was her favorite place to paint,” I whispered.
“That’s what she told me. I arrived early and spent some time there. It didn’t take long to realize the area was a green zone, as it was obviously amplifying my powers. By this point, I was connected to the magical botanical community near my home in Italy, and a friend there studied green zones.”
Petra paused as if bracing for what she was going to say next. “Your mother never showed up, and when I tried calling, she didn’t answer. After waiting for a few hours, I left. Not long after, I learned about the accident.”
My hands went to my mouth. “The accident happened when she went to meet you. We always assumed she had gone up there to paint.” My mind was swirling, taking it all in.
“I’m sorry to bring up these painful memories, Briar, but it is time you knew.”
I nodded. “It helps a little, getting more details. It fills a hole in the picture we always wondered about. Did you ever talk to my aunt, Vera?”
“No. Your mother had told me she planned to surprise you both after she met me. She was putting together a bit of a… What do you call it? A family tree. Afterward, I thought about reaching out, but I knew you were both grieving. I hoped there would be a time when I would return to the United States, and we could meet. After my tour of the US, I returned to Italy. A few years later, the defensives conservatory began looking to recruit a new curator.”
“Recruit? I’ve heard most of the conservatories appoint someone, typically a founders’ descendant.”
“The defensives community is small, and they don’t always have willing candidates to choose from. Occasionally, that means tapping their research networks to find botanists outside of the United States. We serve five-year terms. My time here is almost up.”
“And Evergreen Academy? How did you find out about me?”
“Professor East reached out last year about a student with incredible abilities. When he mentioned your name, I jumped at the opportunity to mentor you. Your last name was different from your mom’s, but she’d told me your first name when we were corresponding, and I suspected that it was you Professor East was referring to. ”
“Did you hear about Professor East? How he’s been removed from the academy? Have you spoken with him?”
Petra nodded. “He sent me a correspondence shortly after it happened. It’s why I haven’t returned to California. I apologize for not getting in touch with you yet, but I was trying to research your plant, Rosie, like we talked about.”
I straightened. “Did you find anything? Can Rosie be used as a counterpoison?” Rosie had been in my family for generations, and Petra thought the plant could be the key to my getting full access to my powers back.
“I couldn’t determine a species name, but she’s unique and probably thought extinct in the botanical community.
I have some ideas for including her petals in an antidote.
We can try that while you’re here. Speaking of your being here, I think it’s time to share how you came to find the defensives conservatory. ”
I looked up and met Petra’s assessing gaze. “Do you know why I’m here?”
“I have a guess,” Petra said, a smile touching her lips.
I took a deep breath. The time for catching up was over. It was time to do what I had come for.