careful in the future. Your training has barely begun, and your magic should only be used in emergencies.â
âThe lightning didnât hurt them. They chased us through campus.â
âThey were working for Auden Ironbound, werenât they?â Fiona asked. âTrying to find Circeâs Compass, and us, too.â
âWe have to assume so,â Sefu answered. âAudenâs servants are too close for my liking. Think of itâ The Compendium in the hands of Auden Ironbound.â
âYou worry too much,â Yara chided him. â The Compendium can protect itself. It has defenses that not even the most powerful warlock can crack.â
âWe hope,â Sefu muttered darkly. âBut let us not forget that the book was lost when the warlocks attacked and burned the safe house at Tareth. With the way it conceals itself, it can just as easily be lost again. But The Compendium aside, what about the children? You cannotdeny that they were in danger today. Auden Ironbound is like a wounded animalâand one must never corner a wounded animal.â
âIt seems the children can take care of themselves,â Yara shot back. âI remember you were quite capable as a youngling, Sefu. Be careful that you do not underestimate them.â
âI think we can all agree that Dorina is teaching them well,â Mr. Kimura spoke up suddenly. âThey were our first line of defense against the Horn of Power.â
âAnd Auden still has the Horn,â Yara added. âThey are the only ones immune to its call.â
âI donât like this,â Ms. Therian said. âItâs not right. We should put ourselves at risk first and foremostânot them. Never them.â
âDo not let your affection cloud your judgment,â Mr. Kimura said gently. âI have full confidence in your tutelage, Dorina. Remember why we are here. Remember what we were born to do.â
âNo, Akira,â Sefu said firmly. âI have lived many centuries. Their lives have just begun. I may be an old man, but I know my place in the great circle. We must protect them at all costs.â
âWe are all bound to protect our cause!â Yara exclaimed. âYoung and old united against whatever danger the dark powers deliver to us.â
Then all the First Four were talking at once, their raised voices echoing off the walls of the Ancillary Gym.
No, Fiona thought, remembering what Ms. Therian had told them before the battle for Willow Cove. Auden Ironbound wants this. He wants us distractedâand if weâre arguing with one another, thatâs even better.
She noticed then how tense Darren was, sitting beside her. His fingers lit up with crackling sparks, but he didnât seem to notice as he stared at the First Four, worry written all over his face.
This has to stop, Fiona said. And no one was more surprised than Fiona herself when she spoke.
âExcuse me,â she said. Then louder: âExcuse me!â
All eyes turned to her.
âDo we get a say?â she asked, astonished by her boldness. Was it possible that she was challenging the First Four, the greatest Changers alive?
Apparently, it was.
For half a second, Fiona thought she saw a hint of asmile flicker over Mr. Kimuraâs face, but it disappeared too quickly for her to be sure.
âOf course you do,â he said.
âAny decisions you make must be fully informed,â Ms. Therian spoke up. âI want you to know that Auden Ironbound is angry. Without a doubt, he is determined to have his revenge. He is perhaps even more dangerous after defeat than he was before.â
For the first time in her life, though, Fiona didnât need to think carefully about it. Her mind was already made up. She rose to her feet and said in a clear, steady voice, âI want to help find the compass. If Auden is after us, I want to be part of the fight to stop him.â
Darren stood up too. âSo
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