Chapter 45
Chapter Forty-Five
“Capture the Roses is going to operate a little differently this year.” Feathergrass stretched his arms wide, as if he were an orchestra conductor.
The students and faculty of Evergreen Academy were gathered at the edge of the flower gardens, preparing for the annual Capture the Roses competition. I thought back to the previous year, when I had been put on Callan’s team. With Callan and Eli as co-team captains, we had secured a victory.
“To allow you all to stretch your skills to the best of your abilities, there will no longer be only two teams. Instead, there will be eight,” Feathergrass continued.
I listened carefully, though I was pretty sure I knew where he was going.
“Each affinity group will have its own team. Team captains have been pre-selected by your instructors. The team that can hold on to its rose for the longest will earn twenty points. Claiming the roses of other teams earns you ten points each. The group with the most points at the end gets a special prize.”
His designation of eight teams instead of nine felt like a subtle insult. I was the only defensive affinity student at the academy, and as far as most people knew, I didn’t have access to my powers, making me effectively useless in the game.
“What kind of prize?” The question came from a student by the snapdragons, the bright blooms of which came up to our shoulders and extended around the floral affinities, nearly caressing them.
Feathergrass paused for a moment, waiting for total silence. “The group that wins will receive special access to use the Dandelion of Desire on the spring equinox. I will enchant the area where the Dandelion is stored to allow access to that affinity group’s students for one night only.”
“Hot fronds!” Coral whispered loudly.
Seeming to sense the excitement stirring among the students, Feathergrass spoke again.
“Each member of the group will have the opportunity to use the dandelion, though the more people who use it, the less potent the power enhancing properties will be.” Feathergrass waved a hand, and the grasses in the nearby meadow shimmied, creating a tune, as if playing walk-up music for us.
“Everyone, please sort yourselves into your affinity groups. We will begin shortly.”
“Which group are you going to join, B?” Yasmin asked.
I barely heard her, my thoughts spinning from what Feathergrass had declared. I needed to find Callan. “I’ll be right back,” I whispered.
When I spotted where the tree affinity students were gathering, I moved to Callan’s side, trying to blend in with the other students. “Did you hear what he said?” I asked, casting my voice low.
Callan nodded. “Yep. You know what it means?”
“Someone from the Root and Vine Society needs to win the contest. Getting to the Dandelion of Desire ensures us access to the charging circle on the spring equinox.”
Callan shook his head. “You need to win. You’re the one who has to reset the shield.”
“How about I join the trees? If I work with you and we win, we’ll both get access to the charging circle.”
He conceded the point. “True. But then every other tree affinity will get a chance to use the Dandelion of Desire too. It will dilute its powers and put students we don’t want near the charging circle while you reset the shield.
But if you win as a defensive, you’ll have no other students to split the power enhancement with.
It’s your best guarantee that you’ll have the place to yourself, have a power boost, and orchestrate the entire visit to the charging circle to your liking, without others intervening. ”
I inhaled deeply, knowing he was right. “Feathergrass probably thinks I’m sitting this one out because of the lack of access to my powers.”
Callan’s smile was radiant, excited with a touch of competitive spirit, as it spread across his face. He leaned closer to whisper into my ear, “Then the time has finally come to show everyone what you can do.”
As the students sorted themselves into their affinity groups, I made my way toward Yasmin, Coral, and Aurielle.
“Joining us?” Yasmin asked.
I shook my head and quickly whispered the plan. My friends gave tight nods of agreement in return.
“Incoming,” Coral hissed, nodding behind me.
When I turned, Feathergrass was approaching. “Ahh, Briar. Joining the ferns today? I thought you might choose the trees. I guess it doesn’t much matter, since you won’t be able to use your magic to participate. A shame.”
I straightened, drawing my breath and quieting the power within me. When I spoke, my voice was steady. “I’ll be representing the defensives.”
Feathergrass’s eyebrows rose. “Indeed? And how will you be competing? You have no teammates and no access to your powers.”
“I guess I’ll just have to give it my best shot,” I said before skipping off to claim the ninth encapsulated rose, which was midnight black.
Once the captain from each team was clutching their rose container—I saw Callan holding his—Professor Tenella raised her voice.
“Good luck, botanists,” she called, and the affinity groups began to disperse to separate parts of the grounds, like nine petals of a flower extending in different directions.
I knew immediately where I would hide my rose. Being a solo competitor, I couldn’t leave affinity classmates behind to protect it while I sought to steal the other roses. So I would have to put the plants to work.
When I reached the Perilous Grove, I debated my options. Several plants could serve as a deterrent for my rose, but only one could truly hide it. I knew because the same plant had delivered me my field studies invitation envelope the previous fall.
I approached the massive corpse flower and whispered, “Apertum.”
Slowly, the plant opened its red and green spathe. Inside, there was plenty of room to nestle my rose within its tissues. Once it was situated, I said, “Pressule.” The corpse flower closed its leaves again, the rose disappearing completely inside.
Satisfied with the hiding spot, I turned to the other plants in the Perilous Grove and implemented the Floracantus I hoped would keep my rose safe while I scoured the forest. “Protegere.” Protect.
“Now you just have to figure out how to steal as many other teams’ roses as possible all by yourself. No big deal.” Still, as I said the words, I smiled. I had access to my powers on campus, and it was time for Feathergrass—for everyone—to find out.