Page 13 of The Tribes of Magic (Paragons #3)

TRACKING MAGIC

A pair of Watchers escorted me out of the Black Obelisk and to the nearest train station. Luckily for me, they didn’t wait around to see if I got on the train. I had a quick detour to make before I headed home.

I used the magic token Conner had given me to make myself invisible, then stalked off unseen down the Magic Emporium’s main shopping street. It was still early, so there were shoppers everywhere, including a very excitable woman who took her talking duck out for a walk at least twice a day.

I carefully avoided her. The last time we’d crossed paths, she’d talked my ear off about duck treats for over ten minutes.

I’d finally managed to escape her, but only because it had started to rain.

She got distracted when her duck ran off to splash around in one of the big puddles pooling in the street.

The crazy duck lady wasn’t the only person I had to avoid as I stalked the streets under a cloak of invisibility.

The Watchers were out in full force, searching every shop and scouring every street for Brothers and Rebels.

The General lumped both groups into the same category: villains.

And no matter how much good the Rebels did, no matter how many people they saved, he would never stop hunting them.

The guy really needed to let go of his vendetta.

I kept the invisibility token activated until I spotted a familiar frilly tent along one of the Emporium’s back alleys.

“Mistress Meeta,” I greeted the merchant, who looked like a stereotypical fortune teller with her bright headscarf and her big gold earrings. And lots and lots of heavy eyeliner.

A wide smile stretched her heavily-wrinkled face when she saw me. Rhinestones and crystals jingled when she waved her arms. “Oh, hello, dearie! Come closer! Come, come!”

I was standing so close to her that I nearly choked on her distinctly potent scent of cinnamon and chicken. For some reason, Mistress Meeta always smelled like cinnamon and chicken.

“Now, what can I do for you?” She snapped her fingers, and a deck of tarot cards appeared in her hand. “Are you here for a reading perhaps?”

“Actually, I’m here about the Paragons’ spellbook.”

“Of course! How silly of me! Someone in possession of the greatest, most powerful spells in all the Many Realms has no need for poor, insignificant Mistress Meeta to tell her her future.” She clapped her hands, and the deck of cards disappeared between them.

Her ruby lips smacked together. “The Paragons’ spellbook, of course! Yes, yes! So what about the book?”

“Well, I’m trying to find…someone.”

“Who?”

“Someone,” I repeated.

That someone was Kylie—and the other missing Apprentices. And also Asher, wherever in the Many Realms he was.

“Well, aren’t you secretive?” Mistress Meeta laughed. “Come now, dearie. You can trust Mistress Meeta.”

“No, I can’t,” I told her flatly.

“I gave you the Paragons’ spellbook.”

“You sold it to me.”

“I knew it was meant for you.”

“You knew a monster was tracking the book, and you wanted to be rid of it before that monster found you .”

“I…no…but…how… The things you say, dearie! They aren’t very complimentary!” she huffed.

“Because of you, I was attacked by a ferocious monster. Twice . When I see you, compliments aren’t the first thing that come to mind.”

“I knew you could handle the beast, you and the valiant White Knight. He is so very charming and handsome, isn’t he?”

“When you met him, he was wearing a helmet,” I said drily. “You never saw his face.”

Her red smile spread wider. “Shall I read the cards, dearie?”

There was a loud crack, and the cards appeared in her hands once more. She started shuffling the deck one-handed.

“The cards will tell me if you two are destined to be together.”

“No, thank you. I don’t want you to tell me my fortune.”

“But you could be soul mates!”

“And I definitely don’t want you to play matchmaker.”

Mistress Meeta stopped shuffling. Her shoulders hunched over, and some of the spark went out of her eyes. “You must understand, dearie. I do so regret putting you in danger with that beast. And I do so wish to make it up to you. But how am I to do that if you won’t let me do anything for you?”

“Funny you should ask that because actually there is something you can do for me.”

“Do tell.”

“It’s about the Paragons’ spellbook. There’s a tracking spell in there that I’ve been trying to figure out, but I just can’t seem to get it to work. I’m wondering if the spell is broken.”

“And you thought that Mistress Meeta could help you?”

“Can’t you?” I asked. “I mean, you’re the one who sold me the book.”

“Ah, but that doesn’t mean I can read it!” she laughed.

“So you can’t help me?” My hope deflated like an old balloon.

When she smiled, her wrinkles actually seemed to melt away.

“Who said I couldn’t help you? I might not be able to read the Paragons’ spellbook, but I do know a few things about magic.

The problem isn’t with the spell, dearie.

It’s with you.” She tapped my chest with her spindly finger.

“The problem lies in how much magical juice you can tap into—and whether you can control and channel that power into the spell you wish to cast.”

“Is there a book that will help with that?” I asked hopefully.

“A book that will give you power and control?” Mistress Meeta’s laugh rippled across her tent’s gauzy fabric, making it sway like it was caught in a breeze.

“No, there are no shortcuts in magic, young one. The only way forward is to practice, practice, practice. That’s how you build up your magical strength, endurance, and control. ”

I sighed. “That isn’t helpful.”

“Running a marathon is no different,” Mistress Meeta pointed out. “It’s not something you can do overnight. There’s no quick trick, just hard work.”

Yeah, that pretty much reflected everything Conner and Kato had ever told me about magic.

“I get it,” I said. “I get that I have to build up my magical strength, endurance, and control. So there aren’t any tricks , but maybe you have some tips ? There has to be some way I can get these tricky spells to at least kind of work while I’m building up my strength.”

“Well, actually…” Mistress Meeta licked her lips. “I have heard there’s a ‘linking spell’ in the Paragons’ book which allows people to combine magic, pooling their strength, endurance, and control, boosting them all. That might be just what you’re looking for, dearie.”

“Yes, it is.” I squeezed her hands. They were weirdly smooth, even though the rest of her was so wrinkly. “Thank you.”

I bade her farewell, then rushed off toward the train station. I still had several hours left in the day, and I intended to use them to search every page of the Paragons’ spellbook for this linking spell.