Page 65 of The Stone Initiation
The gray is gone but its influence remains, and I doubt that we’ll ever vanquish it. “We need to know what they’re up to. Has Alpha 1 checked in yet?”
“Not yet,” Prasan said. “But the area they’re in is an empty zone.”
No signals, radio or otherwise. They’re on their own. Gathering intel on the graynite stronghold. A city warded, walled and impossible to infiltrate. We’ve been sending teams in to test the barriers and the power of the wards for years, hoping to find a weakness.
If we can get in, we can wipe them all out in one fell swoop. “When is the deadline for check in.”
“Forty-eight hours,” Prasan says.
“If we don’t hear from them in that time, I’m heading out there.”
“I’ll come with you,” Orix says.
“Me too,” Willowman adds. “You might need me.”
“I’ll stay here and keep an eye on Cameron,” Selas says with a smile.
“We’ll need to get approval from headquarters,” Prasan points out.
The headquarters that barks orders while sitting in their offices. The place is run by humans and goyles together, coordinating our efforts at keeping the Rim safe. Most have never been out in the field, and yet, we’re bound to take orders from them.
‘Fine, do it now. Put in the request.”
“I’ve been working on a transmitter that might be able to cut through the interference that the graynite shade creates. If we can weaken the shade then maybe we’ll get through the wards,” Prasan says. “If they approve the request, then I’ll come and see if I can plant it.”
The shade…remnants of the gray and the power that runs through a graynites veins. It powers their wards and keeps us at a distance and it’s something we’ve, to date, been unable to bypass or disable. Maybe Prasan’s invention can change that. Either way, a mission gives me focus and takes me away from here, from Cameron and that…that’s the best thing for the both of us right now.
CHAPTER29
CAMERON
Arcana class was on the fourth and final floor of the main building, which was built as one huge central chamber with a glass domed ceiling. The dying rays of the sun painted the granite floors a crimson hue and gave the whole area a warm, cozy look. Metal framework pressed to the glass, and I spotted delicate hinge work.
“It can open to let in gargoyles or let us out,” Sharniza said. “The handbook says there’s a warping spot right up there.” She pointed to the red sky swirling with purple clouds.
It was easy to stand in the center of this space and ignore the many archways leading off from it, easy to forget about the gargoyles occupying benches set up against the walls. Easy to pretend that I was in the sky.
“Cam! Shar!” Touron called from across the room. “This way.”
Sharniza and I joined him at the arch and followed him into the corridor beyond. Large plant pots lined the walls, each filled with lush foliage that left the air smelling sweet and floral.
“It’s lucky I don’t have a pollen allergy.”
“Gargoyles don’t have allergies, and we don’t get sick,” Sharniza reminded me.
“Room 401,” Touron announced before pushing open the door and leading us into a room where one wall was all windows and the other looked like it was made of reinforced steel. Seats were arranged at the back, and most were taken.
Curi sat head bowed and alone. His minions clustered with Saffe and two others. Looked like his refusal to fight Selas had made him a pariah.
I didn’t like him. He was a bully. But his reaction to Selas had been weird. It would have been the perfect moment for him to step up and show the elites how good he was, but he’d backed down. It didn’t make sense.
Palia and Ginia waved us over. They’d saved us seats.
“How are you feeling?” Palia asked me.
“Like I got punched in the head.” I smiled wryly. “I’m okay though.”
The door opened and Blake Yarrow walked into the center of the room. My gaze flicked back to the door, expecting to see his sister, but she wasn’t with him.
