Page 39 of Foresyth Conservatory
“What exactly are you looking for?” I asked.
“Well, that’s the problem. It’s notsomething, it’ssomewhere.” Nina tapped the map. “I’m looking for a region of Foresyth where the ground itself is said to have magickal properties of transmutation.”
Disappointment flickered in my chest.Magick?After I had just started to appreciate Foresyth for its intellectual rigor.
“Oh, we could try scrying!” Sequoia said enthusiastically.
“I’ve done that,” Nina said, rolling her eyes. “I was wondering if Miss Scientist could help me narrow it down with soil samples.” She pulled several vials stuffed with dark earth from her pocket. “If they have different chemistries or whatever, it might help me pinpoint the right location.”
Nowthatwas interesting—using science to find magick.
“I could take a—” I started to say.
“You’ve tried scrying, but not withus,” Sequoia interrupted. “And not with a professional Tarot reader.” She turned to me. “Dahlia, if your cards can unearth truths about people and events, why not locations?”
Nina and Sequoia exchanged a look. I gulped.
“I’ve never tried that before,” I said. The idea of using Tarot to locate a mystical site sounded decidedly unscientific. I much preferred analyzing the soil samples. But I couldn’t let my cover slip—a student at Foresyth would be just as inclined, if not more, to believe in the magickal method as much as the scientific.
“We aren’t supposed to be practicing magick according to the handbook, especially for personal gain, right?” I tested.
“This isn’t for personal gain, it’s for research,” Nina said. “Besides, what do you think the Advisors do all day? Use their power for the personal gain of their clients. Isn’t that right, Sequoia?” She cut a look toward her.
Sequoia’s cheeks blushed red, and she turned her attention to the maps. “Why don’t we grid the map, assign a card to each section, and have Nina pull the one she’s drawn to?” Sequoia suggested.
That was certainly one way of doing it.
“If it doesn’t work, we can try thescienceway later,” Sequoia added with an exaggerated eye roll. “But this way is faster—and more fun.”
“I’m okay with that.” Nina shrugged.
The two of them looked at me expectantly. I thought it over and came to the simple conclusion that I had nothing to lose and only trust to gain from both of them.
“Oh, what the hell,” I said and started to reach for the deck of cards.
*
Hours later, Nina and Sequoia finally shuffled out of my room. Nina had chosen the northeastern quadrant of themap, drawn to a card that turned out to be theFive of Cups, marking her next area of investigation. We’d also gone over Sequoia’s outline, debating every point ad nauseam before I handed her a copy marked in red.
Satisfied I had settled my debts, I turned back to my unfinished letters. Then, sparing a few painful hours for Julian’s journal, I set to work translating. Would anything at Foresyth ever be simple? Like Julian, I was only beginning to scratch the surface of this peculiar school—and its even more peculiar inhabitants.
Chapter 15: Uncomfortable Topics
The following morning, the breakfast room was steeped in an unusual hush, as if I wasn’t the only one caught in the undertow of my own thoughts. I helped myself to lemon cakes and black coffee, then slid into the seat beside Nina. Leone was absent, but the ever-watchful Trees remained across the table, their visage like branches blocking the sun coming through the high windows.
My gaze drifted to Sequoia. I wondered if the reading we’d shared had shifted anything between her and Aspen—or if the Trees were simply experts at masking their fault lines.
“Nina, Leone and I are working in the lab later today. Will you be in?” I asked, trying to break the tension. I wanted Aspen to know that I was following up on this lead, just as he had suggested. Better to let him think everything was going according to his plans.
“Yeah, all right,” Nina said distractedly. “I’m working in the field. I won’t be in until much later.” I nodded in acknowledgment.
“Still looking for that lost plot of dirt, Nina? I’d find a new treasure hunt if I were you,” Aspen interjected. I turned to Nina and saw her cutting him a daggered stare. Whatever she was searching for must be important enough to rile Aspen.
“You’ll be the first thing I put in that plot of dirt, if the legends are true,” she shot back, standing from the table.
Then she hurried out before Aspen could say another word. I stuffed crumbs of dry cake into my mouth andwashed them down with coffee. I’d gotten used to the dry taste of the food here—it at least filled my belly. Strange that no one else had mentioned the lack of flavor.
With just the Trees left in the room, I awkwardly stood and started to leave. I nodded goodbye to both of them before heading out.
