Silas felt a little click, a moment of connection to the gate runes, and hope rose inside him. The cookie tasted amazing, cinnamon and ginger and butter and eggs and all the things that made home sweet. “I think it’s time,” he said. Everyone gather your packs and stay close.”
Conservator Kell said, “I will place the barrier once Professor Xsing and Jojo clear the area.”
“You go on back, Jojo,” Xsing said. “I’m going with them.”
“You’re what?” said about five people in the same breath. Silas only asked it in his head, but he definitely wanted the answer.
“Well, of course.” Xsing swiveled his eyestalks as if to look at all of them at once. “Upon your return, you will have to identify and neutralize the sorcerers responsible for those powerful hell gates, correct? Otherwise they may just replace them, and the same issue will recur.”
“I suppose so,” Silas admitted. “Although I hope we can delegate that part of the job. Somehow.” Hunting down dark sorcerers was not on his to-do list, given any choice in the matter.
Xsing waved a hand. “Regardless of who does the work, they’re going to need to identify and find the correct sorcerers. And I, as the person who located each gate in the Veil, have a unique sense of the magics behind them. I can help locate the sorcerers.”
“That could be very useful,” Grim said.
“But you’re not educated as a familiar,” Conservator Kell pointed out. “Even that one—” with a wave at Pip “—has far more background and training in Earth society and its magics, and how to survive its weirdnesses.”
“I’m hardly an uneducated novice,” Xsing said. “And I’ll have help from these excellent folk in surviving. I feel it’s my duty, and also, what an opportunity for first-hand research!” He waved all three hands rapidly.
“But your work.”
“Jojo is more than competent to continue my research for the near future.”
“Near future?” Conservator Kell sounded angry, or perhaps just worried. “If you go to Earth this unusual way, there’s no guarantee you’ll ever come back.”
“Life has no guarantees.” Xsing undulated his arms. “While the humans were sleeping, I put my affairs in order for an absence of undetermined length. And I’m eager to go.” He made a snorting sound. “After years upon years of a safe academic existence, the trip behind the Veil showed me I have more taste for adventure than I ever imagined.”
“A decision like that should not be made lightly.”
“My decision was made swiftly, but not lightly.” Xsing turned all his attention to Silas. “If you can bring me? And you all are willing to have my help?”
“Delighted to,” Jasper said. “And I admit, selfishly, there’s so much other magic theory I want to discuss with you. It will be great fun to have you with us.”
“After we’re done tracking down dark sorcerers,” Silas muttered.
Darien nudged him. “Come on. Don’t you want Xsing to help us out?”
“Yes, of course. Any assistance will be welcome.”
Well, if I can’t change your mind, Professor.” Conservator Kell backed away. “I will wish you safe travels.”
Jojo said, “And many exciting discoveries. Are you sure…?”
“You will do excellently. Professor Jojo. A title long overdue.” Xsing put all three hands on Jojo’s shoulders and swayed toward him three times. “Congratulations.”
Jojo gripped Xsing’s wrists. “You’re serious? You are giving me the full title as well as temporary authority over your duties?”
“Of course.” Xsing stretched upward so he topped Jojo by half a body length. “You have remained with me as an assistant longer than was best for your career, and I have every confidence you will now distinguish yourself. In order to do all the work I’m leaving in your hands, you need the authority too. Professor Jojo of the Transitional Dynamics Laboratories will be a name long remembered, I have no doubt.”
“But you will return?”
Xsing sank to his normal height. “Indeed. Eventually.”
“I will plan for an indeterminate absence, then.” To Silas’s ears, there was something plaintive in Jojo’s voice.
He’s losing a mentor. That’s not easy. That thought led off into a thicket of emotions Silas didn’t want to examine, so he said heartily, “Congratulations, Professor Jojo.”
All three of Jojo’s eyestalks swiveled his way, then Jojo released Xsing’s arms and murmured. “I thank you.”
Xsing gave Jojo’s shoulders one last squeeze and turned to face the gate. “Are we ready?”
Silas narrowed his attention to his portal. “Perhaps we should all be touching.” Something had built in the magic framework of the gate, but he was far from confident. Darien’s hand felt almost as sweaty as his own when their palms met. Jasper clasped hands with Darien and Xsing. Grim leaped to Silas’s shoulder, his weight a comfort, and Magda picked up Pip, taking Xsing’s hand at the end of the chain.
“All right.” Silas stepped forward and hovered a fingertip over the activation rune for the gate. “Open.” He pushed his power into it. He felt half-drained and creaky as he shoved power along his finger, but through his other hand, he could sense the amber warmth of Darien’s power at his beck and call, and threads of orange and blue and silver as Darien pulled the group together. He pushed more power, sending it flowing around the gate construct. “Open.”
The framework of runes brightened and merged, and at the center, a faint haze appeared.
Darien hissed, “Yes,” but Silas squeezed his fingers in caution, probing the area with his Othersense.
“No, that’s the Veil. We don’t want to go that way and leave our bodies behind. We need a true gate.” Silas pushed his power harder, running all the runes through his mind in order. I built you. I control you. Home. We want to go home.
The way into the Veil snapped open wide and ready, had he wanted it there. Gritting his teeth, he closed it, bringing the wall back to solid blankness. Not the Veil. Earth. Green and sweet and waiting. Earth.
Gate magic hovered just out of sight. He felt as if he should know how to do this. Whispers in his head said you can… and you know… but skittered out of his grasp as he reached for them. I did this with Lyyll. What did that feel like? He couldn’t quite grasp the fabric of his magic the same way.
Perhaps like a demon gate, center it on someone. He took his knowledge of Darien, the flavors of his lover’s humanity, and tried to call the gate to send him home, as he would a demon. His place, his home, open the way. The magic flexed and stretched, but he couldn’t push it that last step. Where a demon’s hell would’ve come within reach, opening to his magic, Earth was out there, somewhere close, but he couldn’t push through to it.
For what felt like hours, but was perhaps ten minutes, he fought with the gate. He tried to gather his magic to a needle point and spear through the gate. He gathered more power than he should’ve in his fist and caused a small puff of dust to rise from the wall. Someone muttered but he didn’t care who. Open. Open, damn it! Coldwell. Norlington. Why in the hells didn’t you teach me this part? Something murmured in the back of his mind, and he cursed out loud.