“I’m sorry,” he said.
“What happened?”
Conor hung his head. “I’m sorry.”
20: Consequences
THE NIGHT WAS DARK AND FULL OF ANIMALS.
Meilin lay in her bed, eyes wide open. Her mind was full of the gardens of Zhong, her father’s wise face, and the Conquerors marching over the places she’d loved.
The four kids were finally back in Greenhaven. It had been a few days since they’d returned, and Meilin’s mind had been troubled for each of them. Their journey seemed to have been for nothing; Conor had handed over the precious talisman to the enemy. For his family! Hadn’t she wanted to go to Zhong for her family when she’d had the chance? Hadn’t he been the first to tell her to stay with them?
Far off, down the hall, someone’s spirit animal made a drowsy night noise. Meilin was far away from sleep.
Since they’d returned, the fortress had been abuzz with the changes happening all over Erdas. People were taking sides. For the Greencloaks and the Fallen. For the Conquerors and Zerif’s new false heroes. Rumors were on everyone’s lips: rumors of an advancing army, and of the strange promise the army had — a potion, stronger than the Nectar of Ninani, which could force the spirit animal bond for anyone who drank it: the Bile.
There was no more time for wasted missions.
“Jhi,” Meilin whispered. The panda had been drowsing in the corner of the room, but when she heard her name, she lifted her chin. Her eyes were sympathetic. “Help me.”
This time, when Meilin closed her eyes, searching for answers, the orbs around her were like droplets of water, brilliant, fragile, trembling. They spilled from her eyes and down her cheeks. Here were her choices: Stay. Go.
One was both wise and logical.
Stay. Fight alongside the Greencloaks: Build an army to fight this new threat.
Go. Be an army of one: Find her father before it was too late. It was neither wise nor logical. Jhi’s intuition recommended against it.
But it was the choice Meilin was going to make.
She got out of bed and packed, silent and swift. The panda hesitated when Meilin held out her arm. She was offended, perhaps. After all, she’d offered her advice and Meilin wasn’t taking it. Or maybe she was concerned. She’d never refused the passive state before. With a frown, Meilin focused on the request. With a whimper, Jhi vanished in a searing flash, reappearing on Meilin’s skin, barely visible in the dark night.
Meilin stopped only to pick up a map from the map room and a bag of food from the kitchen.
Then she let herself out of the castle. She was going back to Zhong.