The same fears had crossed Florian’s mind, and he frowned with concern. Even if he could somehow come up with a way to set the shroud over themselves right as they passed through the curtain into the Blight, the risks of all the unknowns seemed too numerous for it to be worth it. So much for that plan.
“I thought that might be the case,” he said, sighing. “So we’ll have to get to it from this side. It’s a long walk, though—longer than we can manage through the Blight. Do you think it might be possible to teleport there?”
“Teleportation is limited to locations you’ve been,” she said, frowning. “I thought you knew this.”
“Right, but—if Iseethe Summer Court through Thaddeus’ memory, would that count as having been there?” he asked.
Elodie fell silent at that, a contemplative expression crossing her face. She mulled it over for several long seconds. Nervously, Florian took a sip of tea; it was perfect, still comfortingly hot without burning his mouth.
“I don’t know,” she finally confessed, but a too-wide smile stretched her lips as she said it. “But I think it is likely, yes.”
Kade tensed next to him, clearly unsettled by the uncertain response; but Florian managed a smile, relieved. If she thought it was evenlikelythat it would work, that was their best plan so far.
“Maybe you could...” Florian started, then trailed off, self-conscious. “Well, I was thinking maybe you could help me see some of his memories again, just to be sure. But we should talk about it first, the four of us, I think.”
“I can help you with that,” she said, nodding. “If that’s what you wish. Anyone else?”
For a moment, the other three were silent, surprised. She looked at them all expectantly.
“Can you bring people back to life?” Rune blurted out, breaking the silence. Florian’s heart squeezed, and Elodie’s expression softened.
“No, child,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m sorry.”
Rune grunted, shaking her head rapidly. “I figured as much. Just... Had to be sure. Don’t apologize.”
She glanced away, and Florian peered at her out of the corner of his eye. She was looking pensively down at her lap now, her lips pulled into a tight frown, and her arms folded across her chest. She’d barely talked about her parents since she first explained the situation to Florian, but evidently the thought had been weighing on her.
“Any other requests? Things you want to do while you’re here?” Elodie continued, addressing the others. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had all four clans represented in my home. Last time, I feel they were rather disappointed in how things went, so I’d like to be as helpful as I can now.”
“I had one other thing,” Florian said when no one else answered. “The last time we were here, I brought a necklace you gave my father that helped him travel through the Blight.”
A knowing look gleamed in Elodie’s big purple eyes. She spoke before he needed to explain any further. “I remember. Those will be very helpful, and you should be able to charge them, Florian. I’ll need to make more, but I can certainly provide those for you.”
He smiled gratefully—not needing to worry about holding a shroud over four people was an immense relief. “That’s perfect. Thank you.”
“Anything else?” she offered once again, making a sweeping gesture with her long arm. The four of them all glanced betweeneach other, everyone’s eyes flickering to Florian. He shrugged, then Kade offered,
“We just need to be sure we’re ready for whatever’s in the Summer Court. It’s the last Arrow, so I’m sure it’ll be the most difficult. Any information at all.”
Elodie paused, pursing her lips. “I will try to see what I can, but my vision of much of the Blight is obscured. I don’t know if I’ll be able to provide you with any helpful information, but I will try.”
Florian nodded, letting himself feel hopeful despite her caveat. “That’ll help, I’m sure.”
“In the meantime, combat training while you both... do your thing,” Kade said, then glanced between Koji and Rune. “It’ll have to be a crash course, but we’ll keep busy.”
The witch’s grin widened, and Kade looked all the more uncomfortable. “I can certainly assist with that, as well.”
